“A billionaire badass.” She gave him a frank look. “He takes no prisoners.”
“I am warned.” He squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. It’ll be a nice evening.”
As they pulled up to Connor and Louisa’s house, Danny looked out the window. “I was expecting a more upscale neighborhood,” he commented.
She saw the large house through his eyes. On the inside it was remodeled and architecturally beautiful, but outside it looked like any other house on the block. “Louisa wanted to be walking distance to Sunflower Alley, her homeless shelter. But Connor didn’t want her in an area that was sketchy. This was a compromise they could both live with. Wait till you see inside.”
Jules slid out of the cab and waited as Danny paid for it. Then he took her hand and let her lead him up to the front door.
Before they even reached the porch, Louisa swung the door wide open, her bright curious gaze taking in everything. Jules knew exactly what she was cataloguing: how Danny looked in his slacks, the hint of the tattoo visible at the collar of his sweater, the way he was holding her hand, the bottle in his other hand.
Then Louisa looked at her.
Whatever she saw there made her smile softly. She reached out her hand to Danny. “I’m Louisa. Welcome.”
“Danny.” He let go of Jules’ hand to shake Louisa’s. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”
“I should be thanking you,” she said as she pulled Jules into a hug. “It’s because of you that we get to see our girl tonight. Jules is usually working, even on the weekends.”
Connor strolled into the entryway, casual in jeans with bare feet. He smiled when he saw her. “There she is,” he said, gathering Jules in his arms and holding her.
She closed her eyes and savored it, realizing she’d missed them more than she’d known.
Patting her back like she imagined a father would do, he kept an arm around her and faced Danny. After a moment of intense scrutiny, he held his hand out. “Daniel Osei, Connor Merriam.”
She gaped up at Connor as Danny shook his hand. “How did you find out Danny’s name?”
“Ennio texted me.” Connor raised his brow. “Tactical error having dinner there.”
“Damn,” she muttered under her breath.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t find anything too objectionable when I had him run.” Chuckling, Connor squeezed her shoulders. Then he turned to Danny again. “My brother Quinn and I saw you crush Arsenal for the FA Cup a few years back.”
Danny grinned. “That was a good moment.”
“I have questions,” Connor said, giving him the stone-cold gaze that earned him the Big Bad Wolf nickname.
“I hope my answers will satisfy you,” Danny replied calmly. He held out the bottle. “For dinner.”
Accepting the wine, Connor nodded. “A good one. My family owns the vineyard.”
“I’ll take that,” Louisa said, taking the bottle from her husband as she shot him a look. “You guys go into the living room.”
“This way,” Connor said to Danny, still holding on to Jules.
“I know what you’re doing,” she murmured to him.
Connor arched his brow. “I should hope so. You’re ours. I want to make sure he understands that.”
She rolled her eyes. “A blind man would have gotten it.”
He let go of her in the living room so she could sit next to Danny. Danny winked at her good-naturedly, taking her hand with a deliberate look at Connor.
Connor sat in a wide leather chair, legs wide like he was claiming a throne. “So tell me about The Aurora Project.”
Danny looked momentarily nonplussed. “Youwerethorough.”
“I always am,” Connor replied mildly.