“Oh, girl. If you are, I’ll totally volunteer to sit in for an ice cream eating binge. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I could stuff my face with some good ’ole Ben and Jerry’s and not have a string of men look at me like I’m crazy?”

Definitely good people. Every freaking one of them. “I think I owe you an apology.”

Evette straightened to the very height of her petite frame. “You do? For what?”

How could she say what she wanted to without looking like an idiot? Or worse, digging a hole she’d never crawl out of? “I misjudged you. All of you.” She scanned the room and ensured no one was there to overhear. “People told me stories at work. About Kir. About Sergei...”

Comprehension settled in Evette’s sharp eyes, but with it came an unexpected lightness. A knowing humor as bright and bold as her personality. “Oh, that. Thought you were gonna show up and find a stiff crowd with all of us packing heat, huh?” She laughed and waved it off. “I get it. I was knocked off-kilter the first time I came around these guys, too. And trust me, there are some aspects to being around them that will make you absolutely bonkers—like when Kir finally decides you’re not allowed to so much as cross the street without a bodyguard with you. But for the most part, they’re the best damned family a girl could ask for.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Do what?”

“Put a bodyguard on me.”

Evette’s head snapped back. “Seriously?”

Cassie nodded.

Gaze narrowing, Evette pursed her mouth for a second. “How about if I ask you a question first.”

“Such as?”

“How serious would you say you and Kir are?”

“We’re not. I mean, we were...something. Intimate, I guess. But that was a while ago. Then I went and screwed it up because I listened to what everyone at work was telling me about...well... Sergei, so I didn’t return Kir’s calls. Then, after I apologized a few weeks ago, he asked me to help him do some research.”

“Some research.” Not a snarky clarification so much as that tone your mom got when she absolutely could not believe you’d asked her for money one day after she’d given you your allowance.

“Mmm-hmm.”

Evette cast her a sidelong look. “You know, when you two walked in here tonight, Kir was looking mighty possessive of you.”

“I know. That’s one of the things that’s thrown me off tonight. He’s always been very gentlemanly. Opens doors and holds my elbow when I’m walking to the car, but tonight he was...different. Much more attentive and very hands on. And secretive, or something.”

“And you haven’t asked yourself why he was different?”

“Well, yes. But I only had the drive here to ponder it, and then I got here and got distracted by everyone else.”

While Evette didn’t outright laugh in her face, her eyes sure did spark with delight. “Yeah, I can see how we’d throw a girl for a loop.” Still smiling, she studied Cassie for a second or two. As if she wanted to let Cassie in on a secret, but wasn’t altogether sure it was a good idea.