Her shoulders eased up, her lips struggling not to break out into a grin.

And he went back to his food.

“I’ve never seen you two together this long,” Veni said from his elbow, dawning realization in her voice. “So I never understood how well you know each other.”

His chopsticks loaded up with noodles, Danny frowned. “I’m sure I met you the year after I first met Catie—you and your dad drove Catie up to Auckland one time.”

“I don’t mean timewise.” She waved a hand, her nails unpolished and clipped short due to her work as an ICU nurse. “It’s how you know each other—you do that eye-talking thing all the time. It’s fascinating to watch.”

Not sure if he was embarrassed to have been caught at it or happy because she’d pointed out that he and Catie were intimate on more than just the level of the physical, Danny opted to shove the noodles into his mouth to give himself room to think.

It also gave him time to process the fact that Ward was walking back to the table with a noticeable limp—as if he’d injured the leg on which he wore a prosthesis. Forehead furrowing, he watched the other man slip into his seat beside Catie and lean his head toward her while shooting dagger looks at Danny.

Seriously? The dude was trying to set Danny up as a bully?

22

MEMO TO WARD: CATIE IS NOT HERE FOR YOUR BS

“Your new boyfriend thought it was funny to kick out my leg.”

Catie almost stabbed her chopsticks into Ward’s classically handsome face, which was all sharp lines and bright blue eyes. “Ward, you’re just being an idiot now,” she said calmly. “You’re the one who cheated, remember? This dog in the manger stuff doesn’t suit you.”

Those pretty eyes glittered.

She wasn’t afraid of violence. Ward was the kind of macho asshole who picked fights with men but didn’t hit women. She’d never have gone out with him if she’d realized his fight-picking tendencies off the bat, but oh well, live and learn.

“Are you saying you don’t believe me?” His voice rose.

She kept hers even and looked him full in the eyes. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” A quiet statement punchy with withheld fury. “Now, unless you want me to call you a liar in front of everyone, you’ll shut it with that fake story.”

Ward stared at her, his mouth falling open. But he snapped it shut when she shot him another glare.

Danny was looking over with death in his eyes when she glanced his way. She shook her head slightly, her eyes communicating that she’d dealt with the situation. His own narrowed, but he settled back down.