“Only because I’m starving. Next time we make it fresh.” He didn’t even realize what he’d said until the words were out.

Next time.

As if they’d be cooking together again soon.

Just as well Catie was busy getting the packaged rice and didn’t seem to notice.

Releasing a tight breath, he set the table while she sorted the rice, then he carried the wok over to place it between them on the table.

Two minutes later, they both dug in.

“Yum.” Catie finally spoke after eating half her meal. “I give you permission to say ‘I told you so,’ but the timer is on.” She tapped at her wrist and her nonexistent watch. “Permission expires after thirty seconds.”

He laughed, delighted and happy—and not about to miss this opportunity. Whipping out his phone, he recorded her as he said, “I told you so.”

Catie made a face at the camera, but it was a cute face. Her entire face was just cute.

Maybe he’d taken a knock to the head while drugged. That had to be it. Or it was this whole situation where she’d basically rescued him. Didn’t people imprint on their rescuers? He’d snap out of it.

“So,” she said after swallowing another bite, “what’s the dress code at this premiere? Is it super fancy or just nice?”

“Fancy,” Danny said, glad to have a non-emotive topic on which to focus. “Leon figures a flash premiere might lead to more eyeballs on his work. He put together the play on a shoestring budget, but his dream is to stage a full-fledged historical. Costumes, huge sets, the whole shebang, and for that, he needs to make a splash, get the attention of the right people.”

“He’ll definitely get eyeballs on it if you’re going,” Catie said, but she didn’t ask what many people would have—what he’d charged to attend. Because Catie knew that Danny valued his friends. If he could give them a leg up just by showing up, why the hell not?

Especially when it was the only help Leon would accept. Danny had offered to help finance the play, but Leon had turned him down flat. “You can come onboard when I’m sure I’m going to make a profit,” he’d said. “Until then, it’s a terrible investment risk for you—and I won’t take from my friends to chase my dreams. I need to make it on my own first, need to own any future success.”

Danny understood that need far better than Leon could ever comprehend. He knew his sporting prowess was due to his training and discipline—because even the most naturally talented player wouldn’t make it if he sat around on his ass. But Danny also knew he’d been born into a place of privilege in terms of rugby.

Only this rugby prince’s halo was starting to develop rust.