Dani licked her own fingers, grinning as she searched for the next delicious bite to eat amongst the jumble on the table. She peeled and bit into a shrimp, moaning at the explosion of flavor in her mouth. Her pleasured sounds were enough for Zed to need to move behind one of the high-top “drinking tables” for cover. The spicy juices from the garlic-rich seafood ran down Dani’s arm as she ate. She laughed, and followed its trail down her skin with her tongue, licking it clean.

He could stand here for hours, enjoying the spectacle of her meal, without taking a bite himself. She ate like someone who loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest. And it was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

Zed noted that the intense girl who guarded the entrance to Jillian’s office, Lara, was taking pictures of Dani’s culinary delight with a fancy-looking camera. Jillian said something about using photos from the party in promotional materials. Zed made a mental note to bribe Lara with some form of pie to get a copy of Dani’s photo.

Suddenly the seat next to Dani was occupied by some tool from the League’s research department, one of the first League reps Zed had met after Jillian’s return to town . . . Dr. John As . . . something . . . Assface? No, that couldn’t be his legal name, but Zed was definitely comfortable calling him an assface at the moment. He slid onto the picnic table next to Dani, tied a cloth around his neck and began picking through the boil mix. He was blond with a perfect Ken doll jawline and Zed hated him on principle.

Dani was smiling as Dr. Assface made small talk. Though his ears couldn’t quite pick up his voice over the noise of the crowd, Zed could imagine Dr. Ken Doll Assface saying, “Oh, it’s so nice being so much more worldly and sophisticated than every person in this town. I think you’ll find I have much more in common with you than anyone else here, what with my fancy pants education. Would you like to leave this lame party to go enjoy a latte with me at my condo? We can watch a depressing documentary on climate change.”

Okay, that probably wasn’t fair. Most people wouldn’t open a conversation that way, particularly when Dani was obviously enjoying herself at the party. But he was sure a latte offer would be involved if Dr. Assface asked Dani out. These League people practically worshipped lattes.

He should walk over there and ask Dani if she wanted some gumbo. Or just pick up Dr. Assface and toss him to the mermaids in the inlet. That would be a reasonable response to this situation, right?

“Hey, Zed, um, your claws are out,” Bael said, appearing at his elbow.

Startling, Zed grimaced and stuck his hands behind his back.

Bael asked, “You okay, man?”