“Gran,” Dash complains good-naturedly, “Not everyone needs a full background check.”

“It’s fine,” I say brightly. “I grew up in the suburbs in New Jersey.”

“And where did you go to school?”

“Newpark Community College,” I reply, waiting for the look of disdain, but instead, Zelda remains impassive.

“And Dash says you work in the beauty industry?”

“That’s right. I work at a store in the city, but I’m starting my own makeup line,” I reply.

“An entrepreneur…” Again, Zelda gives an inscrutable pause. “How interesting.”

Silence.

OK then. I turn my attention back to my appetizer, which is soon traded out for a delicious steak dish. Filet mignon with a peppercorn sauce.

Hell, even if I don’t get the investment, at least I’m eating like a queen this weekend.

Piper fills the time chatting about her MBA assignments, and Zelda updates Dash on various charity functions, until I almost think I can make it through dinner without any more interrogation, until Piper fixes me with a grin.

“So, I’ve been wondering, how did you two meet?”

Dash and I exchange a quick look. Damn, we should have prepared a cover story.

“It’s not that interesting,” Dash says quickly. “We met at a bar, she couldn’t resist me. You know, same old story.”

I bite back a laugh. Clearly the man’s ego doesn’t take a break on home turf.

“You don’t need to be coy, sweetie,” I coo, fluttering my eyelashes at him. “He can be sooo romantic,” I tell the others. “Really swept me off my feet.”

“Dash, romantic?” Piper repeats in disbelief.

“Oh my gosh, yes,” I exclaim, getting into the swing of things. “He saw me working at the store, you see, and came in every day for a month, asking me for a date. I swear, the man bought so many bottles of cologne, we thought he was huffing them like paint thinner.”

Dash makes a strangled sound beside me, but I’m on a roll now.

“I kept turning him down,” I continue, patting his hand, “but he was so smitten that he came in with a string quartet one day and serenaded me with that song from Ten Things I Hate About You right there in the middle of the cosmetics section. You know, the one Health Ledger sings in the stadium.”

“No way?” Piper’s eyes practically bulge out of her head. “He sang to you?!”

“He tried.” I grin. “It’s a shame his voice doesn’t measure up to the rest of him, but we can’t be good at everything now, can we? Or, you know, most things. I suppose it’s a good thing he has those looks!”

I risk a look at Dash, who is trying his hardest not to burst out laughing. He gulps his water, coughing.

“Everything okay, dear?” Zelda asks.

“Fine,” he wheezes. “Just had my wine go down the wrong way.” He takes a deep breath, then gives me a look. “Sugar-cube, I thought we’d agreed to keep that story to ourselves for now?”