Of course, if one of her old bosses had asked her to share an apartment with his or her forty-year-old sibling, that hell no would have shot out of her mouth quicker than a bullet. But she wasn’t here to analyze the psychology behind military relationships; she was here to enjoy herself.

She finished off her drink in a single swallow, grabbed Daniel by the wrist, and dragged him back to the dance floor.

Maybe, later on, she would enjoy him.

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

A mélange of bright pinks and blazing oranges streaked across the mirrored windows of the high-rise next door as the setting sun continued its leisurely plummet below the horizon. The nightly ballad of file drawers sliding shut, desk lamps clicking off, and computer monitors drifting into sleep mode played throughout the office as, one by one, his coworkers wrapped up their workday. By his count they were down to less than ten people in the entire office. He could work with that number.

Daniel maintained the appearance of being swamped at his desk, all while discreetly monitoring the stairs that led to Trendsetters’ second floor.

“Are you trying to make the rest of us look like slackers?”

He jerked around. “Hey, John!” Daniel tried to cover his surprised flinch by reaching for his water bottle. “Didn’t realize you were still here.”

“I have to pick the oldest kid up from football practice. Makes more sense to hang around the office instead of driving up to Round Rock then driving back down.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve heard stories about how seriously Texans take their high school football.”

“Almost as seriously as we take our barbecue,” John said. “My fourteen-year-old freshman made the junior varsity team. My wife doesn’t like it, though, which is why I’m tasked with all football practice duties.”

“Ouch.” Daniel searched for his best good-natured laugh.

John peered at his Apple Watch. “I need to get going. Hey, I’m sorry about this new twist with the Leyland project. That’s how these things go sometimes. It’ll make for late nights for all of us.”

“Whatever the customer wants.” Daniel hunched his shoulders in a what are you gonna do shrug. “That deadline is looming. I figured I’d stay late tonight and make as much headway as possible.”

“Man, am I happy Justin put you on this team.” John clamped him on the shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Take it easy.”

“You too. And good luck to your son’s team this year.”

“Not my son,” John said with a proud smile. “It’s my daughter. She’s the placekicker.” He pointed at Daniel. “Don’t stay here all night.”