Tempest calmly eyed Delilah, who simply smiled at Tempest. “Please,” she said, winking at Tempest.
Tempest moved forward and squeezed Brandt’s hand before she led him over to sit where Delilah had indicated.
Delilah turned to Lucien and gestured toward the sofa Everly and Bam sat on.
Lucien looked at Hellen. “You coming?”
“She has an apology to offer,” Delilah said.
“I’m not apologizing until Brandt does. He did this on purpose.”
“You weren’t supposed to get your ass in a sling!” Brandt growled. “It was supposed to be funny, and they’d have met him anyway eventually.”
“You don’t fuck with people’s lives, Brandt. It’s not funny,” Hellen said.
“You good?” Lucien asked Hellen.
Hellen shot him a sullen look.
“Because I can stand here all day if necessary,” he added.
“I’m good. You can go sit. It’s always best to do what Aunt Delilah says. She’s got an Ice Dragon in there. Nobody wants to be that cold.”
Lucien pointed toward the empty space beside Everly. “I’ll be right there. Behaving myself.” He walked over and took a seat beside Everly.
The front door opened and a pretty girl with dark hair, and brightly colored paint splatters covering her clothes and arms walked in. “Hey, everybody! Sorry I’m late.” Her gaze swept the room and figured out quickly that something was on the verge of exploding, or imploding depending on your point-of-view. “What did I miss?” she asked.
“Your brother’s an ass,” Hellen said.
“Yeah, well, we know that. It’s why he’s good at what he does,” Daisy said.
“Your cousin is an ass!” Brandt countered.
“Look, if this is going to work in any fashion, you have got to understand that I’m not going to have her talked to or about like that,” Lucien said to Brandt.
“You as much as called me the same!” Hellen accused.
“I can say it, but nobody else better say it!” Lucien growled.
“Oh! And who’s this?” Daisy asked.
Lucien turned his attention to her and smiled that wickedly charming smile of his. “Hi. I’m Lucien.”
“Nice to meet you, Lucien.”
“Thank you! I’m not sure everyone else is impressed.”
“I’m not!” Hellen informed the room.
“Too bad. You get what you get,” Lucien said.
“Oh, I see. He’s yours,” Daisy said to Hellen as she made her way across the room to take a seat beside Lucien.
“He’s Brandt’s. Brandt said he could stay, not me.”
Lucien smiled politely as Daisy sat down and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. Good luck,” she offered genuinely.
Holding Daisy’s hand in his briefly, Lucien regarded her curiously, before Hellen’s voice caught his attention.
