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Katie shrugged out of her leather jacket and smoothed the flounced sleeves of her costume. The white lace glowed purple under the lights. She had no intention of going anywhere near Linnea or Chloe or any of the Byrne cousins. Then Brendan would find out she was here and she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to know. Not yet anyway. She needed to stay incognito.
Axel returned with a claim check ticket and she tucked it inside her bag. “Your escort will be here in a moment.”
She smiled with a slight nod. “Thank you.”
A couple minutes had passed when Katie sensed someone was there beside her. She glanced over to see yet another man in black from head to toe. Even with half of his face hidden behind a mask she just knew he was beautiful. Purple light glinted in his long black hair and reflected in his ice-blue eyes. Eyes just like Brendan’s. She gulped.
No. Please, no.
The man smiled at her. “Hello, cousin.” He gave her his arm. “So happy you could join us. Shall we?”
She was so fucked.
His smile dropped as soon as they left the lobby. He backed her into the wall, caging her with an arm on each side of her head. “My wife doesn’t have a cousin. Who the fuck are you? Because I sure as hell know you’re not Kelly Matthews.”
So much for staying incognito.
“I’m Katie…Katie Copeland. Kelly’s my aunt.”
The man, Linnea’s husband and Brendan’s cousin, whose name she couldn’t remember, began to laugh. He took a step back and then he did the oddest thing. He hugged her.
“You’re coffee girl.” He grinned.
“Excuse me?”
“You know, Beanie’s. Coffee girl. You’re Bren’s girl.” He looked her up and down, then hooked his arm around her shoulders. “I’m his cousin, Kyan. C’mon. Nice outfit, by the way. He’s going to love it.”
Nooo. Fuck!
They came to a staircase and she stopped. “Look, Kyan, Brendan and I…I’m not his girl. He doesn’t even know that I’m here.”
He just smiled at her. “It’s okay. He’ll be happy you came to surprise him. C’mon.” Kyan nudged her toward the stairs. “The girls are here and we’ll introduce you to everyone.”
Oh god. I can’t. I look like an eighteenth century French whore.
“Is he up there?”
“Not at the moment.” He chuckled. “Relax.”
When they got to the top of the stairs Katie was finally able to take in the opulence around her. She’d never seen anything like it. Well, of course she hadn’t. She’d never even been inside a regular dance club, never mind a club like this. Kyan slowed down so she could lean over the railing and look her fill.
“I feel like I’m at the X-rated version of the haunted mansion in Disneyland.”
He laughed. “You’re not too far off. Have you ever been to Disneyland?”
“I went to Disney World once.” She giggled.
“Close enough.” His arm went back around her. “Here we are.”
Kyan took her arm and led her to an intimate space, sectioned off by gauzy draping that hung to the floor from dark wood beams suspended by chains in the exposed ductwork ceiling. A gigantic U-shaped plum sofa with oversized, comfortable-looking pillows and an antique chandelier centered over the seating area were the focal points of the room. Exposed brick. Flickering candles. Rich, luxurious colors. The eclectic mix of elements were magnificent. It was hard to imagine that at one time this entire building was an old dusty, dingy warehouse.
“Katie?”
Chloe jumped up from the sofa where she had been seated between two men. Of course she knew one of them was her husband, Taylor Kerrigan from Venery. Matcha tea latte. She’d met him briefly when he came into the shop with Brendan. The other long-haired man must be Brendan’s cousin, who was also her husband. It was a bit confusing. She hoped she could keep it all straight.
Her new redheaded friend pulled Katie in for a hug like they’d known each other forever and not just a few months. “Holy shit! I can’t believe you’re here! This is wonderful—you and Brendan together at last!” Chloe smirked and playfully poked her shoulder. “I’d almost given up on the two of you—between you chasing the damn butterflies and him being such an ass.” She hugged her again. “But here you are, and girl, he’s going to die when he sees you!”
Katie gave her a weak smile. “Thanks, but…uh…me and Brendan aren’t, um, together.”
