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My heart fluttered in my chest. “You know I’m just getting started with this business of mine. I’m not booked. Even if I were, I’d find a way since you’ve been so welcoming to me. I’d be honored to create a grazing table for you.”
“Really?” She glanced at Saoirse. “I shouldn’t have said anything, huh?”
Saoirse went in for a piece of cheese. “Sure you should have. Daisy’s building her business. Every job counts. And you will be paying her regular fee, even if she tries to give you a discount.”
Elise shook her head. “I would never ask that.”
Saoirse pinned me with an accusing stare. “I’m one-hundred-and-ten-percent certain you wouldn’t have had to ask. Daisy would have insisted. Luckily, I’m here to knock sense into her before she makes a mistake.” She held up a finger. “Take it from the girl who did far too much free labor before I decided to take myself seriously and charge what I’m worth.”
I nodded, my eyes bugging. “Okay. I’ll take myself seriously.”
Kit leaned her elbows on the counter, giggling as she picked up a piece of Manchego and a breadstick. “As someone who joined this group last year, a word of advice: let yourself be swept up, Daisy. It’s going to happen no matter what.”
I glanced from one gorgeous face to the next. “You guys are so fucking nice.”
Saoirse snorted a laugh, and the others chuckled with her. “Why wouldn’t we be?” she asked, as if it were that simple.
To her, it probably was. The three of them weren’t suspicious of intentions. They were warm and open-armed without needing me to jump through any hoops. I wondered if they had always been like that. Maybe I could get to that place one day too.
If I hung around them for a while.
I corrected myself before letting that thought get too far. There was a time limit to my relationship with Miles.
All this loveliness would disappear from my life right along with him.
Chapter Twenty
Miles
The temperature dropped along with the sun. We built a roaring fire in the outdoor pit and all eight of us were sitting around it, blankets covering us. Everyone was drinking but no one was wasted.
A year ago, in this same position, I would’ve been blitzed and acting stupid. The next day, I wouldn’t have remembered anything, but the shame would have been there.
Now, I got to spend a cozy evening in the mountains, Daisy by my side, curled into me to steal my warmth, talking to my brother and his friends. My friends. Even Elliot was tolerable without a few shots to soften the effect of his existence.
I trailed my fingers along Daisy’s side, tracing the curve of her waist and hip, down to her upper thigh, and back again. She must not have been aware of it, but every time I started my ascent, she let out a high-pitched sigh I felt in my gut. It was so sweet and content—and I was the one making her feel it.
Weston unfolded from his seat, holding up his empty beer bottle. “I’m going to grab another drink. Anyone want a refill?”
Answers were murmured as he grabbed a couple empties on his way, pausing by Daisy and me. “Daisy? Beer? Wine?”
She smiled up at him and lifted her pink lemonade in a tumbler. “I don’t drink. I’m happy with my pink lemonade.”
“All right. I’ll make a mental note.” He winged a brow at me. “You, Miles? I’m surprised you haven’t cracked the Macallan.”
My stomach twisted into ugly knots. “I’m not drinking.”
“Ah…” He nodded like something had dawned on him. “Solidarity with your girl. Nice of you.”
He walked off, and I felt Saoirse’s glare from one side, Daisy’s curious stare from the other. Neither would say anything around everyone else—which was good. I didn’t particularly want to delve into the topic of my brother never seeing me, even now.
“You don’t drink, Daisy?” Saoirse asked.
“No. I did the whole college experimenting thing, but getting wasted has never really held any appeal.”
Elise tuned into their conversation. “You don’t ever want to curl up with a glass of wine after a long day?”
Daisy huffed a laugh. “I work from home designing websites. By the end of the day, I’m so scrunched up, the last thing I want to do is sit more.”
