Page 28 of Hired Husband

“They always do,” she said, turning toward me with her lips pressed together to keep from laughing. “Here’s a pro tip for next time.”

“Next time?”

“There will be a next time.” Her eyes sparkled as she jerked her head toward the building. “Just this museum hosts at least half a dozen events a year. So next time, no matter where you are, just pretend to drink.”

“Pretend?” I repeated lamely. “To drink? How does that even work?”

She gave me a slightly exasperated smile. “You pick up the glass, bring it to your lips, and put it back down again.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded. “So I don’t toss it over my shoulder when no one’s looking?”

She grinned. “Too risky. But hey, look it at this way. It could’ve been worse.”

“They could have made me take shots?” I guessed out loud.

She shook her head. “They could have busted out the cigars.”

“Gross. Cigars smell amazing until they’re lit. Then they’re awful.”

“Exactly,” she said quietly, looking back out toward the city lights. “Given half a chance, they would have you puffing on one from the moment you arrived.”

“I’ll take the booze any day.” I braced a hand against the cool stone and followed her gaze. “It’s pretty out here.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, sighing before she glanced back at me. “I don’t mind the events, but I find I always need to escape the prying eyes for a few minutes. There’s always someone watching at a gala like this, you know?”

I thought back to my interaction with David and nodded. “That’s why I tend to avoid big parties. I’d take getting lost exploring an old neighborhood any night over attending fancy events with judgmental pricks.”

She turned to face me again, a slight furrow between her eyebrows. “Why did you say that?”

“Because it’s true,” I said. “Also, before your father sent me that invitation, that was my plan for tonight. I was going to take a cab to Old Cairo and just wander around. I mean, don’t get me wrong, those exhibits in there are awesome in the truest sense of the word, but I’d rather come check them out during the day when I can actually spend time looking at them.”

Jasmine suddenly smiled. “I like that too. Just putting on a hat and sunglasses and spending the day going wherever my feet take me.”

I blinked back my surprise. “I feel like I should’ve known that about you.”

“Why?” she asked, but it didn’t sound like she expected an answer. “The things you don’t know about me could fill several libraries of books.”

I laughed. “I suppose that’s true.”

“At least next week, we get to leave the city behind for a little while.” A tiny smile appeared. “Despite the fact that I have to be your guide, I’m kind of looking forward to it.”

“Despite the fact?” I bumped my shoulder lightly against hers. “Bullshit. Admit it, you’re looking forward to being my guide.”

“Fair enough. I am looking forward to the part where I get to tell you what to do.”

I found myself looking deep into her eyes, leaning just a little bit closer and lowering my voice. “What exactly is it that you’d like me to do, Jasmine?”

She stared at me for a second before she burst out laughing. “Oh, my God. Isaac Thayer, are you trying to flirt with me? You really are drunk.”

“I’m not…” I trailed off, leaning back as I sighed and glanced up toward the sky. “Yeah, I think maybe I am.”

Fuck, maybe I should get a cab. I think the whiskey has officially scrambled my brain.

She doubled down on the teasing then, but I just smiled and took it, because maybe it’d been stupid to try and flirt with her even the littlest bit, but in this quiet corner of the garden, it felt like the night belonged only to us, and thanks to the alcohol, I was more than okay with that.