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“Of course. You’re extremely good-looking and very charming.”

Julian brought his hand to his chest. “A man who pays compliments.” He flashed me a smile. “This one’s a keeper.”

Before I could protest that we didn’t have that kind of relationship, Finnley raised his glass.

“To Julian’s clients.” He grinned. “Who clearly have excellent taste.” The others raised their glasses.

Julian flushed. “I know I’ve never come right out and said how I earn a crust, but⁠—”

Zane snorted. “Honey, please. A crust wouldn’t even pay for one of your shoes.”

He chuckled. “Fair point.”

“And we’re your family,” Theo said quietly. “We don’t judge.”

Julian swallowed. “You’re way better than the family I left behind in Bristol, that’s for sure.”

Finnley leaned forwards immediately. “Right, now we’ve got that out into the open…” He pointed a finger at Julian. “Important question.”

Julian narrowed his eyes. “Why do I think I’m not going to like this?”

“Do you have any embarrassing client stories?”

The entire table perked up.

Julian blinked twice. “Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come on.” Milo grinned. “Occupational hazards must exist.”

Sebastian nodded. “Every job has them,” he remarked, his tone solemn.

Elliott finished his beer. “Coffee shop customers cry over oat milk. Surely your clients do something weird.”

Julian folded his arms. “I value my professional discretion.”

Finnley grinned. “You don’t have to name names.”

Theo took a sip of his drink. “Think of it as a public service.”

Julian looked around the table at ten extremely interested faces. “You are all terrible people.”

Quinn raised a hand politely. “Hypothetically, has anyone ever asked you to pretend to be a pirate?”

The table dissolved into laughter.

Julian stared at him. “Why a pirate?”

Quinn shrugged. “I feel like someone, somewhere, has to have a thing about pirates.”

Milo wheezed. “Captain Clipboard would hate that.”

Theo pointed a finger at him. “Do not drag me into pirate kink.”

Finnley slapped the table. “You’re telling me no one’s ever asked you to say ‘Ahoy’ or ‘Shiver me timbers’ in bed?”

Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. “I hate all of you.”

Sebastian leaned forward. “So that’s a yes.”