Confident. Smug. They greeted the chapter president like old friends, laughed at something he said, and took their seats at the head table as if they belonged there.
Because of where I was standing, they hadn't seen me yet.
I waited until the first course was served, until everyone was settled and eating. Then I picked up the tray for the head table.
Samantha looked up as I approached. Froze.
I served the chapter president first. Then the treasurer.
Then I set Samantha's plate in front of her with a flourish.
"Ms. Morrison. Mr. Walters. Welcome to Coogan's Break."
Samantha's smile was tight. "Ms. Becker. Lovely event."
"Thank you. I take food safety seriously." I met her eyes. "I'm sure you'd agree, given your visit to my kitchen yesterday."
Something flickered in her expression.
"Very thorough operation," Justin said smoothly.
"I'm meticulous. Regular deep cleans, every surface, every corner." I smiled pleasantly. "Found some interesting things yesterday during my post-visitor inspection."
Samantha's face went carefully blank.
"Security cameras are wonderful for quality oversight." I adjusted her silverware. "The health inspector seemed satisfied this afternoon. Funny how anonymous tips sometimes lead nowhere."
I saw when she understood. When she realized their sabotage had failed.
"Enjoy your dinner."
I walked away. Behind me, Justin's urgent whisper was loud enough to have the chapter president asking if everything was all right.
In the staging area, Daemon was waiting. He'd watched the whole thing.
"Beautiful," he said quietly.
"Just the opening move." I checked the upcoming courses. "Now they know the trap failed, but with no idea how. Let them spend the next month wondering what's sitting in my office safe."
"They're trapped. And they can't say anything about the food." He fell silent, watching the pair. "Although they're having trouble swallowing right now."
His amusement was such that he had to slap a hand over his mouth to stop the laughter. I was about to do the same when I remembered I was wearing foodservice gloves. In the end, I had to make do with swallowing my giggles.
"Between you and me, I hope they choke." I looked at him. "Let them sit there all evening, wondering exactly what I caught."
He pulled me close and kissed my forehead in a way that had me longing for more. So much more.
"You have no idea what it does to me when you take control like that," he said, his voice low.
"Don't," I warned, my response to his nearness that of a woman, not a girl. "If you're sweet to me right now, I’ll lose it."
His laugh was low and quiet, meant only for me. His hands were at my waist, and I could feel the adrenaline still moving through me, bright and restless, with nowhere to go.
At least not without causing a scene. Damn, I wanted him so much.
"Come here," he said, and before I could ask where exactly here was, he had his hand around mine and was steering me through the staging area and into the narrow supply corridor behind it.
It was dark and smelled of linen and cleaning products and a hundred previous events. Daemon turned me until my back met the shelving and stepped in close, one hand flat against the shelf beside my head, the other still at my waist.
