Page 43 of The Allure of Ruins

Colton nodded, finishing his Southwest salad, because unlike me, he’d eaten with his friends earlier that night. I was supposed to have eaten at Mr. Somerset’s, but because of Janelle, I had to abandon my plate. Colton had a previous engagement, so he’d chosen to eat with people he liked instead and make a cursory appearance at Mr. Somerset’s dinner. And then, of course, he ended up having to collect me.

“I gotta tell you something funny,” I began, grinning. “Jonah hit on Mr. Somerset’s seventeen-year-old daughter.”

“For fuck’s sake,” he rumbled. “How is that funny?”

“Because he had no idea she was seventeen.”

His eyebrows lifted. “No.”

“Yes. Had no idea at all. He thought she was in her twenties.”

“Which is still too young for him.”

“But not illegal.”

“And you did what?”

“I interfered because she looked uncomfortable, and you know I always have to say something in those situations.”

“Yes, I know.”

“It turned out fine, because he was mortified and I persuaded her to change out of her little black dress and into actual cold-weather clothing.”

“That was helpful.”

“Because I’m always helpful,” I concluded.

“And hungry,” Diaz chimed in. “That’s impressive how many carbs you put away.”

I smiled at him.

“So since you helped the man, is that why he’s suddenly Jonah? Did you bond after you stepped in?”

“I think we did.”

“I don’t care. You’re not allowed to go work for him.”

I waved my hand dismissively. “He doesn’t actually want me, he’s only worried because he’s losing Tobias.”

“Who?”

“His assistant.”

“Which one is Tobias?”

“You said he dresses like he should be parking cars at an Italian restaurant.”

Beale smiled. “I can totally see this guy in my head.”

“Right?” Colton said, then grinned at me. “Okay, so why is he losing Tobias?”

Reaching across the table, I slipped my hand around his wrist, because I always had to touch him when we were talking. “Because Drummond Burgess is coming to work at the firm on Monday, and Tobias is going to work for him.”

“Drummond?”

I waggled my eyebrows at him.

“David Burgess named his kid Drummond?”