Julian turned to reply, and she quickly realized the mistake she’d made. Their lips hovered close, and his minty breath puffed against her cheek. She almost jerked back, but she’d been honing her ability to appear unaffected for a long time and didn’t want to ruin all her hard work with a hasty retreat. They had a rhythm, she and Julian, one they’d perfected to a near science after three years of…friendship? She guessed you’d call it that, though to the outside world they probably looked like enemies. Their relationship was an unending contest of wills and one-upmanship she doubted many could understand.
There was something supremely satisfying in verbally besting him.
The music changed, and more girls, Serah included, filled the stage. Quinn’s favorite little nine-year-old flounced across the floor, her face set in composed concentration as she transitioned through the moves. The girls’ matching swan costumes stood out against the cheesy fountain backdrop.
The frustrations of Quinn’s day melted away as she watched her. Despite having the most obnoxious brother on the planet, which couldn’t be counted against the girl, Serah was a cool kid.
Quinn remembered how sad and lonely Serah had been when they’d first met. It had been right after the death of her and Julian’s parents three years ago. The little girl had been understandably devastated. She’d withdrawn from everyone, even her brother. Well—except for Miguel, one of Quinn’s fellow agents. Miguel still checked in with Serah every few months, which kept him in Quinn’s good graces. He was an agent who’d not always chosen the right side, but he’d saved Serah’s life, and she’d never forget that.
After that awful day, everyone in her circle had tacitly decided to adopt Serah for themselves. She didn’t know what had drawn her so inexorably to Serah. Maybe it was Quinn’s own tough-love parenting and an urge to give a little of what she’d missed out on. But little girls needed a woman in their lives, and Quinn was going to be there for her. She couldn’t let Julian be the one to teach her about tampons or shopping for a bra. Just—no.
“So,” Julian’s voice interrupted her thoughts, “did the email Edith sent get lost?”
Quinn rolled her eyes. Of course not. Edith was like a computer…and a saint for putting up with him. She’d known he wouldn’t let her tardiness go without comment. That didn’t mean she had to respond to his baiting tactics. She’d ignore him.
He must have got the hint, because he changed the subject. “What’s with the fancy get-up? Hot date?”
“Yeah, that’s it. A hot date with the entire Electoral Commissioners’ Board.”
“Why, Agent Lehi, you little hussy. I didn’t realize you were into that kind of thing.”
“Shove it, Julian.”
Not an inspired come-back, but the last part had the desired outcome. He winced. He hated being called Julian, which is why she did it every chance she got. Most people called him Collins, which he preferred. She’d learned early on the trump card could be played as often as she liked and still get a rise out of him. She’d teased him with it for so long, she could think of him as nothing else.
The performance was cute. Serah glowed with happiness, and all her hard work obviously paid off. The girl next to her…not so much. The little brunette pirouetted, or whatever you called it, completely off the beat. Then it happened. The darker haired girl spun her leg right into Serah’s hip, and they both went down.
Julian jumped up swearing, turning Quinn’s ears pink as everyone swung their shocked expressions in their direction. Serah hopped up again, gliding back into synchronicity with the other girls, and Quinn tugged on Julian’s sleeve to get him to sit back down.
“What a little snake,” he gritted through clenched teeth. “I bet she did that on purpose.”
Quinn almost laughed, except he looked serious. “Julian, she’s nine.”
The rest of the performance passed without further incident, and with one final bow, the recital was over. Quinn and Julian stood with the rest of the families and applauded the tiny troupe of ballerinas. The whole thing was so short, another fifteen minutes late and she would have missed the entire show.
Everyone piled into the aisle as the girls exited through a side door by the stage to be greeted by their adoring families. Once Serah finally squeezed through, Julian caught her up in his arms and lifted her over his head, drawing a squeal from his little sister.
“You were amazing up there,” he said. “I see a long career as a prima ballerina in your future.”
Serah giggled as Julian tucked her under his arm like a football and looked around as if he couldn’t find her.
“Good grief, Julian, let the girl breathe,” she said, pulling a flush-faced Serah away for a hug of her own.
Julian crossed his arms, turning from brother to businessman in an instant. “Who was that girl who knocked you over?”
“Oh, that’s Millie Sanders. She really struggles to keep up with the music. But she’s good at a lot of other things, so it’s okay.”
Julian grumbled something she couldn’t make out and searched out over the crowd. His stare stopped, and Quinn turned in the same direction. There slumped poor, off-beat Millie Sanders, leaving with the lady who’d shushed them. Julian scoffed, “Figures.”
Quinn barely held back a snort at the disgusted look he wore.
“Anyway,” he said, turning back to Serah, “we can’t forget your present. Not after a performance like that.”
Serah’s eyes glowed as she bounced on her toes, and her brother pulled out a small jewelry box.
“Oh, it’s perfect,” Serah exclaimed, eyeing the small silver ballet slipper charm inside.
Julian did this after every big performance, a new charm for Serah’s charm bracelet. Their mother had started the tradition, and Julian hadn’t let it end. Honestly, this side of Julian was the most potent by far. His money? Who cared? Money could only get a person so far. And his money went really far, but still, it had never mattered to her. His looks? Obviously, he was next-level attractive. Wavy copper hair on a tall muscular physique, those disarming blue eyes, and a jaw she itched to trace. But then, the things that came out of his mouth were usually enough to tamp down that flame.
But the way he acted with Serah? How he loved her with his whole heart? It turned Quinn into a puddle of goo. No matter how busy he got with work, he never missed something important to her. A girl couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to have that kind of focus directed at her. But the two of them were too combustible and she had no interest in ever being his flavor of the week.
She’d decided a long time ago that she would never go there with him. Quinn had dated a player once, and that was enough for her. Besides, this thing they had going, where she played a significant part in Serah’s life, would be so awkward and painful when it didn’t work out.
Serah grabbed Quinn’s hand and then Julian’s, linking them all together. “I’m hungry, let’s celebrate my accomplishments with dessert,” she said, drawing chuckles from her and Julian both. Julian lifted their linked hands, picking Serah up off the ground as they walked. “If you’re hungry, we should probably grab some real food.”
“I’m not hungry for real food. I’m hungry for ice cream.”