Page 58 of The Au Pair Affair

“It is.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile.

He shivered. “Jesus. You’re right. That’s cold.”

“Pray you’re never on the receiving end.” She hooked their elbows together and dragged him forward. “Now, stop stalling. It’s going to be educational. We can identify what you need to work on.”

“If you talk to any of these guys, we’re leaving.”

The pulse in her neck went utterly bananas. “That’s not helpful.”

“I don’t care.”

Every single person at the mixer was facing them now, watching as they approached, half of them frozen in shock, the other half verging closer to fascination. “Hi, everyone! Sorry we’re late.” She extended a hand toward the person wearing an Organizer badge, smiling as they shook. “I’m Tallulah. This is my friend, Burgess.”

“I knew that was him,” someone whispered.

“Sir Savage,” growled one of the men, pounding a fist to his pink pinstriped chest.

Burgess beat his own chest once without missing a beat. “How’s it going?”

Pink Pinstripes stepped forward, apparently taking the role as group spokesman. “Are you really here for this singles mixer?”

“It’s a Young Professionals Meetup,” droned the Organizer.

“Sure, dude.” Pinstripes sent the group a smirk. “My question is, what is Sir Savage doing here?”

“I’m asking myself the same question,” Burgess said.

“You’re an NHL legend. Can’t you just date whoever you want?”

Burgess frowned at Tallulah. “Apparently not.”

“As you were, everyone,” Tallulah said quickly, praying her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. “Just pretend he’s a regular Joe, okay?”

“Do you want a lemonade?” asked the Organizer.

“No,” Burgess shouted.

“He hates joy in all forms,” Tallulah explained in a whisper.

A young woman in a blue wrap dress slipped in front of Burgess with her hand out and Tallulah watched in slow motion, stomach gurgling, as Burgess raised his paw and grasped the offered hand, spreading a smile across the lady’s face. “Hi, I’m Jeanine.”

“Nice to meet you, Jeanine.”

Tallulah realized her arm was still linked with Burgess’s and tried to slip free, but he trapped her without so much as a blink. Jeanine watched the action with a bemused smile... that was mirrored by the other two women—Samara and Annie—who joined their small offshoot group. Burgess shook all their hands with the enthusiasm of a man meeting the Grim Reaper.

“So how do you two know each other?” Annie asked, gesturing with her lemonade.

Tallulah nudged Burgess to answer, in the interest of him taking the conversational center stage. Her throat wasn’t shrinking to the size of a swizzle stickat all.

“She’s my daughter’s au pair,” Burgess said, finally.

“Wow.” Annie drew out the word, exchanging knowing glances with Samara and Jeanine. “Interesting.”

Burgess made a gruff sound. “You could say that.”

“It’s a little unusual for a man to be such good friends with his au pair, isn’t it?” Samara asked, her mouth on the rim of her lemonade cup. “Accompanying you on something of a romantic outing...?”

The Organizer cleared his throat. “The object is to make professional connections—”

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