Page 30 of Sweeper
She glances down and steps over the big pieces before shooing Booker and me out of the way. We both stand on opposite sides of the sink as we watch her drop her tools on the floor and dip her head under the sink, getting drenched before coming back out to dig in the box. Maybe the universe doesn’t hate me after all because I have a very good vantage point of Daphney’s face and chest covered in water. Her robe has been forced open to reveal some very delectable cleavage and a quick glance downward shows that the water is very cold indeed. A thrumming begins in my groin, and I force myself to look up at the ceiling as she works so I don’t pop a fucking boner in front of my teammate.
Within minutes, the water stops, and the only noise left in the kitchen is the faint trickling of excess water dripping out of the cupboard and onto the floor. Daphney stands and turns her back to the sink as she swipes her hand across her face, pushing back the damp strands as she rewraps her robe over her chest.
She drops a wrench in her toolbox. “Old building means old pipes. I’ve told my brother that some of the fittings need to be replaced by a proper plumber, but he hasn’t got around to it yet.”
It feels as though my tongue is hanging out of my mouth because Daphney just came in here and handled that pipe like a boss. I wonder what else she could handle.
“Figures this is Hayden’s fault,” Booker says knowingly. “But at least I got to see you, Daph.” He leans in and presses a swift kiss to her cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Booker. What on earth has you out so late? I thought Teddy and Oliver weren’t sleeping through the night yet.”
“The little buggers aren’t.” Booker mock cries. “And Poppy is going to kill me for staying out, but I lost track of time.”
My face twists with confusion as I stare openmouthed at the two of them talking like old friends. “How do you two…?” I point between them, unable to finish the sentence because I think I’ve been stupefied.
“Booker’s sister is married to my brother,” Daphney answers like it all makes perfect sense.
“My sister Vi, her brother Hayden,” Booker offers when I continue to stare at them like I don’t speak English.
“Wait, are you telling me the landlord Hayden is married to Vi Harris?” I ask, putting it all together in my own words.
Booker nods. “Vi goes by Clarke now.”
My eyes twitch as I scramble to figure out if that means Daphney is related to Booker. Because if I turn out to be related to Booker, that means I’m having sexual thoughts about someone I’m potentially blood related to.I’m a fucking pervert.
My mind is messier than the floor we’re standing on, so I just flat out ask, “Are you two related?”
“Not by blood,” Daphney replies casually and glances at Booker. “I guess you could say we’re in-law, in-laws? Is that a thing?”
“It can be if we want it to be.” Booker shrugs. “Although it sounds a bit distant. You’re pretty much family now.”
Daphney reaches out and rubs Booker’s arm. “Aw, thanks, Booker. You were always my favorite Harris Brother, so the feeling is mutual. Although, I think you could call me ‘framily.’ That’s what my friend Phoebe calls me. It’s basically like friends who are chosen to be family.”
“That’s perfect, actually.” Booker smiles. “I have loads of framily now that I think—”
“I just…I didn’t…I had no…” My mouth can’t find words.
Booker and Daphney eye me warily before Booker says, “Well, while Zander digests this apparently shocking bit of info, I’m going to duck out to get home before the boys wake up for the first time tonight. Sorry to leave you with a mess, mate.” Booker pats me on my frozen shoulder. “But thanks for the fun night. It was exactly what I needed.” He turns his focus to Daphney. “See you Sunday?”
“I can’t turn down Vi’s cooking even if I tried. She’d literally drag me out of here if I didn’t show up.”
“That she would.” Booker laughs and makes a hasty departure.
As he leaves, Daphney turns to double-check the pipe one more time, so I grab a broom and start cleaning up the mess. This new information has me reeling more than it should. I’m not sure why I’m so affected by it. I guess the crossing of two worlds, maybe?
Daphney holds the trash can for me as I dump the glass into it. “I’ll get a plumber in here tomorrow so this doesn’t happen again.”
“Sounds good.” I grip the broom and pull awkwardly on my wet shirt, feeling a chill run down my body. “So, you’re like…close with the Harris family?”
Daphney shrugs. “A bit, I suppose. When I moved to London last year, they all but demanded I come to their Sunday dinners at Vaughn’s house. And the Harrises aren’t exactly a family you can say no to. They’ve really mastered that whole Harris Shakedown thing they’re famous for.”
I blink back at her, my eyes widening. “You go hang out with all of them every Sunday? At Vaughn Harris’s house?”
“Not every Sunday. Just when I can.” She laughs and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you’re still fangirling over the Harrises. You’ve been training with the team for a couple of weeks now, right? Don’t you see Booker, Tanner, and Vaughn every day?”
I roll my jaw from side to side. “Yeah, it’s not that…I just…I didn’t realize your brother was married to a Harris. It just threw me, I guess.”
Daphney sets her toolbox on the counter. “Well, the Harris clan all sort of perpetuate each other’s business endeavors in many ways…fashion, housing, philanthropy. Whatever any of them have a hand in, they all find a way to support each other. Hayden owns a few properties, so I’m sure when Vaughn needed a place for you, he thought he’d see what Hayden had vacant first.”
