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Certainly not the reasons why she shouldn’t.
“God, I’m thirsty,” she muttered.
Lauren stepped in front of her, blocking Mark from her line of sight. She didn?
?t know whether to hug her best friend, or push her aside so she could get another look. “Daisy, I’m sorry. Don’t go. I’ll tell Steven to get rid—”
“Hey, cupcake.” Steven came up behind her, throwing his arm over her shoulders, and kissing her temple affectionately. His red hair was as messed up as Mark’s was groomed. Mark stood to the left of the couple, carefully avoiding Daisy’s eyes. “What am I getting rid of for you?”
Lauren froze, looking like a deer in headlights. She’d never been a good liar, or at being put on the spot like that. “I…uh…”
“Nothing big,” Daisy said, forcing a smile. “We were talking about her old cupcakes at work, and she asked if I wanted some. I said no, so she’s just going to chuck them and wants your help doing it.”
Steven frowned. “Don’t throw them away. I’ll eat them. Or we can send some home with Mark for his little girl. Does she like cupcakes?”
Mark stood beside the couple, his hands shoved in his pockets. “What kid doesn’t?”
“See?” He offered Mark a tentative smile. It looked like a truce had been called. Maybe all they’d needed was some time working together closely to get over their differences. “Keep them. Mark wants them.”
Lauren glanced at Mark and bit her lip. “But—”
“Yeah. Keep them.” Daisy interrupted as she locked eyes with Lauren, her heart racing. “They’re fine exactly where they are.”
Mark cocked a brow. He knows exactly what we’re talking about…and it’s not cupcakes. “Glad that’s settled.”
Daisy frowned at him.
His brow inched higher. He gave her a cool smile, but his eyes…they were anything but cool. They were on fire. He looked like he was about to pick her up, toss her over his shoulder, and carry her away so he could do dirty, dirty things to her.
And I’m totally okay with that.
Lauren cleared her throat. “So. All done with the Masters project?”
“Yeah. We followed that old man around for a week. The most dangerous thing he did the whole time was drive his own car. Someone needs to take his license away.”
“Seriously,” Mark agreed, chuckling.
Don’t do that. It’s too sexy.
No laughing allowed.
Daisy wrapped her good arm around herself. “You’re both in security?”
“Yes, we both work at Shillings.”
“I know, but there’s different positions. Security. Analyst. Tech. Accounting.” Daisy cocked her head. “I know you don’t like dangerous jobs in your daughter’s life, so…?”
Mark stiffened, recognizing the blow for what it was—a cheap shot. She’d called him out where he couldn’t defend himself without drawing attention to how well acquainted they were. She wasn’t even sure why she did it. Maybe because he looked so…so…fine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m sure we never discussed it before.”
“Didn’t we? Could’ve sworn it came up at the wedding.”
He frowned, since she didn’t take his hint to knock it off. And she should have. She really should have. But something had gotten into her tonight, and there was no shaking it.
Their friends watched with wide eyes.
Mark glanced at them, then back at her with a frown. “Perhaps it did. Now that you mention it, I might recall this conversation. I’m not a big fan of dangerous jobs.”
“But isn’t your job dangerous?” she asked slowly, blinking innocently. “Couldn’t it, in theory, take you away from your daughter?”