Chapter 9. Daphne

The woman crossing the room was stunning in the effortless way that takes a team of people. She had glossy curls, a cream silk dress, and heels that clicked across the marble like punctuation. Several diners turned to watch her. She didn’t seem to notice them, which meant she noticed them very much.

“Daphne,” Gabriel said, and stood. They hugged briefly and she didn’t hesitate to kiss Gabriel’s cheek. “This is Diana. Diana, Daphne. Our families go back a long way.”

“Practically family,” Daphne said, smiling at Diana. Her eyes swept Diana from her drugstore blouse to her sensible shoes and back up in under a second. “Hi, Diana. What a sweet top.”

“The Mercers and the Valentis have been allies forever,” she added. Diana kept her smile in place.

“Thank you,” Diana said pleasantly. “It was on sale.”

“I can tell.” Daphne slid into the empty chair without being asked and set her phone face down on the table, propped against the sugar bowl. “Gabriel, you never