Dangerous Play

13 » luck of the Irish

The gates swung open as Finn approached the Sayed estate for the second time that week. His Honda Accord felt acutely out of place amongst all the luxury, especially when he reached the front door and came face-to-face with a valet. He hesitated briefly before handing off his keys, watching as his car disappeared down a path around the side of the mansion.

Finn swiped his hands down his pants, smoothing out the material and wiping the clammy sweat that had begun building on his palms. Wearing a suit had seemed excessive, but jeans were out of the question. Abby had been no help, instead choosing to laugh at his predicament as he tossed outfit after outfit on his bed in indecision. Eventually he'd settled on a light button-down and navy blue dress pants, though now he was just praying he wouldn't sweat through the thin material of his shirt.

About an hour earlier, he gathered his family in the living room and explained what had happened when he went to drop off the envelope at the Sayed residence. Since today was the last day of his grounding, his parents technically had jurisdiction over whether he came to this dinner or not. He half-hoped they would insist he stay home. Unfortunately, while they were surprised by the invitation, they also pointed out that it would be incredibly rude to not go. His dad had then asked him to report back on what kind of food the Sayeds served him as inspiration for the restaurant. Go figure. The business came before his only son's safety, as he was pretty sure his odds of making it through this dinner unscathed were incredibly low.

Finn glanced at the watch on his wrist. 6:24. Well, it was now or never. The front door of the Sayed mansion loomed in front of him, under an awning supported by two white columns. He took a deep breath and pressed the ornate doorbell.

Almost immediately, the door swung open to reveal a woman who could only be Eden's mother. They had the same facial structure, all high cheekbones and defined jawline. Her full lips turned up in a knowing smile, warm brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "You must be Finnegan. I'm Ibtihal Hassan, Eden's mother. Please, come in."

Finn stepped hesitantly into the elegant foyer. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am. Your home is beautiful."

She smiled at him, but before she could respond a similar, albeit angrier, voice sounded from the top of the spiral staircase. "What are you doing here?"

He looked up to find Eden glaring at him. The retort on the tip of his tongue died as his eyes rested on her. She was wearing a satin one-shoulder dress, the pale gold color a stark contrast against her golden-brown skin. Though the dress reached her knees, a deep slit revealed a sinful stretch of smooth thigh. Finn swallowed hard.

"Well?" she snapped. Her strappy black heels echoed against the marble staircase as she descended, each step causing the dress to shift against her skin with a whisper.

"Eden, that is no way to treat a guest," her mother reprimanded. Finn looked away from Eden hastily, hoping the older woman hadn't noticed him ogling her daughter.

"Guest?" she scoffed. Having reached the bottom of the stairs, she marched in Finn's direction, until she was close enough for him to smell her lily perfume. The thin black ink lining her eyes and dark red lipstick enhanced her glare as she pointed an accusing finger at him. "You're trespassing. Why hasn't security escorted you out already?"

"I invited him." Qadir Sayed spoke up from further inside the house, stepping out of the shadows and into the foyer with the three of them. His perfectly pressed three-piece suit suddenly made Finn feel like he was wearing sweatpants by comparison. He definitely should have worn the suit. "He's joining us for dinner."

Finn bit back a laugh at the outraged expression that crossed Eden's face. "This is the guest you were talking about? You've got to be joking. You said they were important!"