"No need to be shy! I was young once too, you know." Aunt Mildred winked conspiratorially. "Just try to wait till marriage before you do anything too frisky. Chastity is a virtue, as the Good Book says."

At this point, I think even Sarah was wishing for a hole to open up and swallow her whole. I stared fixedly at the dregs of tea leaves floating in my mug, willing them to spell out an excuse to flee.

Just after that - as if to break the awkwardness, we all dug in with ill-disguised enthusiasm, using mouthfuls as an excuse not to continue that line of discussion.

Aunt Mildred sniffed in between conversations about the attack. "Serves you right for letting just anyone waltz into your establishment with deadly weapons. In my day, we had stricter rules about that sort of nonsense." She leaned forward, eyes narrowing behind her cat-eyed glasses. "So is this criminal still on the loose then?"

Daniel choked on a mouthful of mashed potatoes, his eyes widening momentarily before he managed to cough out a semblance of laughter. "Uh, yeah," he stammered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "The police are still searching for her."

Aunt Mildred's gaze narrowed further, like a bird of prey zeroing in on a particularly juicy worm. "Searching for her? Shouldn't they be locking her up for attempted murder?"

"They will," Daniel assured her, his voice regaining its composure. "Ben, my bodyguard, actually managed to stop her from... well, doing anything further that night. She just... ran off before the police arrived."

"Bodyguard, huh?" Aunt Mildred repeated, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "What kind of fancy Hollywood life are you living in, Emily Jane? Didn't I tell you to stay away from all those glittery temptations?"

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well she'd happily trade places with me if given half the chance. Before I could respond, Sarah piped up again.

"He's not just any actor—he's Daniel Hunter! You know, the star of Battle of the Bulge and Mistress of the Night? He was even nominated for an Oscar!"

Aunt Mildred blinked owlishly, completely nonplussed. I sighed, wondering if I could pass off the mound of potatoes as an ostrich egg in need of cracking.

"Fancy Hollywood types, all the same," Aunt Mildred declared, waving away Sarah's fangirling. "No offense meant, Mr. Hunter, I'm sure you're a fine boy. But in my experience, that show business will rot your brains quicker than a week-old salad."

Mercifully, we were saved from further career advice by the timer dinging in the kitchen. "Who's up for pie?" I asked a little too eagerly, jumping to collect plates.

Daniel offered to help carry everything and I gladly accepted, hoping for a respite from the third degree. In the kitchen, I leaned against the counter and buried my head in my hands.

"I am so, so sorry about all of this," I groaned.

Daniel laughed, the sound low and comforting. "Don't worry, your aunt is... memorable. In a good way. She obviously cares about you."

I peeked up at him through my fingers. His eyes were crinkled at the corners in amusement. Somehow the ridiculousness of the situation made it impossible to stay embarrassed for long.

"Still, I wouldn't blame you for making a run for it," I said, only half-joking.

He straightened, squaring broad shoulders. "Are you kidding? And miss out on this amazing pie? Not a chance." Grinning, he winked and hoisted a pan in each hand. "Lead the way, Chef."

~

"Already leaving?" Sarah asked Daniel, putting on a smile though I could tell she wished the evening wasn't quite over. My dear friend has always gotten attached quickly.

"Can't hide from reality forever," Daniel replied with a chuckle. But as he said goodbye, his gaze lingered on me a moment too long. I looked away, cheeks warming. The man certainly knew how to make a girl feel special, even if he was just being polite.

Sarah and I walked Daniel to his fancy Rolls Royce which was parked illegally across the street from our building. As a Hollywood star, I suppose traffic laws don't apply. Ben, Daniel's burly security guard, followed closely behind, his eyes scanning every nook and cranny like he expected Olivia to jump out from behind a mailbox.

When we reached the car, Daniel turned to me with a smile. "Thanks for letting me crash at your family dinner. It was certainly more entertaining than my usual nights hiding out at home."

"You're very welcome," I replied. "It's not every day a movie star graces our table. We had to make sure you knew what a real home-cooked meal tastes like."

Daniel chuckled. "Well, it was delicious. Almost made up for the drama."

A smile flickered on his face before slipping into a more serious look. "About Olivia...I am worried..." he began in a low voice.

That's when surprisingly, Stevo decided to make his entrance. "Worried is putting it mildly, Daniel," Stevo growled, materializing by the car like some brooding bodyguard bat. Beside him loomed two serious-looking fellas, who I can only assume were more hired muscle.

"Stevo," I acknowledged, raising an eyebrow at his dramatic arrival. Some things never change with that one.

He gave me a nod, his usual amusing expression taking hold. But then something caught his eye and his face shifted ever so slightly. Following his gaze, I spotted Sarah shooting Stevo a look that could cut glass. Oh, now this was getting interesting.

Seizing the moment before an old western-style showdown could erupt, I interrupted. "So Stevo's come to save the day, huh?" I asked Daniel brightly.

He nodded. "Can't be too careful with Olivia out there."

At that moment, Sarah and Stevo locked eyes in what could only be described as a stare-down. Their expressions were as stiff as cardboard. If looks could kill, one of them would be pushing up daisies right about now. I wondered what beef those two had started cooking up in the mere hours since they'd met.

Sensing the tension, Daniel cleared his throat and turned back to me. "Speaking of drama, I wanted to discuss Olivia. Stevo thinks it's best if we provide extra security at your apartment for a few days, just to be safe."

Stevo grunted in agreement, not taking his narrowed eyes off Sarah. "Let's just say I don't trust that woman as far as I can throw her. Who knows what she's capable of in her delusional state?"

"Exactly," Daniel said. "We can't take any chances."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Men and their machismo. When will you actually catch her?"

Stevo scowled, clearly not appreciating her tone. "The police are handling it, ma'am. We're doing our part to protect Emily in the meantime."

Leave it to Sarah to shift the subject back to more pressing matters. "Any updates on when she'll be found?" she inquired, annoyance creeping into her voice.

Daniel sighed heavily. "Police are on it but it's a waiting game at this point."

A pang of guilt hit me then."Maybe I shouldn't have taken the job," I confessed softly.

Daniel's expression turned soft. "Nonsense," he insisted firmly. "Not your fault. We'll keep you safe, I promise."

There was a quiet determination in his eyes that both comforted and unsettled me. What had I gotten myself into here?

Sensing I needed a change in subject, I jumped back in. "So when can I return to the office?"

Ever the voice of reason, Stevo cut in sharply. "Too soon, Emily. Focus on recovery first."

Recovering or not, my stubborn streak was awoken. "I feel fine, really! Just a few emails, calls - it'll keep me from climbing the walls."

Daniel considered me for a long moment, emotions playing out across his face. Finally, he sighed in resignation. "Alright, but easy work only. No heroics."

Relief washed over me. Small victories! "Deal," I agreed with a smile.

~