It was really hard to be annoyed at how the men thought they could horn in and pay for food we all could afford to pay for ourselves (not to mention, this was something Arthur would totally reimburse us for) when they were being so sweet.
“As the bill won’t be presented, this discussion is unnecessary,” Dimitri said smoothly.
Tex scowled.
Titus said, “Thanks, brother.”
Gemma said, “That is so sweet.”
Dimitri looked to Gemma.
She blushed prettily.
Dimitri smiled his glamorous smile again, but the full force of it was directed at Gem.
She blushed so much deeper, I thought she might pass out.
Man, I really needed Knox and Brady to sort their shit so he could light a fire under Brady, or we might lose her to the Russians.
“We know you’re probably busy, but will you have time to join us for a drink?” Jessie asked.
Dimitri executed a bow that would not be sexily performed by anyone else, but he rocked it.
“It would be my pleasure.”
He walked out, and like they timed it, three servers walked in. Two carried trays. One went to the wine bucket and pulled out a bottle of champagne.
She also pulled out a bottle of vodka.
While she poured champagne in flutes and vodka in beautiful shot glasses rimmed in a delicate pattern of gold, the servers set plates in front of each of us. On them were three blinis smothered with a touch of sour cream and topped with generous mounds of caviar sprinkled with finely chopped hard-boiled egg and onion.
I’d never had caviar, so once everyone was served, I was dying to dig in and give it a go.
But Raye raised her glass (she picked vodka, I did too) and said, “To good friends.”
Everyone raised their glasses, except Tex, who said, “Yo, can I get a beer?” to the server who was leaving with the empty bottles of champagne.
He nodded.
We toasted, sipped (or shot, as the case may be), and I went in.
I wasn’t sure what it said about my palette that I liked the blini, sour cream, egg and onion, but wasn’t too hip on the caviar, but bottom line, caviar didn’t really do it for me.
“How’s your man, baby?” Titus asked.
I looked to him and saw he was looking at me.
“Recovering. Really well. He’s already back to work. Light duty.”
“Those boys are hosses,” Titus said before popping an entire blini in his mouth.
I didn’t completely understand the definition of a hoss, but I suspected he wasn’t wrong.
“Have you heard anything about what’s going down in Tucson?” Joey asked Titus.
Titus shook his head. “Outside that boy getting done for putting your boy in the hospital, no. The Chambers are folding in on themselves. Closing ranks. They haven’t missed that shit’s brewing and about to get real,” Titus replied.
Seemed Lee and Hector’s machinations weren’t lost on the Chambers clan.
