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She poured herself a cup of coffee from a silver pot Viv hadn’t noticed and took a seat so they were arranged in a kind of circle around the table. Viv set the box she’d brought on the polished surface, feeling suddenly awkward about having brought a peace offering with the way Aidan kept staring at her.
“Biscotti,” Viv said by way of explanation, pushing the box into the middle of the table. “I heard they were your favorite.”
Evie’s smile seemed warm and genuine. “That’s very sweet. Thank you. Viv, did you want any coffee? Or tea?” Viv shook her head. “Okay, we might as well get started.”
“About time,” Aidan muttered, but Evie ignored him.
“The first and most important thing is Declan has decided to make this a society wedding. Politicians, business associates. Big. Splashy.”
Viv frowned. “Why?”
The last thing she could think of making a splash over would be a hastily arranged marriage between two crime lords. Well, her father might be a lord. Declan was most definitely a king.
“Because it sends a message. In a century, the Callahans have never aligned with another family through marriage or anything else. They’ve deposed and installed leaders, but never established an outright alliance. Declan wants everyone in the city to know that this alliance carries the full weight of the syndicate behind it.”
“Declan wants that, or you do?”
Evie ignored her brother-in-law’s caustic accusation. “So, we go big and splashy. It’s a lot to do in the time frame, but we’ll figure it out. Your mom and sister are still available to go look at a couple venues later today?”
“Yes,” Viv said with a nod. “Of course.”
“Great. We’ll also throw an engagement party next weekend. No need to worry about prep for that. I’ve got it handled. And I was thinking we could get an interview with the two of you in the society pages.”
“What in the hell for?” Aidan snapped.
“I imagine,” Viv replied, irritated with his snide remarks, “she’ll tell us if you stop interrupting.”
Aidan opened his mouth, then closed it again, jaw clenched as he swallowed whatever retort he’d been about to lash out with.
“Again, big, splashy. Declan and I did one. The questions are pretty simple, boring even. An hour of faking it for the paper, and you’ll be in print as a happy couple. I hope I don’t have to remind you,” Evie added, eyes on Aidan as he continued to glare at her, “that this marriage has a lot riding on it. Now, let’s do something fun. Engagement rings.”
Evie pulled velvet jewelry boxes from a heavy paper bag, opening them up and setting them on the table between them. “These are family heirlooms.” Evie twisted her own emerald engagement ring around her finger. “They’re generally used by younger sons for their wives. There are others if you don’t like any of these. Several generations back had eight sons, so they had to make quite a few.”
Viv picked up the first box. A large oval diamond set in a plain gold band. Not really her style. The next was a little more ornate, gaudy even, with its large square stone flanked by two baguette sapphires and more diamonds laid into the band. The third one made her breath catch in her throat, though.
It was a single round ruby stone, deep set in a silver band intricately carved with a swirling and sweeping filigree around the stone and down either side of the band. The inside of the band had a single word inscribed on it.Forever. It would have been romantic under different circumstances.
She wondered suddenly if this was a test and there was a ring she was supposed to pick above the others. She cast a cautious look at Aidan, head tilted in question.
He pinned her with a bored stare, one dark eyebrow arched over ice-blue eyes. “Don’t look at me. I don’t have to wear the damn thing.”
“Funny. Is that what people also have to say about your personality?”
She slid the ring onto her finger while Evie snorted into her coffee and decided she liked the look of it there.
“I love that one. It has a matching band, inlaid with alternating rubies and diamonds. Or you’re welcome to pick out something new. We’ll have to get one for Aidan anyway.”
“I’d love to see it.”
“I’ll get Declan to pull it out of the safe.”
“Pull what out of the safe?” As if summoned, Declan strode through the door.
“The matching band to that ring.” Evie pointed at Viv’s finger. “I remember there being one unless I’m remembering wrong.”
Declan’s brows knit together. “No, I think you’re right. I’ll check. I hate to interrupt, but I need to borrow the groom.” His gaze slid to Aidan, but it was unreadable. “Something came up.”
“Sure. We’re through what I need him for anyway. Maybe you can give him more information on why you want to make this an event. Since he didn’t seem to believe me.”
