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I might have struck gold.
Before my cab even comes to a complete stop in front of EastSide, I jump out and charge into the restaurant. Waiting, I tap my foot until Owen sees me.
“Hey, I got your text. What’s up?” he asks, bending close. Damn, he smells good. “Your face is red. Are you okay?”
He’s right. I’m all worked up and out of breath. “Do you have a moment? Can you grab the guys?”
His face is covered with concern. “Sure. Take a seat. I’ll be right back.” He gestures toward a banquette in the corner, the same one I sat in the night before.
Less than five minutes later, we’re all together. The mood is different from last night though. This time we’re all business. Hanky panky is the last thing on our minds.
At least mine.
Well, sort of. Weston did grab the seat next to me and now his hand is on my thigh. I consider pushing it off. I need to focus, dammit.
But I let it stay.
“Guys, I was just at City Hall.”
They lean closer, and I tell them about the developer’s violations that Jewel found, and the men coming out of Bartlett Murray’s office.
“Holy shit,” Enzo says. “That’s why he was so weird about having animals in the restaurant. He’s getting a kickback from the developers. He wants us out of here just as much as they do.”
“If not more,” Weston adds.
“I can’t believe I stumbled on all this. It’s just incredible,” I say. “According to the planning and development office, which I stopped by before I left, there are these things called urban preservation statutes, and they protect certain kinds of buildings. I know the buildings we’re in are old. We can apply to the commission. If our buildings are accepted for protection, they can’t kick us out.”
Owen taps his finger against his chin. “You know, guys, I think we might already have this sort of designation. If I remember correctly, it’s in our lease. It keeps us from making too many changes as the leaseholders. For example, we can’t cover up that brick wall over there, or remove any of those old beams along the ceiling.”
Weston smacks his hand on the table. “Holy shit. You’re right. I totally forgot that. I’ll go dig out the lease and see what our lawyer has to say. Hell yeah,” he yells, high fiving the guys.
“Hey. What about me?” I ask.
“I got something way better for you, beautiful,” he says, leaning over and placing a nice, juicy kiss right on my lips.
He pulls away and the sound of his shoes on the tile floor gets quieter as he hustles to his office. In the meantime, I’m still sitting here with my eyes closed, relishing his kiss.
This is not lost on Owen and Enzo.
“Look at our girl, all hot and bothered,” Enzo chants.
“What? No, I’m not. I closed my eyes for a second. I’m… tired, for heaven’s sake. I didn’t sleep in my own bed last night.”
Owen narrows his eyes at me. “That’s true, you didn’t. But you slept pretty well, from what I could tell. Remember, I was there.” He reaches for my hand, and I shake him off.
“Whatever, guys,” I say in protest. “Look, we have serious business to take care of here.”
Enzo is amused. “I’d call what happened last night pretty damn serious.” He looks at Owen. “Wouldn’t you agree, buddy?”
Owen nods gravely and I have to accept my defeat. These guys will always be able to one-up me, no matter how hard I try to stay on top. I’m just not as clever—or as asshole-ish— as they are.
I give them my best stink eye.
And end up laughing.
“Anyway, thank you for digging into this, Livvy. You’re amazing,” Enzo says. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
I bet they don’t, especially since they were all too happy to kick me out of my own space so they could have it for themselves.
