Page 230 of Back in the Saddle

Titus stood, and we all watched, for my part, with my lips parted, as he demonstrated how gigantic he was.

I was understanding some of the respect now.

“I’m feelin’ wine. A good red. Anyone feelin’ wine?” he asked.

He got a chorus of “Me!” from Jinx’s crew.

I stepped forward.

“I’m a mixologist, and I’m sorry to contradict, but if this situation doesn’t say dirty martini, none do.”

Another grin, an extended arm toward the bar, and an invitation of, “Mi cantina es tú cantina, darlin’.”

Everybody’s cantina was my cantina.

I moved behind the bar, got the lay of the land, and as I was in my happy place, I felt a little bit better.

Though, only a little.

* * *

When the knockcame at the door fifteen minutes later, we were all lounged on the couches drinking martinis (except Jinx and Persia were lounged on the arms of Titus’s chair, and Genesis and Skyla were sitting at the bar).

Titus looked to the screen on his watch, which told me he had a camera that showed him who was at the door.

“Enter!” he bellowed.

The men entered.

Not just Eric and Cap with Mace thrown in.

All of them.

Eric, Cap, Mace, Roam, Liam, Knox, Gabe and Brady.

I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of hotness, so I had to blink rapidly to assist my brain in not shutting down due to overload.

“Well, fuck me, it’sThe Expendables, the early years,” Titus remarked.

I wanted to laugh, because it was funny, but I was too busy taking in Eric staring at me, lounging on a killer tan leather couch, drinking a martini.

“I think they do this investigative shit a lot better than we do,” Mace muttered.

I bit my lip.

Harlow let loose a giggle, then swallowed it.

Titus stood again, saying, “The ladies are comfortable. Let’s take this outside.”

I stood too.

Titus instantly stopped moving.

Eric said quietly, “Jessie.”

It messed with my head, but I sat down.

The men moved outside.

---