Page 68 of Bottles & Blades

Because Chrissy and Rory seem to know exactly how far to push him.

That’s a skill I haven’t acquired yet.

“How about a stepmom?” Rory asks.

My mouth drops open.

“Jesus Christ,” Jean-Michel mutters, taking my hand and squeezing it lightly, reassuring me silently as he says, “I never thought I’d wish for your men to be here to handle you two hooligans, but I sure as shit wish for it tonight.”

Rory smiles beatifically. “Lucky for us, they’re on a road trip so we got to meet Tiff.”

Chrissy nods in agreement.

“I should have gone too,” he grumbles, shoving a dessert menu at them. “And pick your dessert already while I get this food boxed up. Tiff doesn’t get enough sleep as it is, so she needs to finish eating and find her bed.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

But it’s not Chrissy’s voice that comes from behind me.

And it’s not Rory’s.

It’s…

I spin slowly, mouth dropping open, horror filling my belly.

Stefan is standing there…next to Brit.

Who’snoton a road trip.

Who’s actually off today, which is whyI’moff today.

“I—” I struggle to get anything meaningful out. “I?—”

But Stefan isn’t looking at me. He’s glaring at Jean-Michel.

Shit.

“Stefan—”

Jean-Michel seems to read the situation in an instant, along with Chrissy and Rory, something thatIread because they’ve quieted down, expressions going serious, while Jean-Michel wades right into the conversation, standing and sticking out his hand. “Stefan, Brit. I’m Jean-Michel.”

“We know,” Brit says softly, reaching forward when Stefan makes no sign of returning the handshake, and wrapping her hand around Jean-Mi’s.

“I suppose you do,” he replies, that thread of gentle I love so much slipping into his voice as he shakes her hand then releases it. “I saw your game the other night, that was a hell of a save you made in the third.”

Her mouth curves. “You wouldn’t be saying that if we were playing the Eagles.”

Hismouth curves. “No, I definitely wouldn’t have.”

“What are you doing here?” Stefan asks, and there’s not gentle in his words.

Only protectiveness.

Something I also love.

Something I worry is going to have the leftover pasta tumbling to the floor as these men exchange blows.

Because he looks like he knows exactly what I’m doing here.

---