Page 76 of Bait and Switch
Gabe took Claribel’s hand and bussed a kiss across the top of it.
“Such a gentleman,” she crowed before swatting Shay on the shoulder. “You hulks could learn a thing or two.”
“Gabe,” Shay said with a friendly smile, “this is Niall Hamarsson.”
“Yes, the other half brother.” Gabe turned to Casey. “This is Casey Lundin, my?—”
“Boyfriend,” Casey supplied, shaking Shay’s and then Niall’s hand.
Gabe could not fathom why Casey, who insisted on “going slow,” was the one announcing their boyfriend-ship to the entire world. He decided that his confusion revealed more about him than about Casey and that it was something he’d deal with later.
“Ha! I knew it,” Claribel practically chortled. “Come now, don’t keep an old lady standing around. The party’s in the ballroom.”
“Er, what year are we celebrating for Claribel?” Gabe murmured as Niall stepped over to walk beside him.
“Whatever year I damn well want to,” Claribel said, changing her course to head toward a hallway that likely led to the ballroom.
Elton snorted and Shay coughed into his fist. Niall grunted. Gabe wasn’t sure if the sound was supposed to be a laugh or not.
“We don’t think it’s actually Claribel’s birthday,” Niall murmured back. “She just wants an excuse for all of us to wait hand and foot on her.”
“If I did want to be waited on, it’s not working, is it? Cody and I were forced to plan the whole thing ourselves.”
Niall scoffed. “And she has selective hearing.”
“As if either of those two would give up Party Control long enough for the rest of us to voice an opinion,” said Shay. “Don’t worry, Gabe, we’ll protect you,” he added with an irritating and slightly oily chuckle.
“Who’s this Cody person?” Gabe did not need to meet yet another new-to-him relative today.
“Cody’s the owner-manager of The Brooch,” Shay said. “I’m sure you’ll meet him later.”
“We’re not related, are we?”
Niall snorted. “Thank fuck, we are not. You’ll meet Mat and Ryder later, they both had to work.”
Mat Dempsey, Gabe knew was Niall’s husband while Ryder Mann was married to Shay. He was fine with waiting to meet them. Sometimes the extrovert in him needed a rest.
Niall and Shay steered Gabriel and Casey to a table in one corner, and Gabe noticed Elton take Claribel’s elbow as they continued toward the table of honor.
“Is that a bingo wheel?” Gabe asked, nodding in the direction of a silver basket filled with numbered balls. It sat at a place of honor near the table Elton settled Claribel at.
Shay replied, “Yes, and she cheats, so don’t take her bets.”
“Noted.” Why wasn’t he surprised to learn that Claribel didn’t play fair?
“Dinner and an ungodly number of pastries are coming soon. Can I get you something to drink?” Shay indicated the open bar.
“Nothing alcoholic for me, but I love a good berry fizz.” Gabe always felt a bit weird about not drinking. Alcohol was such A Thing in society, but he might as well tell them right out of the gate.
“Me neither these days,” Niall said, pulling a chair out. “Ben’s been making some great spritzes lately. They’re pretty popular.”
“What do you want, Casey?” Shay asked.
Casey looked over at the bar. “I’ll tag along and see what else they have. Hang on to Bowie for me.”
Gabe took Bowie’s leash, glad to have something else to focus on. Bowie sat on his haunches, his eyes on his favorite person, a glitter-bow collar adding to his aplomb.
“We’ll be right back,” said Shay. “Play nice.”
