Page 80 of Chase
Once we were all seated, each of them placed a small box on the table wrapped in oodles of silk ribbon. My eyes moved between the eerily similar items, one in pink and the other black and red. Russell pushed the darker box toward me and signaled for the waitress's attention.
She tottered over in her high heels, her deep red pinafore perfectly in place. Long black hair was piled on top of her head, secured with a huge gold clasp. She smiled broadly, exposing yellowed teeth smattered with tomato-red lipstick.
“What can I get you, boys?” she asked, standing between them and jutting one hip to the side, almost connecting with Russell’s shoulder. Her breasts extended beyond her thin frame as if beacons in the night.
“Do you have any herbal infusions?” Connor said, his usual calm and collected self. I snorted, and my hand shot to my nose in a sad attempt to hide my amusement.
“Infused with what exactly?” the woman responded, the expression on her face highlighting her genuine perplexion.
“Ginger, hibiscus, or verbena, perhaps?” he ventured.
“Sorry, posh boy,” she said with a smile. “I can infuse normal tea with sugar and milk if you like.”
“That will have to do,” he muttered as her attention moved to his older brother, who flashed her a sexy smile. I narrowed my eyes, but he didn’t look at me, so I kicked him under the table, hard. He ignored that too.
“I’ll take the same. Tea with milk and sugar. Any way you like to make it.” His eyes focused on the pin badge strategically placed on her chest. “Gloria,” he added. She all but glowed with the use of her name. “I love a cup of well-made tea. And a woman that can make it is invaluable to a hard-working man.”
“You’ve not done a hard day’s work in your life. Don’t be such a sexist bastard,” I snapped at him, and he turned to me. His face lit up with delight. Fucking Russell knows how to rile me up in more ways than one. “Women were not put on this earth to make your fucking tea.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s a bloody good quality to have.”
“I’ll make your tea any day,” Gloria interrupted, handing him a folded piece of paper I just watched her pull from her bra. “Call me.” She turned and strode off toward the counter, swinging her hips exaggeratedly as she left. Russell handed the paper to Connor without looking at it.
“Here you go, bro, her number. Gloria will suck your dick once Trouble chooses me. Don’t say I never look out for you.”
Connor moved so fast, I didn’t see it happening, nor did Russell. He pulled his brother to his feet, holding him by his pristine shirt collar. Russell being slightly taller meant Connor had to raise himself up a fraction to look in his eye.
“Fuck off,” he hissed, and the two men glared at one another. The café that had been relaxed a moment ago, as people ate their greasy food and sipped cups of hot coffee, fell silent, and all gazes landed on us. Gloria stalked over once again.
“Tell your brothers to behave themselves,” she yapped in my direction.
“Don’t speak to our girl like that,” Russell growled, and the two men glowered at her. She wilted under their stares. My brain misfired as I computed what he called me. “Our girl.” Two small words that meant the world leaving his lips.
“If you have an issue, Gloria,” Connor added, “you shout at us, not our lady.”
Connor’s elevated description of my status didn’t go unnoticed by his brother, who narrowed his eyes but kept his mouth closed for once. I stood and placed a hand on each of their arms.
“Sit,” I said firmly.
“Are they dogs?” Gloria muttered, clearly unable to keep her catty comments at bay. “Will they roll over, too?”
“If I tickle their tummies, possibly.” Her eyes bugged then moved between the men before landing back on my face. “No, I’m not their sister. And I suggest if you want your café kept in one piece, you don’t aggravate the situation further. Please get our drinks, Gloria. You two, sit down.” All three adults did as I suggested, and I sat in my chair feeling much more powerful. My men turned to me and beamed.
“You’re hot when you’re in control, Trouble,” Russell said.
“Totally,” Connor agreed. “You shot her down in flames. It really is quite attractive.” He leaned forward and extended a hand, his deft fingers skimming my cheek. “A woman in charge has its benefits.”
“Completely. I mean, it’s nice to be a leader, but when you’re getting told what to do, fuck, it feels good,” Russell announced, and his brother nodded. They glanced at one another, grinned, and bumped knuckles. My jaw dropped open in shock at the playful interaction after they nearly wrestled in the center of the café.
“Well, one woman anyway,” Connor said. “And it’s her birthday, so we should focus on that.” Two sets of dark eyes held mine, and my heart skipped.
“Open my present,” Russell prompted, gesturing at the unopened box. Gloria reappeared and placed three mugs of milky tea on the surface. I never even ordered a drink. Obviously, she was too flustered after my revelation of two boyfriends.
As I unwrapped the red ribbon, Connor lifted his mug. His eyes screwed up instantly as the liquid hit his lips, and he slammed it back on the table.
“Don’t bother,” Connor told his brother. “It’s vile, no better than dishwater.” Russell eyed his own tea warily but left it untouched on his brother’s advice. I rolled my eyes at the pair of them.
“Not everything has to cost a fortune to be good,” I said as I stripped back the black paper to reveal a black leather box with the word Rolex embossed across it in gold lettering.