Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“I can’t believe it.”
Val shook his head as he scanned the main tavern area.
Over the last few days, the booths along the walls arrived and were installed.
Then the actual bar came. Before he’d started, he’d had an image in his head of what he wanted his tavern to look like, but seeing the brick walls, the black leather seating and dark wood tables, and the black, vintage-style bar gave it new life.
There was still so much to do, more of the tables and chairs to arrive, the decor, the kitchen appliances, and everything else, but his vision was finally starting to come together. Opening night had seemed like a faraway dream, and now it was within reach.
“It looks amazing, Chief,” Saint said, standing beside him.
“I also got all my paperwork filed online and got my licenses.”
“I’m so proud of you,” Saint said, throwing his arm around Val’s shoulders.
“Smartass.”
“What? All teasing aside, I am. I mean, this place is going to kick ass. Upscale and classy-looking but still down to earth. The vendors you have lined up are fantastic. Betcha, the Four Kings Security crew are gonna be in here all the time.”
“Hm. Good thing I have an excellent insurance policy.” One thing he most certainly had not skimped on. He’d seen too many businesses go up in smoke, leaving the owners bankrupt because of shitty policies with loopholes big enough to drive a Mack truck through.
Saint blinked at him before letting out a loud laugh.
“You think I’m kidding? Chaos and mayhem follow those guys, so I intend to be prepared.”
There was a series of rapid knocks on the window, and they both turned.
They weren’t expecting anyone, but since Saint had been hanging around, the Kings and their significant others had dropped by on various occasions to check in on them.
It was sweet. Val wasn’t used to having a large group of friends like this.
He kept in touch with some of his friends from college and his firehouse days, but their lives had taken such different paths with many of them now busy with their kids and even grandkids.
Another quick series of taps snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Is that Fitz?” Val asked as someone in a fuzzy pink sweater with windswept hair waved cheerfully outside the window.
“Yep.” Saint walked to the door and opened it, jumping to the side in surprise. “Holy shit.”
Val stared at the parade of people that came through the door, all carrying bags and trays, except Ace and Lucky, who had what looked like a folded-up table, and Jack and Joker, who carried a giant cooler.
“The place is looking sweet,” Joker said. “Love the bar.”
“Holy cow,” Laz said, taking pictures with his camera as he walked in. “It’s going to be awesome!”
“Thanks,” Val replied. He exchanged glances with Saint, who just shrugged. He had no idea what this was about either.
“Um, hey, guys,” Saint said, closing the door after the last person entered.
Or rather, the last furry guest. “What are you doing here?” He smiled at Chip, who barked and wagged his tail so hard his whole butt moved.
With a chuckle, Saint scratched Chip behind his ears.
“Hello, handsome boy. Where are Gio and Cookie?”
“Gio’s sorry he couldn’t make it. He has a charity thing going on tonight. As for what’s going on…” Joker motioned to Fitz.
“Well,” Fitz said, putting down the shopping bags he carried so he could hug Saint.
“You’ve been so busy that you forgot it’s been five years since you joined Four Kings Security.
Normally, they’d throw you a party at the office, but since you’re on leave, Leo thought it would be nice to throw you a little party here. ”
“Aw, thanks, bud.” Saint beamed at Leo. “That’s really nice of you.”
Leo shrugged. “Everyone gets a party. You should too.” His face lit up, and he held up a large white box. “Wait until you see the cake!”
Val held back a smile. Considering Leo’s excitement, Val had an idea of what it might look like. “Where’s King?” Next to Gio, King seemed to be the only other person missing from this band of merry mischief-makers.
“He’ll be here later,” Leo said. “His meeting with a big client ran over. Some government contract.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.
Then again, Leo was a computer genius who occasionally freelanced for the military and was the son of an Army general, so government contracts were probably nothing new for him.
“Your BFF will be along shortly,” Ace informed Saint. “He was detained.”
Saint eyed Ace. “By detained, you mean…?”
“I mean, locked in the supply closet by Jay.”
Saint doubled over laughing. “Oh, my god! What is it with those two?”
“Right?” Ace shook his head. “They need to just screw and get it over with.”
“Wait, Jay and Ryden?” Jack said, confused.
“Oh, honey.” Fitz stroked Jack’s hair and kissed his cheek. “You’re adorable.”
“And clueless,” Joker pitched in with a snort.
Val followed Saint to the long folding table Ace and Lucky set up. Colton threw a white tablecloth over it and helped Fitz arrange it. It was good that neither he nor Saint had eaten yet because the guys had bought enough food to feed an army.
“Those two have been circling each other since Ryden joined the company,” Saint said. “They’re clearly attracted to each other.”
“I wondered about that at first,” Jack said, “but then it looked like they were just trying to annoy the hell out of each other.”
“Foreplay,” everyone said simultaneously, making Val snicker. He forgot how much fun these guys could be. Val might not know Jay well, but from what he’d heard, it was clear even to him that there was something going on between Ryden and Jay.
While Laz snapped photos of everyone, Ace set up a Bluetooth speaker, connected his phone, and got some music going.
Mason flipped open the cooler lid and grabbed some beers, handing one to Saint and one to Val.
Half of the table was filled with snacks and finger foods, while the other had silver trays covered with aluminum.
“Damn, guys. Thank you,” Saint said, clearly touched. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you want cake,” Leo said from the corner of his mouth, motioning to the table.
With a laugh, Saint went to the table, and Val followed him, stopping beside him as everyone gathered around. Ace did a drumroll on the table while Fitz took hold of the lid.
“May I present,” Fitz said. “Sailor Goldfish!” He opened the box, and Saint laughed at the orange fish-shaped cake with a little white Navy sailor’s hat on his head sitting at a jaunty angle.
“Oh my god, that’s amazing!”
“Really? You like it?” Leo asked, smiling wide.
“I love it,” Saint said, throwing an arm around Leo, another sign of how comfortable Leo was around Saint because he did not like to be touched by strangers.
Leo leaned in, whispering loud enough for all of them to hear.
“Don’t worry. The orange isn’t cheese. It’s buttercream.
” He wrinkled his nose. “A cheese cake would just be weird.” He realized what he’d said and snickered.
“Well, obviously not a cheesecake because that’s not weird.
Technically, cheesecake is made from cheese, so maybe it is?
” He shook his head and waved a hand in dismissal. “A conundrum for another day.”
“Before we start on dessert,” Ace said, “How about some dinner.” He and Lucky unveiled the trays, and Saint groaned. It was one hell of a spread.
“Is that your mom’s pernil recipe?” Saint asked Ace, inhaling deeply. “So good.”
“Of course it is,” Ace said with a snort. “Like I would bring you anything else.”
“It always smells so amazing,” Val said as he picked up a large, heavy-duty paper plate off the stack.
He’d had Ace’s mom’s famous pork shoulder before, and it was so good.
There were several more Cuban dishes, some of which Val couldn’t remember the name of but sure as hell remembered the taste of. Mouthwateringly good.
“Oh my god, it’s that yummy vegetable thing. What’s it called again?” He served himself several pieces.
“Yuca. Don’t forget the mojo that goes with it,” Saint said, placing several pieces on his plate.
Val scoffed. “Please. As if I would forget what gives it that extra special yumminess.” He served himself a heaping plateful of food and shoveled a forkful in his mouth, groaning at how good it was.
Saint leaned into him, his voice low so only Val could hear. “Damn, Chief. If I’d known that was all it took to get you revved up, I would have cooked for you weeks ago.”
Val almost choked on his food. He grabbed his beer and took a sip. “Are you trying to kill me? More importantly, do you know how to cook this?”
Saint snickered. “I do. It’s not as good as this, but it’s pretty damn good.”
“Can’t you just ask for the recipe?” Val asked.
“There is no recipe,” Ace replied. “My mother learned from her mother, and it follows the ‘little bit of this, little bit of that’ cooking method. No measuring utensils needed. She just knows how much to add.”
Val was familiar with that method. His nonna had been the same. “Probably why it tastes so damned good.”
They all ate and talked, music playing in the background.
When they finished eating, Saint cut his cake, taking the fish’s sailor hat for himself and giving Leo the cute little fishy head.
Laz took photos of them, many with the guys making faces or stuffing their mouths with cake.
Val was going to have to get some of the photos printed and framed on his wall.
The thought gave him an idea. He should have a photo wall of friends and patrons, get them in different sizes and frames. He’d talk to Laz about it later.
Saint hummed cheerfully around a big bite of cake. “This is delicious.”
“It is,” Lucky said, then narrowed his eyes at Saint. “You know what else was delicious? My flan.”
“Your what?” Saint asked, puzzled.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about my flan.”