Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Leo
“Do they have some kind of deal on Mondays?” I gazed around Fifties and took in the packed-tight diner.
“Nope. Just some nights are like this.” Quinton wrinkled his nose. “Wait…today is Family Day.”
I smacked myself on the forehead. “I completely forgot. That means Melodie was home from school today.”
“Bet she had a great time.” He perused the menu. “What am I in the mood for?”
“Humble pie.”
He cut his gaze to mine.
“I was dismissive of you this morning, and it occurred to me—much later—that I might’ve hurt your feelings. So dinner is on me as I attempt to apologize.”
He grinned. “I like humble Leo. And I’ll take you up on dinner. I can catch the next time.”
Because apparently this was going to become a thing.
Whatever this was.
Sarabeth headed our way. “Sorry, guys. One of the other servers called in sick.”
“We’ll be quick. Although how are you?” Quinton eyed the server who did, in fact, appear tired.
She offered a smile. “The plan is to take tomorrow off. That’ll help.”
That hardly sounded fair, given she’d been here every time I’d come in.
I’d sauntered in a couple of times instead of heading home alone with takeout.
The food wasn’t the healthiest, but I ensured I worked out the next morning before work.
“I hope you get a break. Can I get the barbecue chicken breast?”
“Absolutely.” She scribbled on her notepad.
“I’ll have the Montreal smoked sandwich.” Quinton grinned. “Extra mustard. Super spicy.”
“You got it. Water okay?”
“I’ll take a decaf as well, when you get a chance.” Although decaf was vile, staying up late because of insomnia due to caffeine was worse.
“Sure thing.” Sarabeth grabbed our menus and headed toward the kitchen.
“I’ll leave her an extra-large tip.” Clearly she deserved an extra something.
Quinton offered what I assumed was a grateful smile. Sometimes he was hard to read—other times, he was an open book.
“So, what you thought you heard—”
“Oh my God.” A squeal came from behind me. I pivoted to see two men standing with huge grins on their faces.
Quinton leapt to his feet—vibrating with excitement. He launched himself into the arms of the guy with dark-blond hair and rather impressive muscles.
I blinked as a memory stirred. Quickly, I set my gaze on the man beyond the hugging couple. I rose. “Everett.” I cleared my throat. “You’re looking exceptionally well.”
“Since you saw me three weeks ago? You bet.” He extended his hand. “Good to see you, Doc.”
Just over a month ago, this man had been on my table in New Westminster. Fighting for his life.
Rayne let go of Quinton and embraced me. “You’re still my hero.”
The men had been boyfriends at the time. Now they were fiancés—having gotten engaged at Quinton’s Valentine’s party. Shindig? Bash? I couldn’t remember.
“Why don’t you join us?” Rayne gestured to the booth across from where Quinton and I sat. While we sat in a two-seater, the men were sliding into a six-seater.
“Yes, let’s join them.” Quinton grabbed our glasses and put them on the table as Everett and Rayne slid in. His placement of the glasses put me sitting next to the exuberant Rayne and across from my patient.
Former patient. You discharged him after giving him permission to resume his sex life.
Awkward.
Since arguing would make me look petty—and I wasn’t yet willing to admit I wanted Quinton all to myself—I grabbed my coat and slid onto the bench next to Rayne.
Who promptly put his arm around me. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Yes. Fancy that.” Quinton’s gaze passed around the table to the three of us. “I didn’t realize Everett was your patient.” His gaze settled on me. “Well done.”
I shrugged. “The job.”
“Damn fine one.” Rayne squeezed me.
I hadn’t given him permission to be so…familiar.
Something tells me he might not respect that anyway.
And besides, he’s not hurting me. Just…overwhelming.
I cleared my throat. “I understand congratulations are in order.” I first nodded to Everett, then turned to Rayne.
His stunning tawny-brown eyes always struck me.
Almost amber in color and absolutely stunning.
“Can you believe he agreed to marry me?” Rayne tipped his chin up. For what reason, I wasn’t certain.
“You are definitely an interesting couple.” I attempted to keep my dry tone to a minimum.
Everett was a lawyer. Very staid, proper, and mostly willing to follow medical advice.
Rayne was a private investigator who was exuberant, irreverent, and always grinning.
Such a contrast.
After a moment, Everett reached for Rayne’s hand. The contrast between his dark skin and Rayne’s light one was stark.
“Aw, honey. So sweet.” Rayne winked, even as he kept his arm around me.
“Let me guess—blueberry milkshake and meatloaf.” Sarabeth’s attention was trained on Rayne as she placed two glasses of water on the table. “Oh, crap. Decaf.”
“No worries.” I hadn’t planned on saying anything—she was clearly run off her feet.
“I’ll have a cheeseburger with a side of Caesar salad.” Everett handed her the menus. “I hope it’s okay we consolidated our tables.”
“That means I can seat another couple—so it’s helpful for me.” She nodded and took off.
More work for her. Hopefully more tips.
I turned my attention to Everett. “How goes the law?”
“Boring.” Rayne emphasized the o. He released his grasp of me to pull out his phone. “Want to see Champ’s latest photo? We put him in agility training. He’s so much better.”
Champ was Rayne’s rescue German Shepherd and, indeed, he appeared damn impressive.
“Uh…intimidating.”
“Right? But he’s great with kids. I mean, go figure. He was trained to be a guard dog, and it’s like, after he saved my life, he kind of figured his job was over and he could just become a goofball.”
Ah yes. Dog saves man. Classic story. Only this one had a dirty cop and Everett’s sister, Denali, who dropped a plant on said dirty cop’s head.
Quite a story. All of which I’d listened to in horror as I realized how close my patient and his boyfriend had come to death at the hands of a man with a gun. Thank God for Denali.
“He’s a handsome dog. How goes the PI business?” Perhaps getting Rayne to talk would settle me. Because all I could wonder was if they thought I was on a date with Quinton.
I was grateful no one asked…because I couldn’t have articulated whether we were or not.
“Decaf coffee.” Sarabeth put it on the table, smiled, and bustled off.
“Busy night.” Rayne glanced around. “We were lucky to get a table.”
And already the one Quinton and I had occupied had a young couple who appeared very much in love, if the sappy looks they were giving each other was any indication.
Before I could comment, Sarabeth was back with Rayne’s blueberry milkshake.
He grinned. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” She shot her gaze between Quinton and me. “Your food will be up next. Is it okay that I serve you, or do you want to wait?”
“We can take our food when it’s ready.” I didn’t want her worrying about timing things and, frankly, I was famished.
“Great.” Her relieved expression, with a weary smile, assured me that I’d said the right thing. She spun and headed to the newcomers.
“I don’t envy her.” Quinton spoke quietly—barely audible above the fifties music.
“Very true.” Everett grasped his water glass. “But you have busy days as well, right?”
Quinton met my gaze. “Some nights are busier than others.”
“Oh, really?” Rayne sipped his milkshake. “What’s the story behind that expression?”
I scrutinized Quinton—attempting to see if I could spot whatever Rayne saw.
Quinton winced. “It’s stupid. You’re going to think I’m stupid.”
Everett placed the hand not holding Rayne’s to Quinton’s forearm. “We don’t use that word. Even when it might be true.”
“I resemble that comment.” Rayne grinned.
In that instant, I was carried back to the panicked man who’d needed my assurances that his boyfriend was going to survive the chest injuries from the car crash he’d been in.
While Everett had been in recovery, I’d tried to allay both his family’s and—more importantly—Rayne’s fears. The man was…intense.
Everett rolled his eyes.
“Food’s up.” Sarabeth set the chicken dinner before me and Quinton’s Montreal smoked sandwich before him. “You’re next.” She nodded to Everett and Rayne. Then she was gone again.
“You don’t have to share whatever’s bothering you.” Everett gestured to Quinton’s food—likely suggesting he start eating. “But you know we’re always open to hearing what you have to say.”
“After all, you’re the reason we met.” Rayne squeezed Everett’s hand.
“So glad my home office was available for your…interlude.”
I blinked.
Rayne grinned. “Everett totally fu—” He cleared his throat. “Made love to me.”
“In my house.” Quinton snagged his sandwich. He appeared very calm about the entire discussion.
“Oh. Well—” I eyed the men. “If you ever come over to my house, I’ll thank you not to…get up to such things in my abode.”
Rayne burst out laughing. “Oh God, you’re a hoot. Don’t you have a husband and kids or something?”
I stilled.
He glanced at my left hand. “Oh shit.”
I sighed. I’d continued to wear my wedding ring at my old job because of that particularly flirty nurse who would’ve been all over me if he’d known Gideon and I were divorced.
Plus, since I hadn’t really moved on, I sort of felt like I was still married.
Reconciliation had been impossible. But so had the thought of being with someone else.
Until Quinton burst into my life and propositioned me in a gay bar.
I cleared my throat. “I was divorced, but still wore my ring.”
“Leo’s ex-husband is Gideon. You met him at my Valentine’s Party.”
Rayne scrunched his nose. “I was a little nervous that night.”
“Afraid I might say no?” Everett smiled indulgently. “Like I could ever deny you anything.” He pivoted his attention back to me. “I didn’t realize you were connected to Gideon and, by extension, I assume Archer.”