Chapter 26
“This looks amazing,” I told Baldwin as I took in the spread on the table.
He beamed at me. “You said Italian was your favorite. You deserve a celebration after your first day at a new school.”
I fought the wince that wanted to surface. I wasn’t sure there was much about my first day that deserved to be celebrated. But this meal might make it all worth it.
There was more food than would be possible for the five of us to eat. Fresh heirloom tomatoes and burrata. An arugula salad. Flatbread pizza. Gorgonzola gnocchi. Pasta with Bolognese. Garlic bread.
My stomach rumbled, and Dash sent me a grin. “I think that means she likes it,” he said to Baldwin.
Baldwin clapped his hands together. “Then my work here is done. Enjoy your meal, and just press the bell if you need anything.”
“The bell?” I asked, looking at Colt.
He gave me a sheepish smile. “It’s been here forever, but it does come in handy.” He pointed beneath the table.
I bent over, ducking my head to see. There was a button the person at the head of the table could push with their foot. Sitting up, I shook my head. “You guys are spoiled.”
Ronan snorted. “Maybe, but spoiled has its perks.”
I couldn’t argue with him there.
Dash grinned at me. “What can I put on your plate?”
I practically drooled. “Everything?”
He laughed and started loading me up.
When I took the first bite of gorgonzola gnocchi, I nearly died. Closing my eyes, I let the pasta melt on my tongue and moaned.
The conversation around me died, and my eyes popped open. All four guys were staring intently at my mouth. I instantly grabbed my napkin and wiped at my face. “Did I drool?”
Colt chuckled. “No drool, LeeLee.”
“But those sounds you’re making could kill a man,” Ronan said, voice a little gruffer than normal.
My cheeks flamed. Oops. “Sorry.”
Ronan grinned. “Definitely don’t have to apologize. It’d be a good way to go.”
But Trace looked as if he were about to murder someone.
I turned my focus back to my plate, careful to rein in my reactions. Each dish I tried was better than the last. And by the time I was finished, I had a stomachache.
I glanced at Colt. “Do you think I could bring leftovers for lunch tomorrow?”
He frowned. “Why? The food in the dining hall is good.”
I wrapped my napkin around my finger. “I think I’d like to stay clear of those shark-infested waters if I can. Library lunches are more my speed.”
“But we barely get to see you at school,” Dash complained.
He was right about that. I only had a couple classes with the guys and none with Dash because he was in such advanced ones.
I sent him a hopeful smile. “You could eat in the library with me.”
“No,” Trace said. The single word was growled low.
I raised my brow in question.
“You go running and it’ll only show weakness.”
I shrugged. “I don’t really care if someone thinks I’m weak. I just don’t want to deal with their BS.”
Trace’s violet eyes sparked and swirled. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with—”
His words were cut off as the door from the kitchen swung open and Baldwin stepped in, unease filling his expression. “Colton, Darius is here. He’d like to see you.”
Colt’s jaw tightened, a muscle in his cheek popping. “Of course. We’re done with dinner, anyway.”
Ronan sent Colt a sidelong look. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“It had to happen sometime. I’m surprised he waited this long.”
“Who’s Darius?” I asked. The energy wafting off the guys wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy.
Colt didn’t answer right away, as if searching for the right words. “He’s a family friend, and he’s been running my dad’s company until I’m ready to take over after I graduate.”
“Oh. But you don’t like him?”
Ronan chuckled. “Firecracker is too astute for her own good.”
“Stop calling her that,” Trace snapped.
Dash squeezed my hand. “Darius is just a little too up in our business. He likes to meddle.”
That made sense. These guys were basically on their own. A parental figure was bound to want to know what was going on.
Baldwin appeared a few moments later, leading in a hulking man with brown hair and a thick beard. He dipped his head in Colt’s direction, but his eyes were on me. “Colt.”
“Good to see you, Darius. Please, join us. Baldwin can get us coffee and tea.”
“Thank you.” He strolled around to the opposite foot of the table so he was facing Colt. Then he turned the full force of his attention on me. He didn’t say a word, simply stared as if he were measuring every single thing about me.
“Darius…” Colt growled in warning.
The man’s jaw tightened. “Leighton, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Thank you?” The words came out as more of a question than a statement.
“What can we help you with tonight?” Colt asked. “Usually, you call before stopping by.”
There was a chastisement in Colt’s words that only had Darius’s jaw clenching further. “I was in the area and wanted to see how Leighton was settling in. It was her first day at Prep, correct?”
Trace leaned back in his chair, taking Darius in. “I see your spies are reporting right on time.”
Darius sighed. “I don’t have spies.”
“Suuuure,” Trace crooned. There was a hypnotic quality to his voice that had me wanting to lean closer.
“You can’t blame The Assembly for being concerned. There are a lot of factors in play.”
“This isn’t the place or the time,” Colt warned.
Darius held up his hand in a placating gesture. “I just need to be able to reassure them that you aren’t planning on doing something stupid.”
“What we do is our business alone,” Ronan gritted out.
Darius’s eyes flashed. “Not when we’re counting on you to lead. And if people think you’re falling down on your responsibilities, there’s no telling what they might do.”