punch him in the gut. Suddenly, Jay slams on his breaks. Sliding his window down he curses out a cab driver who cut us off. I bump my head on the back of the driver’s seat, but Jax barely registers the car’s movement.
“Why? Tess promise you a blow job?”
“None of your business, man, but act right, okay?”
He snorts. “Whatever you need, brother.”
Our midnight blue Maybach glides up to the parking area of Tess’s building. My heart starts pumping faster. The anticipation of seeing my girl makes me smile. Jay is cursing away at the tight fit of her garage.
“Dude, let us off here, and you can take your time parking,” I tell him.
Waiting for the elevator, Jax leans over, putting his annoying face in front of mine. “I got her a giant crystal ball.”
“What?” With a blank stare, I shove him backward. “Get your face out of mine!”
He laughs, then acts like he’s doing sign language. “I… got… her… a… crystal… ball! For her birthday present.” Dropping his hands, he puts them in his pockets and shrugs. “It’s a rare crystal, and it’s huge. Cost me a fortune. They told me if you hold it, it’s supposed to calm and heal you. I think Tess will love it.” Knowing he kicked ass on her present, he smiles broadly.
“Yeah, that’s right up her alley,” I say, taking a quick glance at my reflection in the mirrored elevator.
I look good tonight. The black suit is tailored to a tee. I also allowed my barber to cut my hair, though I did leave some curls. Tess likes them. I catch Jax staring at me, one eyebrow raised.
Rubbing my hands on my pants, I admit it. “I’m nervous.”
He starts laughing. “Why? Because you know she is going to like my gift better?” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Why are you being a dick tonight?” No way am I admitting that is exactly what I was thinking.
Jax doesn’t answer but keeps that smug smile on his face all the way to her apartment. Glaring at him, I pound on the door. Brance opens it, and I almost take a step back. He’s wearing a shiny silver tuxedo! And is that eye makeup on him?
“Hey, hey, hey. Welcome, you gorgeous men.” He waves us in.
“Brance, tone the gayness down a notch or two,” I snarl.
“Hmm, Tess, said you were going to be prince charming tonight.” He shrugs, dismissing me and leaving us to enter alone.
“SexyBack,” by Timberlake is blasting. With a deep breath, I take in the scene around the apartment. What the fuck? I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. The apartment has been completely refurbished and repainted in reds and golds. Velvet couches with mixed with metallic gold pillows line two walls. And that’s in addition to the ridiculous number of Chinese lanterns, silver and gold streamers, and metallic balloons drifting from the ceiling.
Looking at Jax, I point around the room. “The whole place is changed. Did Tess mention this to you?”
He shakes his head. “Wow, Claire might actually be losing it. I can’t wait to see Robert’s face when he comes home after months of being gone and finds his multimillion-dollar apartment is a gay man’s dream.” Jax snorts.
“Jesus, I think that’s insulting to most gay guys,” I say. “It’s more like Liberace’s wet dream.”
Leaving Jax speechless at the décor, I head straight for the kitchen where I know I’ll find Maria and Letty.
Their dark heads are close together, and they speak in hushed Spanish, checking to make sure the appetizers are warm.
Their eyes light up when they see me. Grabbing and kissing me, they make me feel instantly welcome.
“What has happened to this place?” They both smile and shrug, a knowing look in their eyes.
“What? You don’t like it, Mr. Reed?” Letty acts shocked.
Rolling my eyes, I grab a bacon-wrapped date before Maria can stick a toothpick in it. I pop it in my mouth, almost groaning out loud as it burns my tongue, bursting with goat cheese and the bacon’s salty sweetness.
“Holy God, that’s so good.” Kissing Maria’s forehead, I reach for another.
She slaps my hand. “No more, Mr. Reed. You have to wait for everyone.”
“Just one more. I need to make sure the bacon is fully cooked.”
She eyes me up and down. “One more, and don’t get any on your suit.”
Hugging her, I ask, “So what’s the story with Claire and Robert? Are they getting divorced? Because if they’re not, they will be when he comes home.”
Both giggle at my joke.