tease my brothers, we can tease Kimball. Let’s make the guy shit a brick. We can mutter about finding a chunk of an old centrifuge machine in the wreckage. That’ll get him going.”
“Don’t rouse him while Eric is gone,” Nate warned. “Anton isn’t up to speed, and Fiona’s back is still healing. We’re stronger together. Eric pounded Kimball’s first team by himself. If Kimball comes at us, you’ll want Eric to help.”
Mace’s face was unusually serious. “Do I? I almost lost my brothers. That doesn’t make me feel strong. To be honest, I’d rather face that son of a bitch alone.”
“Tough shit,” Nate said. “That’s the price you pay for caring about people.”
Mace cursed under his breath. “Fine. If we can’t go in there and declare war, we can at least go in there and get shitfaced. And ogle the catering crew while they trot around in those skin-tight black pants. Mmmm. Sweet.”
Nate slung the gear bag over his shoulder without replying. So Mace had also noticed how good Elisa looked in her catering outfit. And so? Mace had as much a right as anyone to notice. Certainly as much right as Nate.
Rising to the bait would just open him up to more ridicule.
4
Elisa wished she had a few spare seconds here and there to stare at Nate. Tonight was her last chance. These memories had to last her. For the rest of time.
Besides, Nate was so gorgeous tonight. Looking away from him felt like a tragic waste. He filled out that classy, well-cut gray suit so perfectly. Those thick, broad shoulders, tapered waist and strong legs. But then, he looked good in everything she’d seen him wear. And he’d look especially good in nothing at all.
Good thing she was too busy to dwell on that extremely dangerous thought.
She circled the room like a shark, nudging and hustling her crew along. Nate was always there, in the corner of her eye, which made her resolve to appear serene and confident. Not sweaty, wild-eyed and desperate.
A locally famous group from Seattle, the Vicious Rumors, was playing the music. They’d just recently broken out on the national scene and hardly ever did weddings anymore, but Anton knew everyone in the music scene from his high-profile career as a famous DJ. He’d pulled strings and called in favors. As a result, the music and dancing were great.
Demi came over to hug her at one point, flushed and radiant from dancing and champagne. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done,” she said. “You guys were amazing. The food, the decorations, the catering. It’s my ultimate wedding reception.”
Elisa thought about the bus ticket in the pocket of her jacket, and tears welled into her eyes. “I’m so glad you liked it,” she said. “The whole staff loves you and wishes you well. We all think you deserve the best.”
“Well, I got it. And I’m so lucky to have you.” Demi hugged her again, even more tightly. “And this is probably the wrong time to ask you this, but I will anyway, because I’ve drunk too much champagne and I just want to put it out there. I’ve been wondering if you’d consider going into partnership with me.”
“Partnership? You mean…but what kind of partnership?” Certainly Demi couldn’t refer to a financial partnership. Not when her current resources amounted to a roll of cash she’d saved up from her tips.
“Don’t answer right now. I just wanted to you to think about while I’m away. We’ll talk when I get back. But working at the restaurant is much better since I have you there to help me. The two of us, together—it feels like home, you know? I just want to make that into a permanent arrangement.”
Now tears were seriously threatening her mascara. “It feels like home for me, too,” she said, with absolute sincerity. “I’ve loved being here, with all of you.”
“Good,” Demi said. “I’ve just been thinking, if one perfect thing can come true, why not ask for another one? Maybe there’s no limit to the good things you can have. You can’t know until you try, right?”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Elisa faltered. “Thanks for asking. I just—”
“No, no. Don’t answer now,” Demi said quickly. “Don’t worry about anything now. We’ll work out the details later. We’ll have all the time in the world.”
A romantic ballad started up, and she saw Demi looking up at someone standing behind her. She turned to find Nate standing there.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
Elisa