“So, Blake,” I nibbled on the to-die-for seared sea scallop, “how long are you and Spencer in town?”
“I’m not really sure, since you,” he smiled down at his wife, “can work anywhere in the world, and I have the next three weeks off, who knows what will happen?”
“Lots of sightseeing?” Gail, Wyatt’s sister, spoke up. Gail and Blake had known each other since high school, and he often come into the city to visit his family.
“They just got married.” Wyatt rolled his eyes at his sister. “The only sightseeing should be on the inside of a luxurious hotels.”
“Yes,” Spencer blurted, and the entire table broke into laughter. “Speaking of which, where is Chase tonight?”
Two men in flashy suits walked by and took the booth behind us. Immediately, their scent made my head hurt. I hated cologne, not to mention cheap cologne.
“When did we leave The Flatiron and land in a lousy night club?” Wyatt snickered as he coughed and wiped his eyes at the overpowering stink.
I shook my head at him and tried to clear my thoughts to focus on my friends. Moments later, the low voices of the men came to me, and I found myself listening.
“Do you think he suspects anything?” One of them spoke just as the music was switching over.
“If he’s anything like his old man, no. He’ll sign it,” the other answered with a chuckle. “He’ll be none the wiser when Jay’s ships arrive at his port. A container is a container.”
I couldn’t hear the next bit of conversation, but my strained ears caught a comment “scared eyes bring in the biggest paychecks,” to which someone snorted and agreed.
“Chase is working.” Gail downed her drink and brought me back to the conversation around our table. “Maybe if I had those,” she pointed to my cleavage that I knew was tastefully displayed in my favorite black lacy dress, “he would have canceled his meeting.” I tried to look like I was paying attention as I strained to hear the words from behind me.
“Like you say, scared eyes bring big paychecks,” one repeated, and his tone sent a dark shiver through me. I caught sight of them when a girl turned her phone around and took a selfie.
“Oh, please.” Wyatt waved her off and pulled my attention back to them. “You know Chase tried everything to get out of it.”
“I know.” She pouted as Spencer wiggled out from behind her, needing to use the restroom. As she walked away, I felt the shake of the booth as the guys behind me stood and made their way over to a private booth then disappeared behind a partially closed curtain. “Still, though,” Gail went on, “did you get those on demand, or are you just naturally blessed?” She indicated my cleavage again.
I chuckled as Wyatt answered, “Blessed.”
“And how would you know that, brother?”
“I live with thebella. Trust me, you walk in on a lot.”
“What?” I shrugged playfully. “I’m Italian. We embrace what we have.”
“You should embrace all of that.” Gail bent down and mouthed her straw as she fingered the feathery lace on my capped sleeve. The same lace trimmed the plunging neckline. The dress made me feel good, no matter where I wore it. It came to a wide diamond shape in the front, and a single piece of black tie wrapped around my neck and dangled between my breasts as if it were a long necklace. It was sexy-classy, as Wyatt described it earlier in the evening. He had insisted I sweep my hair up into a messy bun with a few pieces falling down to frame my face. I had to admit it was a pretty look for me.
“Oh, my God.” Spencer came up to the table with her hands over her mouth. “Sorry, babe, but ladies, there is the sexiest man in the private room over there.”
“Where?” Gail nearly fell out of her seat.
“Right there. Look over my shoulder, and—oh, my—look at that one.” I swung my gaze back over to the private room and felt my body temperature rise.
“You have got to be kidding me,” I hissed when I spotted Vinni on the phone, which only meant…I leaned over further and spotted Elio. My heart, stomach, and thighs all clutched at once. “What in hell are the odds they’d be here?” Then I suddenly thought of the men and their conversation and wondered what the hell was going on.
“Hang on.” Spencer’s face lit up. “Do you know them?”
“I do.” I downed the rest of my drink and held my hand in the air to catch the bartender’s attention.
“How is it that the foreigner knows the hot mafia men in suits?” Gail chuckled at her joke, but little did she know.
“Sienna?” Wyatt grabbed my arm. “Is that who I think it is?”
“Yes, Mr. Tall dark and dangerous has followed me to New York. But two can play at this game. Hey, Leo!” I smiled up at Wyatt’s good friend, and the bartender’s sweet face smiled as he served us another round. “I need your help.”
We watched as he carried the bottle of whiskey over to the privacy-curtained table. I downed the rest of my wine and poured another then stood with my fresh glass of liquid courage and leaned against the wall, waiting to see Elio’s expression. Vinni suddenly spotted me, and his face dropped when he caught me staring at him. He gave a sheepish wave then leaned his head into the room, and a moment later, Elio’s eyes were burning through me.