“York!” Cole’s mother hisses. “That’s totally inappropriate.”
York shrugs, seemingly unfazed by her recriminations. “No secret you have more kills than any of us.”
Cole can’t believe he’s hearing this. His mother pointedly looks at Savannah, who is downing the rest of her wine. He stabs his finger at York. “One more word like that, and you’ll be finding your own way back.” He doesn’t shout, but his clipped tone says it all. The guys are all good buddies, but there is still rank in his house, and he will be damned if he’s going to let York forget that.
Cole shakes his head, turning back to Kyle. “I have a lot to catch up on. Frank is breathing down my neck.”
“Yeah, I get that.” Kyle moves his attention over to Savannah. “So, tell me something about yourself.”
She leans forward and rests her forearms on the table, her bracelets making a pretty noise as they clink together. She pulls her dark hair off one shoulder, showing off her slender neck that his tongue is begging to taste. “What do you wanna know?”
He shrugs. “Something that none of these guys knows yet.”
Cole gives her a slight nod, letting her know she can be honest with these guys. They’ve all signed NDA contracts.
She presses her lips together, taking a moment to think. “I love the blues. Give me a local pub with bad food and live music, and I’m a happy girl.” She smiles as she remembers. “My friend Lynn and I would spend every Friday night at this little hole-in-the-wall pub in Queens just to listen to a musician named Flat Street Tony. He played the cello and had a voice that would make your soul dance.” She lets out a little laugh. “One night, Tony came over and gave us a signed copy of one of the first vinyls he ever recorded. I have it mounted—” she stops herself, “had it mounted in my living room.” Her mouth twists as she looks down at her fingers. “No paparazzi, no Daddy to disappoint, no one cared who I was. It was my little slice of heaven.” She looks up, seeing the entire table is listening to her story. “So, to answer your question, I like the blues.” She runs her hands over her lap.
“A girl who likes a dive pub, bad food, and mellow music. Jesus, Savannah, you’re like every man’s dream.” Kyle laughs into his beer bottle. “Don’t let this one leave.”
“Didn’t you hear, Kyle?” Savannah leans toward him and lowers her voice. “I’m taking over Agent Black’s job.”
Cole turns to her, only to find her grinning ear to ear, her eyes sparkling. It takes some major self-control not to grab her, throw her up against the wall, and take her right then and there.
“Savi, are you trying to get me in more trou—” Mark laughs stopping mid-word. “Melanie?”
Savannah’s head whips around to Abigail, who looks like she’s just seen a ghost.
“Who is this?” Cole whispers and leans toward Savannah, suspecting she knows something.
She turns so their faces are almost touching. “The girl Mark’s been seeing.”
Really? That might explain why Mark’s been so eager to do the runs into town lately.
Melanie says to Abigail, “I was just grabbing something to eat and saw you. I thought I’d come by and say hello.”
“Well, that’s nice of you, dear. I’m Abigail. Please, won’t you join us?”
June is already grabbing a seat and wedging it between Mark and Savannah.
Mark shoots Cole a look, mouthing he’s going to kill Abigail.
Savannah has to squeeze against him. Luckily for him, most of the action is on her side, so now he has an excuse to wrap his arm around her chair. She seems to like this. As she settles in next to him, she runs her hand over his thigh. He lets out a puff of air, fighting off the nasty thoughts that are flashing through him.
“I don’t want to intrude…” Melanie starts to say, but Abigail pushes her into the seat.
“Nonsense.”
Cole catches his father’s gaze. He’s smiling at both him and Mark, and his mother is beaming too. Well, at least his father seems all right if something is going on with him and Savannah. He needs to speak to him about it though.
“Do you work here in town?” Savannah asks Melanie.
“Yes, at The Cliff. It’s a coffee shop my parents own. I’m helping them out while I go to school. I’m getting my marketing degree.”
“Oh, I have a degree in marketing. I used to work for—” She catches herself. “So how did you and Mark meet?”
Melanie doesn’t seem to notice Savannah change the topic.
“Yes, how did you two meet?” Keith asks, clearly loving this situation.