I spoke up quickly, remembering what Kaige had said about the offerings. “Can we get tandoori chicken too?”
Rahul bobbed his head. “But of course. It’s one of our specialties.”
I beamed at him. “Perfect. Make it extra-spicy. And I mean by your standards, not your typical customer. I can handle it.”
He gave me an assessing look and then a pleased smile. “As the lady wishes.”
“Bring another plate of that for me,” Kaige put in. “If Mercy likes it, it must be good.”
I arched an eyebrow at Kaige. “I’m not sure you can handle it. Have you had proper Indian spicing before or only the watered down stuff?” There’d been an authentic place just down the street from my house, and as a kid I’d been determined to build up my tolerance, maybe to prove there were a few things in the Bend I could totally conquer even if I couldn’t protect myself from my dad.
“Hey, I like things spicy.” Kaige nudged me with his elbow. “That’s why I enjoy you so much.”
The owner led us to a table a little apart from the others near the back. “Will you be having any wine tonight?”
Kaige perked up even more. “Hell, yeah.”
Wylder made a vague gesture. “A bottle of the best stuff you have on hand that’ll go well with the food.”
“And I’ll have a glass of the Abree Vineyards Merlot,” Rowan said.
As Rahul hurried off, Wylder shook his head at Rowan. “All your wining and dining experience, and you still go for that cheap crap when you’re with us.”
Rowan shrugged. “When I’m drinking for fun rather than to impress, I might as well go for what I actually like.”
He glanced at me just for a second and quickly jerked his gaze away. It didn’t click until Rahul came back out with a fancy-looking bottle that he set in the center of the table—and another much more modest-looking one that had a logo so familiar my heart skipped a beat.
Oh. It was the stuff we used to drink back when we were teenagers. One of the cheapest wines in the store, when Rowan could cajole someone into picking it up for us, and I’d always said I thought the flowering vine that curled around the company name was pretty.
We’d been sharing a bottle of that merlot the night we’d lost our virginity to each other in the quiet little clearing in the park that we’d made our own. It’d felt like a room all to ourselves within the ring of trees and bushes. I had a flash of memory of that younger Rowan grazing his fingers down the side of my face as he smiled at me adoringly…
I shook away all those thoughts. That might as well have happened to two different people, so much had changed since then.
Funny that he still went for the same wine, though.
The appetizers came out quickly, and we all dug in. I hadn’t realized how famished I was. I could have gorged myself just on the spring rolls, dumplings, and pakoras, but I knew I had to save room for my tandoori.
When the steaming hot-plate arrived, I could tell I’d made the right choice. I took one bite of a leg, the juices of the tender chicken mixing with the perfect fiery punch of spice, and was in heaven.
“Okay,” I said. “I vote that we have all our dinners here from now on. And maybe breakfasts and lunches too.”
Kaige grabbed a piece and took a bigger bite than I’d have recommended when he didn’t know what he was in for. He swallowed and sputtered, blowing out air over his tongue as he reached for the wine-glass and downed it entirely.
I laughed. “Are you sure you can handle that spicy?”
“Yes,” he said with a look of determination as he eyed the next piece. “I’m not scared of meat.”
“There’s fear and there’s knowing your limits,” Rowan teased, reaching for the platter of orange chicken instead.
Wylder chuckled. “As long as you all survive the meal to fight alongside me tomorrow.” Then his jaw tensed as if he’d realized that comment might sound like it included me.
I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t worry, I won’t let it go to my head.”
Kaige took a couple of bites. Once he got accustomed to the heat, he started to gulp everything down. I watched him in amusement.
“Do you like it?” I asked.
He nodded. “A lot actually. I told you before, I appreciate a challenge.”