Free Awakening Her Racy Passion [Racy Nights 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Tara Rose Page B

She couldn’t stop staring at it. “I love that. Where did you get it? Busler’s never had anything so unique.”
    He chuckled. “No, they certainly didn’t. And I don’t imagine that once they rebuild it, that will change. I got it in Chicago.”
    “I love Chicago. Marisol and I used to go there once a month, even if all we did was walk up and down Michigan Avenue, drooling over boots.”
    He smiled, and her heart fluttered. “Those are nice ones you have on tonight. Did you buy them in Chicago?”
    “Yes. Last year.” During happier times with good friends.
    Their server came to take their drink orders, and they ordered calamari as an appetizer as well. As soon as she left the table, Ria glanced over her shoulder to find Gina and Kari still watching them. She faced Wyatt again, wondering if he’d even noticed. “It’s not going to end, no matter what I do, is it?”
    He glanced up from his menu. “What?”
    “The nasty looks.”
    He gazed at a spot over her shoulder, then focused on her face again. “One step at time, okay? They don’t know what you did today. Not yet, anyway.”
    “Meaning what?”
    He smiled again, and she was seized with an urge to lean across the table and kiss him right on the mouth. The hell with whoever was watching. “Meaning all it takes is someone they know and trust to start putting bugs in their ears.”
    “Like you?”
    “Like me and Trent.”
    “Why? Why would you both do that for me?”
    He put down the menu and took her hands. The jolt of electricity shooting through her body at his touch was hot and exciting. “I’ll say it again because you need to hear it right now. We like you. A lot. We both do. And we both want to help you do this. But you have to be patient with them, and with yourself. You have to give it time. This isn’t going to change overnight. You have a lot of hard work ahead of you, and a lot of proving yourself to them. Are you ready for that, Ria? Can you do that?”
    She nodded because she didn’t trust her voice right now.
    “You’ve already taken the first step today. An important one. And I’m so very proud of you for doing so.”
    “Thank you.” It had been years since anyone had told her they were proud of her for anything.
    “Trent will be proud of you, too. In fact, I should…”
    His voice trailed off and Ria followed his gaze, glancing over her shoulder to watch Trent, dressed in a sports coat, forest-green shirt, dark slacks, and a tie advance toward them with a big smile on his face.
    “Did you know he was coming?” Wyatt’s voice was hard.
    She met his gaze and shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
    Wyatt stood as Trent reached the table. “What’s going on?”
    “I’m joining you.” He took a seat between Wyatt and Ria, then picked up Wyatt’s menu. “Have you two ordered yet?”
    Wyatt lowered his voice, but it was still as hard as steel when he spoke. “What the hell are you doing?”
    “Calm down and take your seat. They’re all watching us. Act like you knew this was happening, okay? Ria has enough to deal with from them without the two of us acting like kids right now.”
    She glanced from Trent to Wyatt and back again, completely at a loss for words. Wyatt finally took his seat, but he didn’t look at either of them. Their server returned with their drinks, and to his credit, Wyatt explained, without missing a beat, that Trent was joining them as well. Trent gave their server his drink order and then he put down the menu. “I already know what I want. I love the food here.”
    Wyatt stared at Trent like he’d lost his mind. “Why? Just tell me why.”
    “Because we’re in this together now, whether you want to admit it or not. Because I can’t stop it. I don’t want to. So let’s just see where it leads us, okay?”
    The two stared at each other for a long time, and Ria shivered as she swore they communicated without words. She’d heard of twins being able to do that, but had never actually watched