Page 44 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

We were led to a door that opened into a private dining room. She opened it and gestured for us to enter. As we did, she said someone would be in to get our drink orders shortly, then she left.

I was checking out the room when movement caught my eye. Barrett Sherman came walking toward us. He must’ve been hiding in the far corner. He was smiling, all pleased. His hand was out.

“I’m so glad that you made it,” he said moments before he shook Beau’s and then Ben’s hands. For me and Keeley, he bowed to us.

“Please, take a seat and make yourselves comfortable. Mr. Wynne should be here very shortly.”

Our guys pulled out chairs and seated us before taking their own. Sherman sat across from us. It was a round table set for six people. I guess Sherman will be joining us for dinner.

“Ah, there he is. This is our personal waiter tonight, Kenneth. He’ll take your drink orders. And later, if you have any questions about the menu, he knows it in and out. He’s been here for several years. Mr. Wynne always asks for Kenneth if he’s available.”

“Good evening, everyone. It’s a pleasure to serve you tonight. I’ll gladly answer all questions. Ladies first. What may I bring you to drink?” Kenneth asked.

Again tonight, we were to defer to our men to keep up the facade.

For me, it hurt to do it because it reminded me of submitting to Vadzim, even though the men involved were nothing alike, nor were the scenarios.

We’d discussed our drink and food options ahead of time.

The menu was online. The only thing not online was the daily specials.

If one of those sounded better to us, then we’d have to ask the men if we could have something else.

Ben and Beau placed our orders without asking about our preferences, and we acted as if it were no big deal. I was watching Sherman covertly from the corner of my downcast eyes. He had a pleased look on his face. I wanted to ask him what he was so happy about, but I didn’t.

There was some small talk as we waited. It consisted of the men talking, and my sister and I sitting there quietly.

For someone anxious to get us here, Wynne didn’t seem to care about arriving early to speak to us.

I glanced over at Ben’s watch. It was three minutes to eight, and still no sign of Wynne.

If he didn’t show up, I was out of here by ten after.

Having money shouldn’t make you rude or waste other people’s time.

I was ready to scream by the time Beau said something I was eager to hear.

We’d gotten our drinks ten minutes ago and were slowly sipping them.

“Well, it seems Mr. Wynne has better things to do this evening, and so do we. My friend wants to celebrate. We thought we’d have a nice dinner, then he and Kensy could have a private celebration.

If you’ll excuse us, it’s ten after the hour.

I haven’t gotten any messages from Mr. Wynne.

And you haven’t, or I would assume you’d say so.

We’ll be leaving,” Beau said, coming to his feet.

Ben followed him and was pulling on the back of my chair while Beau did the same to my sister’s chair. Sherman was on his feet, babbling.

“Please, just five more minutes. Let me see where he is. There has to be a good reason he’s late and hasn’t reached out to anyone.”

As Sherman hastily typed on his phone, Ben added to Beau’s remark.

“I got great news today and wanted to stay home and celebrate with my woman, her sister, and my best friend. However, we had this dinner, and I thought it would be rude to cancel. What is going on? Why are we being run around by Wynne?” Ben snapped.

“I assure you, Mr. Wynne isn’t trying to give anyone the run around,” Sherman said. Then we heard his phone chime. He hastened to read it.

“Mr. Wynne apologizes. He had an emergency at his home and is running behind. He’s not sure when he’ll be free. He asks that you please stay and have dinner on him, and he’ll make this up to you as soon as he can. He’s terribly upset.”

“If Wynne wants to make it up, he can call and apologize himself. Then, we’ll think about it.

But at this point, we’re not willing to meet him at a restaurant.

It seems like the only way to pin him down is at his home.

Maybe he should just stay there and we’ll forget all about whatever it was he wanted to speak to our fiancées about. ”

“F-Fiancées? I thought only Mr. Pierce was engaged to one of these lovely ladies,” Sherman stammered.

“He was until today when I asked Kensy to marry me. We’ve sewn up both women as ours.

Waste time, and someone else might snatch them out from underneath you.

It’s not every day that we find women who understand our needs and are willing to adhere to our rules.

We’ll pass on the dinner offer. We’ve lost our appetite,” Ben informed him gruffly.

We were followed through the restaurant with Sherman apologizing and asking us not to hold it against his client. We only got free once we were in our vehicle, driving away. As we got clear, Beau laughed.

“That should put a fire under Wynne and get us an invitation to his home. Did you see how shocked Sherman was to find out both of us are engaged?” he asked us.

“I did,” Keeley grinned.

“I wonder what the emergency at home was. Do you think it had anything to do with Aimée?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but hopefully, we’ll be in that house and find out soon. Just hang in there, babe. You’re doing great,” Ben told me. I let him hold me the whole way home. I kept picturing what Aimée might be suffering.