Page 91 of Dangerous Men

“Okay,” I say.

Alec takes my hand in his.

“I’m glad you’re asking this,” he tells me. “I want you to know. To not be surprised. I want you to be comfortable with me, Sydney.”

“Does he… does he expect to sleep with me, too?” I ask nervously. “To share me with the rest of you?”

“Ashton?” Alec frowns. “I think he’s made his intentions quite clear, Sydney. Yes. I imagine he’s very eager to have that sort of relationship with you.”

I shake my head quickly.

“Sebastian,” I clarify. I know he hates me, but if this is how these guys operate… if they are used to sharing? Would he expect to sleep with me just by default? Is that why he keeps hanging around the cafe? Is that why he hates me so much, because I’ve made no move to welcome him into my bed? “DoesSebastianexpect to sleep with me?”

Looking surprised, Alec shakes his head slowly. “No. Sebastian… I don’t think he’s expecting that. He may want to. And he can be hard to read, even for me. But expect it? No. You can ask him if you’d like.”

I laugh, shaking my head.

“I could never just ask him something like that. He’s too intense. He’s… like bottled lightning. Or like a snake, all coiled and waiting, ready to strike.” I describe, still laughing a bit. “And I’d say we’re safely in the mutual hatred zone. He can’t stand me.”

“I very much doubt that’s true,” Alec counters, looking away from me. “But you’re not wrong in that characterization of him. He can be… intense when he needs to be.”

The ding of the elevator is all the warning we get before Vincent Laurent comes back in, a team of waiters at his heels. Quickly, the waiters fill our table with food, placing a massive pile of fries between us along with a collection of dipping sauces and two heavenly-looking burgers. Someone places a cloth napkin on my lap, and to my surprise, a sommelier appears, pouring a small dribble of wine so dark it’s crimson into a glass and handing it to me.

“For you, this evening, I have picked a robust red,” he explains, eyes on me. “To compliment the meat of your burger. If Madam approves?”

A little unsure of what exactly to do, I raise the glass to my lips and drink the small portion of wine down in one sip.

It’s earthy. Strong.

“It’s great,” I tell him honestly. “Thank you.”

The words are barely out of my mouth before he takes the glass again, filling it this time, and pouring another for Alec. He leaves the bottle on the table, bowing his head to both of us. Then, as quickly as they arrived, the crowd is gone, the doors shutting heavily behind them.

“Wow,” I mutter. “A girl could get used to that.” Alec chuckles, picking up his burger.

After just one bite, I know, beyond any doubt, that Vincent Laurent is a genius. It’s the best burger I’ve ever had in my life. Even the fries are sensational, and since none of the dips are labeled, we have fun guessing what they all are before trying them.

I’m halfway through my burger when I work up the courage to ask another question that’s been plaguing me.

“What about Viper?”

Alec freezes, his hand reaching for his wine glass. It's such a small reaction, only a fraction of a second’s pause, but I catch it.

“Who told you about Viper?” he asks, voice a little too flat.

“Sebastian,” I tell him, and I know from the slight tick in his jaw that I’ve thrown the doctor right to the lions. “But I don’t think he meant to. It slipped out.”

“I see,” Alec says, taking a sip of his wine.

When he doesn’t continue, I press the issue.

“Where does Viper fit into all of this?” I ask. “You’ve never even brought him around to the shop to meet me.”

“Viper is… complicated,” Alec says, swirling his wine. He won’t meet my eyes. “He’s out of town right now, taking care of something for us. But I’m sure you’ll meet him when he gets back.”

“Complicated how?” I press.

Alec laughs, shaking his head.