Page 29 of Gates of Tartarus

Tennireef looks completely confused, but maybe he’s never seen any Friends reruns or something, and he just plows through the awkward moment with the grace of a trained politician. “Well hello to you too, Officer Shotridge.”

Jonah ignores him completely. “He already told you about the meeting then, Kai?” he asks incredulously. “And he’s still alive?”

Tennireef shrugs elegantly, replying for me. “We hadn’t gotten to that yet. Kailani and I were just discussing plans for our date Friday evening.”

Jonah’s head whips around so quickly I’m surprised he doesn’t break his neck. “What? And also, what?”

“What what?” Walker’s voice is tired, beyond tired, and I wonder what he was up to last night that has him so exhausted today, dark circles beneath dull eyes.

“You okay?” I ask him quietly, and he turns up the corners of his lips into an almost smile, not answering me.

“What’s going on?” he addresses Jonah, whose face is now dark, thunderclouds having rolled over his normal sunshine.

“This asshat says he has a date with Kai Friday.”

Walker’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and small waves of masculine triumph roll off James, bumping my shields with a toxic sort of energy.

“Yes,” he says nonchalantly. “Kai asked me out to lunch, so we were finalizing plans. We have reservations at The Table Friday evening. A special menu, just for us.” He’s clearly flexing in front of the team, and I make a mental note that he likes to peacock when he thinks he’s won. It’s a weakness, and though I can’t exploit it now, it’s important to file away.Kailani motto, I think to myself,always remember the dragon’s belly.

“Who does?” Maddox enters the room moments after Walker, followed closely by Deo, who surveys the odd scene before him through careful eyes.

“Gentlemen,” says Tennireef in a jovial welcome. “How good to see you all. And, not that it’s part of today’s discussion, but Kai and I have a date on Friday. Not until the evening so she won’t be missing work, don’t worry.”

Deo meets my eyes behind Tennireef’s back and shakes his head slightly, a small, secret smile flitting across his lips. “Ah,” he says sardonically without taking his eyes from mine, “you finally wore her down, Senator? Better men then you have tried and gotten nowhere. The Table, hmmm? Pulling out the big guns from the start.”

Tennireef lights up at what he sees as being included in the “guy talk”, shrugging modestly. “I think she’s worth the added effort. Don’t you?”

“Of course,” Maddox says slowly, “Ms. Reed deserves only the best. Just be careful. She has a team of big brothers behind her who wouldn’t want to see her hurt.”

Jonah and Walker, both of whom were taking large sips of coffee, start choking simultaneously, both shaking with the force of their coughing, waving off any help.

“Yes, of course. Rest assured I’ll take only the best care of Ms. Reed,” Tennireef assures Maddox smarmily over the sound of the others’ coughing.

“That’s so sweet of you,” I whisper softly to him. He smirks down at me, and Deo is turning puce over his shoulder with the effort of maintaining his composure.

“Well. Uh. Well.” Maddox is looking both confused and concerned.

“Can I have my assistant get you a coffee, Kailani?” Tennireef offers, clearly feeling like he’s found his footing. I shake my head.

“I don’t accept drinks of any sort from people I don’t know,” I say firmly.

“Well, you know me!” he says cheerfully. “I’ll run and grab one for you while we wait for Elena.” The air is sucked out of the room immediately. “Oh, were you not aware I’d be present at this morning’s meeting?” If smug were a person, it would be Tennireef.

“Someof us were aware,” says Maddox tiredly. “But you’re intruding upon our morning briefing. I’ll ask you to remove yourself until Gomez gets here at 8:00.”

He motions to someone outside the door, and an officer hurries in to gently guide the senator out of the room. Tennireef looks like he wants to put up a fight, then thinks better of it, and walks out graciously, with a small, backwards glance at me, rolling his eyes slightly as though he and I are a team and he has some sort of inside joke with me.

The minute he’s outside the door, Jonah bursts. “Him?Him, Kai?” he says, anger and confusion warring in his voice. He takes a visible beat to calm down, then just waves his hands around, clearly not knowing where to go with his next words.

Deo hisses quietly, a warning, and moves rapidly towards the door. He quickly checks the hall before closing the door firmly and turns to Jonah, looking exasperated.

“Youmustbe kidding, Shotridge,” he says shortly. “Kailani clearly isn’t going on an actual date with that... well, that.”

I simper slightly, batting my eyelashes and pressing my hands to my face, “But oh mygawd, Deo! He’sso handsome! And asenator!”

“You’re going to make me ill, Kai. And you’re upsetting the children.” He jerks his head towards Jonah, who looks suitably abashed.

“Okay, okay,” Jonah says ruefully. “I get it. I wasn’t thinking.”