Their relationship worked because everyone was acutely aware of the other people’s feelings and needs.
Like now.
The guise was that Elizabeth was getting an award from Gabe, and Gene, along with the other men, were focused on her.
Oh, wouldn’t he be surprised when he found out that he was the odd man out, and tonight was about them?
“You look so handsome,” Chris said softly after breaking the kiss. “You’re going to blow his mind.”
Yeah, that was his hope, and not the part of him that he’d hoped to blow, but that was how he rolled.
Ethan smiled, and Chris winked.
“Point that grin at him,” he said. “It’s his night. We all know it works on me. I’m easy.”
Yeah, it was, and Chris definitely was that.
Thankfully.
When Callen headed their way, he was trying to get his cufflinks on, but big fingers and tiny pieces of jewelry did not work for him.
His dexterity wasn’t like Chris’.
A doctor was just better at some things, and helping them get into tuxes was one of them. He’d been rich his whole life, and they were married rich. There was a big difference.
“Handsome,” Callen said. “Help a guy out,” he added, holding his wrist out.
Chris got the cuffs onto his monogrammed sleeve of his shirt, and locked them in place. They were gold, and had an onyx stone with a filigree‘B’on it for Blackhawk.
Because they all were one either by blood or marriage. They were consistent across the board. No one was ever left out.
“Ready for this award dinner?” Chris asked him, keeping the ruse going.
He nodded.
“I’m not shocked Elizabeth has another award. She collects them like men.”
From where he stood not far away, Gene laughed.
“She’ll kick your ass,” he stated. “You know she doesn’t give a shit about awards. I’m shocked that Gabe got her to this one. Normally, they just get it shipped to work where she tosses them into her desk drawer.”
That was the truth.
It was also why Ethan hoped Gene didn’t put two and two together and see how unlikely this whole scenario was.
Elizabeth wouldNEVERgo to an award ceremony for herself.
Yeah, here were the nerves again.
“Well, he must have bribed her with something,” Chris stated. “You know, like her own personal tank.”
Callen laughed.
He pictured it.
“I don’t know,” he stated. “The world is wonky. We could use a tank, but I’m more curious about how she got another dog. I swear, Ethan said he’d eat his own loafers before that happened.”
They were trying to distract Gene, and so far, it was working.
