Everything. She swallowed her apprehension and did her best to keep her tone casual. “Nothing.” When he continued to study her, she reached out and took his hand. “Come on.” She tugged him forward, and they continued to the table.
When they got close, the other couple stood. Sofia gave her a brief hug and an air kiss, and Russ held out his hand to Grayson. “Since we haven’t been formally introduced, I’m Russell Seagraves, but you can call me Russ.”
Cass did her best not to roll her eyes.
Grayson took his hand and shook it. “Grayson Beck.”
“Gray,” Russ repeated, trying to sound chummy.
“It’s Grayson.”
Irritation flashed in Russ’s eyes, and his chummy smile lost a bit of its charm. “Right. Sorry, Grayson.” He retook his seat next to Sofia.
Grayson pulled out the chair across from Sofia for Cass and helped her settle in before taking his across from Russ. The weight in Cass’s gut deepened because up close, there was no missing the signs of strain on Sofia’s face under the artfully applied makeup. As the server handed out menus and did a round of coffee and water pours, Cass leaned into her.
“You okay?” she murmured.
“I’m fine,” Sofia said, brushing off her concerns with a brittle smile.
Far from reassured but with no way to push it, Cass sat back and perused the menu even as she plotted to get her sister alone. For a few minutes, they compared orders and made minor changes then shared their final decisions with the server when he returned.
Cass was stirring cream into her coffee when Russ said, “So, Cassandra, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Funny, I haven’t heard a thing about you. Without moving her head, she looked over the rim of her glasses as she tapped the spoon and then set it aside on the saucer. “Is that so?”
“Yes, Sofia says you own a bar down in Phoenix.” His car-salesman smile held a hint of a sneer. “That must be quite the experience.”
“I’m part owner,” she corrected as she picked up her coffee and cradled it in both hands. “And yes, it can be.” She met his gaze. “And what is it that you do?”
He sat back and stretched a proprietary arm over the back of Sofia’s chair, the image of the young business professional. “I’m an acquisition manager at Pythia.”
She looked at her sister, who had been fiddling with her napkin. “Is that how you two met?” When Sofia didn’t look up or respond, she nudged, “Sofia?”
Her sister lifted her head and blinked. “Sorry?”
Cass’s earlier worry returned with a vengeance, but she did her best to keep up the getting-to-know-you gambit. “I asked if that’s how you two met. At Pythia?”
The distracted haze drifted away, replaced by a bright light. “No, we actually met in the wild.” She leaned into Russ’s side, her expression softening. “I was out with some girlfriends for Double-M and crashed into Russ. Literally.”
“Sounds like that’s a story,” Grayson chimed in.
Russ chuckled. “I was grabbing a drink at the bar, turned to go back to my table, when I got knocked back by a beautiful blonde. The rest, as they say, is history.”
“He’s being romantic.” Color rode under Sofia’s cheeks. “I was a klutz, which happens when you mix new heels and a couple of martinis on an empty stomach.” She looked at Cass, and for a moment, it was as if all their years of painful interactions had never happened. “You know how it goes.”
“You always were a lightweight,” Cass teased. “Okay, so, got to ask. What is Double-M?”
Sofia gave a cute giggle. “Martini Monday. It happens every few weeks when a group of us from the office get together after a particularly rough Monday and vent.” Sofia gave Russ a small smile. “Lucky for me, that Monday ended on a high note.”
He leaned in and touched his lips to hers then pulled back. “Definitely a high note.” He looked at Cass then Grayson. “So, what about you two? How’d you meet?”
The question caught Grayson mid sip. Over the rim of his coffee cup, his gaze met Cass’s, and a whisper of warning drifted through her mind. “Through a mutual friend when Grayson was in town for a job,” she said, purposely vague.
Russ’s gaze sharpened. “Job? What is it you do?”
Grayson set his cup down and followed her lead. “I’m a Key for the Western Guild office.”
Because she was watching him so closely, Cass noticed Russ’s momentary stillness. When he opened his mouth, the charming-fiancé role was a thing of the past. “A Key and a bartender, huh? Must be some sort of joke in there.”
