“>”
“>”
Kyle ordered the attending computer to turn off all the lights in the condo and set the security protocols behind him as he left. He took the private elevator down to the lobby and headed outside where Alexei’s car was parked at the curb.
Sean was in the front passenger seat and Kyle waved at him in greeting, earning a tired smile in return. Kyle climbed into the back seat and the door was barely even closed before Alexei was pulling into the street.
“I asked Alexei to marry me last night,” Sean said in lieu of hello.
Kyle froze in the process of buckling his seatbelt. Leaning forward between the two front seats, he craned his neck to get a good look at Alexei’s left ring finger. The obscenely gaudy ring that Alexei was more than willing to show off made Kyle snort.
“The fact that Sean beat you to the proposal is why he’s forever staying in the family,” Kyle said.
“I bought him ring,” Alexei protested.
“Yeah, but he still asked first.” Kyle leaned back, but not before thumping his fist against Sean’s shoulder. “Congratulations. Welcome to the family. I need the exact second you proposed for betting purposes.”
“Please tell me you didn’t bet on us,” Sean groaned.
“I mean, if you want me to lie I will, but I’m still going to need that number.”
“I don’t know, we were distracted.”
Kyle rolled his eyes at the leer he could see on Alexei’s face in the rearview mirror. “Think really,reallyhard, Sean. A lot is riding on what you tell us.”
“How much?”
Kyle waved off the question. “Doesn’t matter. I just want to see who won the pot.”
“Of course you do,” Sean muttered.
“Was 1834? 1835? Not sure. Like Sean say. Was distracted,” Alexei said.
Kyle groaned, slouching in the seat. “I think Madison had that time slot even if she didn’t have the day. She’s going to be insufferable.”
“What was yours?” Sean asked.
“I had Alexei proposing on your birthday with a ridiculously over-the-top gesture. I wasn’t even close.”
“Was perfect proposal,” Alexei told him.
“I’m sure it was. This is Sean we’re talking about.”
“Thanks,” was Sean’s bland reply.
“Have you told Mama and Papa yet, Lyosha?”
Alexei shrugged. “Will call later. Maybe next week. Today too hectic. Not have time for family calls.”
Considering how gossipy their entire family could get with everyone demanding personal calls for big news, Kyle could see how Alexei would want to wait until things died down with the MDF first.
“Just don’t wait too long. They like good news.”
“Haven’t told mine yet, either,” Sean said. “But I agree with Alexei. We’ll let our families know after all this has died down a little.”
Kyle nodded. “I see a lot of parties ahead of us.”
“Jamie supply alcohol,” Alexei said. “And coffee.”
