It was the same thing Dom had asked me when he found out. I didn’t know what it meant now any more than I did then, but from the look of thunder that passed over Xander’s face, he knew.
“Original,” Xander said. “Not that I expect anything better from a squaddie who probably hid behind his superiors all his life.”
Max growled, but before he could move, Dom barked out a word. “Pinecone, Max.”
To my amazement, my twin settled back in his seat with a grumble.
“That’s what you said to Mimic at the party.”
“It’s their code word,” Xander said. “Something innocuous that tells them to fall in line or basically stop whatever they’re doing.”
Huh. “Did you have one?”
“Potassium.”
That caught Max’s interest. “Why?”
Xander gave Max a withering look. “Evidently you didn’t pay attention in chemistry. What happens when you mix potassium and salt water?”
“Things go ‘boom,’” I answered for Max. “Clever. I don’t understand pinecone though.”
“Oh it’s nothing as intelligent as that.” Dom chuckled. “Have you ever shoved a pinecone up your arse? Might seem like a good idea at first, but you’ll end up in a world of pain.”
My lips parted. “Please tell me you aren’t speaking from experience.”
“Nah,” Dom said, his eyes heating as they lingered on me. “Haven’t put anything up there…yet.”
Xander choked on his beer as my cheeks flamed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Everyone around this table knows what he means,” Max said. “He’s not exactly subtle.”
“I’m not,” Dom said. “Speaking of which—Xander, you need to swap seats with Ryan.”
Was he crazy? “That’s a terrible idea.”
Max grunted. “I agree.”
Xander sighed. “As much as I hate to agree with anything Max says, it is a terrible idea.”
“Probably, but you made a promise,” Dom said cheerfully. “So up you get.”
I glared at Xander as he stood next to me. “Wanna explain the promises you’ve been making to Dominic?”
“Not really,” Xander said sweetly. “Now be a good bestie and switch places.”
“If you were a goodbestie, you wouldn’t be making me do this,” I muttered as I got to my feet. “You’re meant to be on my side.”
Xander clasped my shoulder, lowering his voice so noone else could hear it. “You might not believe me now, but thisisme being on your side.”
Dick. Why was it that I was destined to be surrounded by men who believed they always knew what was best for me?
Worse, why did Ilikeit?
I ignored Dom as I slid into the seat beside him. The booth wasn’t massive to start with. I hadn’t really noticed it next to Max, but here with Dominic? I measured every single inch that was between us and wished for several more.
Naturally, Dom erased any space that did exist by shifting until his legs were spread wide. I sucked in a breath as our bodies connected. My right hip to his left. Our knees pressed together. Feet brushing underneath the table.
“Really?” I asked in exasperation. “Do youreallyneed that much room?”
