The date was set.
And now Razor was left to wonder:Would this be just a night out, or was he in way deeper than he thought?
Chapter Twenty
Razor choked on his drink as Lottie walked through the crowded restaurant toward the small group that had come out for dinner. He saw the coy smile on her face. Lottie knew how to be the center of attention. She didn’t have her normal gothic style makeup on, and her hair was pulled up at the base of her neck. Instead of her usual stilettos she wore a low heel. The wide leg black pants, paired with the high collared white blouse unbuttoned to her sternum had every man in the place drooling. Hell, he’d just spit Maker’s Mark on his hand at seeing her.
He saw the corners of her mouth tilt up as she tried not to smile harder. Smiling to himself, Razor took a sip of his drink to distract himself. Across the table he saw Hemlock drop his head as he tried to contain his laughter. Razor was tempted to throw his knife at him.
Standing up, Razor walked around the table and greeted her. Dropping a hand to her lower back, he guided her to the empty chair between him and Truck. Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, “You’re killing me, beautiful.”
He felt Lottie stumble as he whispered in her ear. It was the perfect response. Letting her go, he pulled out the chair and waited for her to take her seat before sitting down.
Razor settled back into his chair with a contented sigh as Lottie took her seat, the air around her still charged with that magnetic pull she always seemed to have. She didn’t respond immediately, but Razor noticed the way her eyes flicked to his, a quick, calculating glance that made the air crackle just a little more.
"Always commanding the room." Razor’s voice was light but edged with amusement.
Lottie smiled but didn’t answer him directly, instead turning her attention to Razor. "Do you always stare at women like you're staring at me?" she asked, her voice low but still teasing, her tone just the right mix of playful and challenging.
Razor leaned back slightly, arching an eyebrow. "Only the ones that make it impossible to look away."
Truck, who’d been silent up until that point, gave a low whistle. "Damn, man. You should’ve seen your face when she walked in. I thought you were gonna pass out." He grinned, clearly enjoying the tension building in the air.
Razor smirked, not bothering to deny it. It had been a close call, but he was damn glad Lottie had walked in just as he was taking a sip. He could’ve done without the choking incident, though.
"Don’t act like you weren’t speechless for a second," Razor muttered, turning his attention back to Lottie.
“Wine, Lottie?” Razor heard Truck ask. Leaning forward where he could look around Lottie, he gave Truck a hard look that toldhim to back off. Which the brother did with a snicker, right after he poured Lottie a glass of wine.
Lottie leaned closer to Razor. “I thought this was a date.”
“I had no idea half the chapter knew we were coming here until I arrived,” he admitted.
“It’s fine,” she said. “Might even take some of the pressure off of us,” she added.
“Hmm. Maybe,” was all Razor said before taking another sip of his drink.
The conversation was relaxed as the group talked about the menu. When Vicious and Sway appeared, Razor could feel the tension in Lottie without having a hand on her.
“Lottie, is there an appetizer you’d like to try?” he asked, trying to get her to focus on him and not the couple walking up.
Lottie shook her head. Then said “no” softly as she fidgeted in her chair. Her hands twisted the linen napkin in her lap as she watched her best friend and husband sit down across from her. She knew they might come. Sitting there as everyone spoke to Vicious and Sway, Lottie tried to come up with a reason to leave.
“Hey,” she heard Sway say.
“Hey, stranger.”
Razor caught the look on Vicious’s face and waited for him to look at him. When he did, Razor cut him down with one glance. He saw Vicious appear confused. Did the brother not realize how he was staring at Sway’s best friend?
Lottie placed a hand on the table, smoothing out an invisible crease. “Haven’t seen you much, Sway.”
“Same,” was all Sway said.
Draping an arm along the back of Lottie’s chair, Razor ran a finger along the back of her shoulder, trying to ease some of the tension from her. “We’ve been busier lately and shorthanded. Lottie’s been a huge asset.”
“Is she,” Vicious responded to Razor’s comment, trying for some humor. He knew why things had been so strained between his wife and her best friend. Even it was Sway’s choice, it was taking a toll on her. Which pissed him off.
Lottie’s eyes snapped up locking on Vicious. She was done with the rude looks and feeling like she was the bad guy. Even if it could be her own insecurities, she was done taking comments targeted towards her. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Her words were laced with venom.
