As for his apparel, instead of his usual flannel, he wore a jean shirt buttoned up to his throat (you couldn’t see it under his beard, I just knew because that was how Tex wore all his shirts). And that was the only nod he made to being somewhere fancy.
Titus stood when we ascended the three steps to the private-but-not-totally-private room.
Tex was leaned back in his chair with both his arms spread along the ones beside him, and he didn’t get up.
“My babies,” Titus greeted warmly and magnanimously, as was Titus’s way, opening his arms wide, his invitation to line up for hugs, as was also Titus’s way.
Dutifully, the Angels moved in single file, each of us receiving a tight Titus hug.
It wasn’t until Titus helped Gemma into her chair and pushed her under the table when someone brought it up.
And it was Jessie who did it.
“What are you doing here?” she asked Tex.
“I know how this goes,” Tex replied.
“How what goes?” Raye asked.
“Ethnic restaurant relying heavily on the color red for décor,” he didn’t quite answer.
Harlow leaned into the table and explained, “It’s a Rock Chick thing.”
Ahh.
No one asked because no one wanted to know.
“I’m not taking any chances,” Tex decreed.
“Heads up,” Titus murmured.
We all turned to the wide space that led into our VIP section to see Dimitri sauntering our way.
And…hot damn.
Black shirt, open at the throat, under a black suit. Hair perfect. Face perfect. Body perfect.
Okay, so maybe it wasn’t just keeping good relations with our allies that brought us to the Red Bear. Maybe it was just to get another eye full of Dimitri.
Though, total honesty be damned (on this occasion), I wasn’t going to share that with Knox.
“Ladies,” he greeted when he arrived, dipping his head in the general direction of the table. His attention moved to Titus, “Bratukha.” Then his eyes focused on Tex and he said nothing.
“Dimitri, this is Tex. He’s our boss,” Raye introduced.
Dimitri made no response, Tex made no overtures at greeting, the two men just stared at each other.
I shifted in my seat.
“He’s also kind of an honorary Angel,” Willow added. “He taught us how to break and enter.”
Auspiciously, this worked to break the ice, and all the girls did their version of swooning without actually swooning when a slow, glamorous smile spread across Dimitri’s face.
“Welcome to the Red Bear,” he said to Tex, then to the rest of us, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve set your menu so you can experience the best of our fare. Simply tell your server if there’s something you don’t eat. This evening is on me.”
“Nah, man, it’s on me,” Titus chimed in.
“They’re my girls, it’s on me,” Tex grunted.
