Any Time, Any Place (Billionaire Builders #2)(75)

“Let’s head out to the deck. I set it up for cocktails and apps,” Morgan said, leading the way past the massive kitchen and out the back. Raven tried not to gape. The foyer was impressive enough, with a magnificent circular staircase and vaulted ceilings. But when her gaze registered the rich teak deck with a view of the infinity pool, white latticed gazebo, gardens, and sprawl of woods, she kind of lost her voice.

The blinding colors of sky, grass, woods, and pool enwrapped guests in another world. A partial roof shielded the deck from any odd weather, but the open portion was huge, containing a hand-painted mosaic table to fit at least twenty people, with apple-green cushioned chairs. Carved benches in teak matched the deck, while brightly colored geraniums, poppies, and tulips burst from planters. She felt wrapped up in an old-world fantasy of elegance and glamour. Music played softly in the background. A fire pit, grill, and smoker lay to the right. A full bar made of mixed stones took up one corner, and she watched Tristan stride over to pour himself a glass of red.

“How are you, Raven?” Tristan asked. “Do you prefer red or white? Or can I make you a cocktail?”

She smiled. “White wine is perfect. And I’m doing well.”

Morgan handed Tristan a bottle. “Here, let’s try the Chardonnay. I just got it from the cellar.”

Raven soaked up the view, enjoying the warm breeze scented sweetly with flowers. “Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner.”

“We’ve been wanting to have you here for a long time,” Morgan said. “But since we heard about the break-in, I’ve been sick with worry. How are you handling it?”

Raven had been asked about the encounter numerous times, occasionally with a touch of concern, but most people seemed greedy for details only to gossip. Not Morgan. Other than Dalton, Raven hadn’t really told anyone how the scene affected her. “I got spooked a bit,” she admitted. “Especially during closing, but damned if I was going to let him take my safe haven from me. Dalton was nice enough to stay with me a couple of nights. It helped.”

Dalton grabbed her hand and squeezed. She noticed the deliberate looks and nudges from his brothers, as if they’d never seen him with a woman before. “You were really brave,” Morgan said. “I think I would’ve frozen up. When I first met Gandalf and Balin and thought they were Cujos about to tear me to pieces, I couldn’t even scream.”

Cal laughed. “Trust me, I think you sensed those two beasts would love you to death. I’ve never known you to back off from fear. You tackled me head-on, didn’t you, princess?”

She rolled her eyes and handed Raven a floral-painted wineglass. “I was never afraid of you, Charming. Just irritated.”

He kissed her, and Tristan groaned. “Dudes, can’t you keep your hands off each other for a minute?”

“No,” Cal said.

“I saw the way you played poker,” Raven commented. “She played like a badass. If you have balls in poker, you would’ve definitely taken that guy down.”

Morgan puffed up with pride, and Cal grinned.

Brady grabbed a Raging Bitch and settled into one of the Adirondack chairs near the fire pit. “I heard you took him out with two kicks.”

“Two kicks and a punch,” she said.

“I talked to Xavier this week. He said he’s never seen such a talented student. When he heard what you did, the man couldn’t speak for a while. I think he was actually tearing up. Ever think about training for American Ninja Warrior?”

Raven laughed and took a sip of wine. Nice. Crisp and dry with a touch of peach and lemon. Long finish. “God, no. I just want to run my bar without assholes bothering me.”

“Then what are you doing here with Dalton?” Tristan asked, deadpan.

Dalton glowered. “Funny. As always.”

Raven tried not to smile at the sibling jabs. She’d always wished for a sister or brother, and enjoyed watching them interact. Morgan seemed a core part of the family, as if she’d been with Cal longer than a year. A pang surprised her. She’d never craved belonging somewhere after her father died, because she hadn’t believed it was possible to replace what she had.

Until now.

She refocused on the conversation. “Looks like Sydney’s running late,” Tristan said, swiping a cocktail shrimp from the iced platter. A bucket of oysters sat among mouthwatering treasures like crusty French bread with brie and figs, mini spinach quiches, and a tray of meatballs that looked perfectly browned. Raven loaded up a plate of food and fell into culinary heaven.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. She can’t come,” Morgan said.

He frowned. “Why? Is Becca okay?”

“Yes, but Sydney came down with the flu. Poor thing sounded terrible. I told her I’d run over there after dinner, but she insisted she was fine. Said she’d put Becca to bed early and just sleep it off.”

In seconds, Tristan’s easygoing features grew hard. His voice came out clipped. “And you believed her? Sydney is stubborn, she never wants to bother anyone. She’s not going to be able to take care of a five-year-old if she can’t even move. I’m going over there.”

Morgan’s mouth dropped open. “Tristan, I don’t think that’s a good idea, she probably wants to just stay in bed and sleep. We can check on her later.”

Tristan ignored her. He put his glass on the bar and shot his cuffs. Even relaxing before dinner, he looked like he could easily attend a society function in his fitted charcoal suit. “I’ll stop at Marty’s Deli and get her some chicken soup.”