Knight Nostalgia: A Knights of the Board Room Anthology(46)

Once they’d ordered their food, Marcie grabbed them an empty table, coaxing some unused chairs from other occupied tables to seat them all. As they ate and talked, they people-watched, always a lively pastime in the Jackson Square area. There was plenty of foot traffic, musicians and other buskers who routinely entertained and cajoled tourists into donations to their efforts.

“Hot Toddy next,” Dana said, pointing a French fry in Ben’s direction. She’d gotten the crab cakes but had ordered fries from another less health-conscious vendor. And the serving was large. Far larger than a tiny woman needed. He snagged a couple off her plate and grinned as Cass smacked his hand.

“That’s just mean,” Rachel said. “Stealing from a blind woman.”

“Though likely saving my ass from the extra pounds,” Dana said. “Here. Eat some of these, Rach. Jon likes all your soft places.”

“Peter doesn’t like yours?” Cass asked.

“Of course he does. But he’s a workout Nazi. I don’t want to give him any additional excuse to torture me.”

“At least not in the wrong ways,” Marcie put in.

“So says the pain freak,” Dana said dryly.

Marcie’s gaze slid to Ben’s and held for a lingering moment. Yeah, she was. Thank God.

He stretched an arm over the blind woman's shoulder, flicking her opposite ear. She planted a sharp elbow in his ribs in retaliation.

"Don't make me separate you two," Savannah warned.

"They become a mother, and all of a sudden they're in charge of everyone," Ben complained. He nudged Dana. "So why exactly are we going to a lingerie store, other than to endanger my life with all your husbands?"

"These." Dana cupped her small breasts. "I want something that makes my tits look bigger and set up higher. He likes them the size they are, but no reason not to plump them up a little. Give them a different look. Variety and all that.”

“Fair enough.” Ben flicked her ear again, got punched once more, then checked his watch. “It’s within walking distance, so I’ll text Max where he can find us.”

The driver had been invited to join them for lunch, but Max had said he’d take the time to gas up the limo and run a quick errand.

“Tell him to take his time,” Dana said. “There are plenty of places to shop around here until he gets back. We don’t want him to cut his lunch short.”

“Because he went to see Janet,” Ben agreed, dipping another French fry in her ketchup.

“How do you know that?” Marcie asked, stealing a potato chip off his plate and leaving him a couple slices of artichoke in exchange. She’d gone with the beet and artichoke salad.

“Because I know everything. How did you know, Dana?”

“Because I know him. And I heard him receive a text about a half hour ago. My guess is she was offering to make him lunch if he had the time for a break.”

“I really want to know how that’s working between them,” Cass mused. “With Janet being a Mistress, but Max not being a sub.”

“However it works,” Dana said with a wicked smile, “It has got to be totally hot. He’s got a service streak a mile wide, but it’s the ‘sweep you off your feet and carry you up a mountain’ versus ‘scrub your floors’ kind.”

“That works for me. I already have a maid,” Savannah said, making them all laugh.

Marcie nudged Ben. “Has he given you any details? We won’t tell.”

He chuckled at her attempt at an innocent face. “Only because everyone you would tell is at this table. If I did know details, it’s a guy code. I couldn’t share. But before you try to torture it out of me by threatening more shopping, I don’t really know any. If you’ve noticed, Max would give a sphinx a run for its money.”

“True,” Dana agreed. “You have to pick it up from what he doesn’t say, rather than from what he does.”

“So, what doesn’t he say?” Rachel asked, inciting more smiles.

“I think he’s really into her,” Dana said, her expression becoming less teasing and more thoughtful. “And I think it’s reciprocated.”

“I can vouch for that one,” Ben said. “Janet seems distracted these days. For her, that is. Which means her hundred and fifty percent efficiency has dropped a percent.”

“Good for them,” Savannah said quietly. “They both deserve someone special to love.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Ben advised. “It could be all about the sex, you know.”

“Well, with Max involved, there better be sex,” Dana returned. “A lot of it. Otherwise, what a waste.”

“Amen,” Cass said fervently, a sentiment echoed around the table, including Marcie. Ben shot her a narrow glance.

“Just being agreeable,” she said blithely.

“I’m going to tell Matt he needs to fire Max and hire someone ugly. Or better yet, a hot female with big breasts. We need more diversity in the limo pool.”

“Or a workshop on sexual harassment,” Cass said dryly.

“I’ve only groped his ass three times,” Dana said primly. “And I don’t work for K&A, so you can’t allege harassment.”