Tempted & Taken (Men of Haven #4)(23)
“Oh, yeah we will. Count on it.” With that, Seth winked at her and sauntered off to wherever he’d been headed before he’d kamikazied into her path.
“Seth is a friend of yours?” she asked as they wove through the people.
“More of an acquaintance. He works for a guy who’s got business with my brother Jace.”
Before she could ask what kind of work a tough-looking man like Seth specialized in, they reached the restricted entry to the private area. Two men guarded the gate, both in tight-fitting black T-shirts with Security emblazoned in big letters on the back. Rather than ask them for names or identification as she’d expected, the mocha-skinned man with dreadlocks down to his shoulder blades flashed Knox a familiar smile and lifted his hand for a high-five greeting. “Hey, man. Wondered when you were gonna show.”
Knox greeted him in kind, an entirely different level of familiarity registering than what he’d shown Seth. “Hey, Ivan. Didn’t expect to see you on shit detail tonight.”
Ivan shrugged and rubbed the back of his hand against his chin. “You know how it goes. Axel needed help, so I ponied up.”
A look passed between them, one she couldn’t quite categorize, but seemed loaded with meaning.
“It all counts,” Knox said. “Doin’ time is worth it in the end.”
“I get it.” He jerked his head toward a table just beyond the private bar and food vendors set aside for VIPs. “Your crew’s dead ahead. Have a good time.”
Capturing her hand in his, Knox led the way, nodding and lifting his hand in greeting at different people along the way.
“You know a lot of people,” she said from behind him.
He glanced back and grinned. “My brothers know a lot of people. If left to my own devices, I’d probably never get out from behind my computer.”
Just as they approached the table Ivan had indicated, Knox released his hold. The band ended their song and announced they’d be back after a short break, and the crowd let loose with resounding applause.
A deep rumbling voice sounded from somewhere on the other side of Knox. “Thought we were gonna have to send Beckett out for search and rescue.”
She inched forward to see who’d spoken just as Knox stepped back and brought the whole table into full view. The impact was staggering. Even having shamelessly studied each of them in the picture she’d saved from the rally earlier in the year, the men Knox called brothers were twice as impressive in person. Next to three of them were equally beautiful women, each comfortably situated close to their men with happy, contented expressions.
Knox waved to the man and woman closest to him. “JJ, this is Jace and Vivienne. The two goobers next to him are Beckett and Danny. You’ll get more than your fair share of dealing with them if you end up on payroll.”
Darya nodded, all the nervousness she’d managed to ignore in the last hour surging back to the forefront along with a healthy fear she’d bungle this meeting altogether.
Not pausing to let anyone get a word in edgewise, Knox kept going. “The happy couples over there are Zeke and Gabe, and Trevor and Natalie. Both newlyweds and utterly disgusting to watch.”
The dark-haired woman he’d introduced as Vivienne frowned up at Knox. “What are we? Chopped liver?”
“It’s been a year and half,” Knox grumbled back. “You’re just a garden variety couple now. And I’m still convinced you two are piping suspicious shit into the water at Haven. All the lovey dovey’s contagious.”
The grate of metal on concrete sounded on her left, drawing her attention to the one brother she’d yet to meet. He was tall, at least six foot one, and would have been intimidating with his long russet hair and full beard if it weren’t for his tailored slacks and fine button-down with rolled up shirtsleeves. Despite the heat, he looked utterly comfortable among the rest of the casual crowd and not the least bit wrinkled.
Not waiting for Knox’s introduction, he stepped in close and offered his hand. “I’m Axel McKee.”
Darya placed her hand in his, expecting a polite shake, only to have him lift it to his lips. “It’s nice to meet you,” she managed, the sheer devilment in his wicked gaze hitting her harder than the kicks she’d earned in her last sparring session.
Axel grinned, his smile and the soft tickle of his whiskers against her skin sending goose bumps up her arm. “Christ, that accent’s gonna do me in.” Straightening, he kept hold of her hand, tugged her closer to his side and pulled a chair from behind them next to his. “What’s say you settle in next to me and ply me with it for a day or two?”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” Knox slid the chair away, scooted it into an open slot on the far side of Jace and steered her that direction. “A word to the wise. Axel thinks it’s his God-given mission to seduce all the women in the tristate area. Sit next to Jace. He’s too busy getting into Viv’s panties to try and score yours.”
“You wound me, brother.” Axel settled into his chair, his eyes still on Darya as he raised his glass in salute. “And for the record, it’d be unsporting to limit myself to only our wee neck of the woods.”
Knox shook his head and focused on Darya. “Gonna make a drink run. You want something?”
A wide variety of wine, mixed drinks and beer rounded the table. If it were an interview, any kind of drinking would have been a horrid idea, but Knox had gone out of his way to emphasis this was a casual meeting. Plus, a little something to steady her nerves wouldn’t be unwelcome. “Vodka, please.”