“Mmm ... and bore me to death.”
Intent on keeping her cool composure, De raised her hands. “I give up,” she whispered and walked away.
Alex celebrated the departure and strolled toward the full bar located near the rear of the den. He ordered a cognac and was sipping the pungent drink when he heard his name. He turned, letting loose a roaring bellow of laughter that drew several surprised looks from his cousin’s more reserved guests.
“Xan!”
“Man, what the hell you doin’ up in here?” Alex asked, shaking hands and hugging one of his oldest friends.
Trey Cooper’s laughter was as rich and honest as Alex’s. “Man, you know this haughty crap ain’t my thang. My girl works for the city and got an invite, so I rolled up in here with her,” he explained, tugging on the lapel of his tan sport coat.
Alex chuckled, his turquoise gaze twinkling with mischief. “Man, my cousin would have a damn fit if she knew she had the owner of Rump Shakas Plaza up in here,” he said, citing one of the city’s most popular gentlemen’s clubs.
Trey laughed, patting one hand to his short Afro. “Hell, she’d probably faint if she knew I ain’t got no college degree!” he teased in his usual outrageous manner.
The two friends had stood laughing and talking for a while longer when they were interrupted by the sound of someone calling Trey’s name. They turned to see his girlfriend approaching.
“Trey, look who I found,” Courtney Serens announced.
Trey’s brown gaze widened and his hearty laughter sounded again. “Topaz! Girl, what the hell ...” he remarked as they shared a hug. “I know somethin’s got to be wrong now, if they invited you!”
Topaz slapped his shoulder. “Hush, fool, a friend dragged me here. He was invited.”
“Mmm-hmm, Trey got in on my coattails too,” Courtney replied, joining in when everyone laughed over the remark.
Topaz’s laughter softened. She noticed the devastating man standing a few inches behind Trey and smiled. “Hello,” she whispered, her amber gaze narrowing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Topaz,” Courtney said as she stepped forward. “Topaz Emerson, Alexander Rice,” she announced, settling her hands into the pockets of her spaghetti-strapped swing dress.
Topaz extended her hand. “I didn’t get your name earlier. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Rice.”
“Alex, please,” he urged, smothering her hands in his warm, firm embrace. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
Courtney was curious. “You two met already?” she inquired.
Before anyone could respond, Simon Whitley found his date. Alex’s striking blue-green stare sharpened when he noticed the man easing his arm around Topaz’s waist. He glanced toward her hand for a ring. There was no wedding band, only a diamond thumb ring and an emerald cut on her pinkie.
Courtney introduced Simon to Alex and Trey; then the group indulged in a few more moments of idle chatter. A short while later, Simon whisked Topaz away for more dancing and Courtney went to speak with an aquaintance she’d spotted.
Trey accepted a glass of vodka from a passing waiter, before turning back to Alex. He could tell that his friend was quite interested in the dark leggy beauty who twirled around the dance floor with another man.
“Yeah, she is.”
“She’s what?” Alex asked, knowing to whom Trey was referring.
“As sweet as she is fine.”
“How do you know her and I don’t?”
Trey’s wide shoulders rose beneath his coat. “You been a busy man. It’s been a while since you been in town, right? Lot of functions you may’ve missed,” he figured.
Alex drained the last of his cognac and grimaced. “I haven’t missed that much,” he argued, though silently he acknowledged there had been much old business to tie up.
“Maybe it just wasn’t meant for y’all to meet yet. Everything happens for a reason, you know?”
Alex nodded, wondering if that was really true. “Who’s the cat she’s with?”
Trey shook his head. “I never met the man before tonight, but I do know she’s not married or engaged or seein’ anybody as far as I know.”
“Hard to believe,” Alex whispered.
“Hmph.” Trey shrugged. “Tell me ’bout it.”
“Sorry, baby,” Courtney sang when she returned to Trey’s side. “Alex, I’m stealin’ my man.”
“No problem,” Alex replied with a grin and shook hands with Trey again. “All right, man.”
“Drop by the bar sometime. You been away too long,” Trey insisted.
“Count on it,” Alex promised, clapping his friend’s shoulder before they parted ways. He returned to the bar, deciding to enjoy the rest of the party from that location.
“Well, at least De has good taste in bands,” Topaz complimented when the jazz group took five. “I think I need a drink after that workout.”
Simon’s brown stare was trained across her shoulder. “Baby, I see someone I should speak to. You mind?” he asked, cupping her face.
Topaz shook her head and sighed. “I don’t mind, but make it snappy ’cause your forty-five minutes are almost up, mista.”
