You Say It First. Susan MalleryЧитать онлайн книгу.
held up both hands. “That’s on Atsuko, not us. We’re just the artists. Those two deal with the high finance.”
One of the servers came by to take orders. The guys ordered beers while Pallas asked for herbal tea. Game challenge nights could go long. Not only did she need to stay sharp, she had to drive home.
The Boardroom was a pub on the south bank of the river. The decor was board game based. Two walls were open shelves filled with hundreds of different games. Patrons were encouraged to play any they liked, as long as they put them back.
Every Monday was a challenge night. People could play in teams or individually. The games started easy, and then got harder as the night progressed. Sometimes there were themes. Word games or Monopoly night. Once they’d had a Clue tournament. Trivia evenings were always popular, as were the nights devoted to games intended for players under the age of five. Pallas always enjoyed watching adults swear when they lost at Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders. Tonight would be a regular tournament, with simpler games early in the evening and the more difficult ones later.
“Too bad,” Pallas said. “Natalie’s good at board games. She always helps with the table’s average score.”
Nick leaned back in his chair. “You take this seriously.”
“Sure. Otherwise, why play?” She glanced around, hoping to see one of her friends. She smiled when she saw Silver walk in, then felt the smile fade as she realized what would happen when Nick met her friend. The same thing that happened when any man met Silver.
It wasn’t the other woman’s fault, she told herself, as her tall, leggy, blonde friend approached. Silver was one of those sexy women men naturally gravitated toward. There was a sensuality about her—one those of the male persuasion seemed to find difficult to ignore.
“I was hoping you’d be here,” Silver said as she walked over. She spotted Nick and Mathias and wrinkled her nose. “Oh, is this a date or something?”
“Not at all,” Pallas said quickly. “Nick’s restoring the panels at Weddings in a Box and Mathias is his brother. Would you like to join us?” She looked at Nick. “Unless you were saving the seat for Ronan?”
“He’s not a board game kind of guy,” Nick said easily as he came to his feet. Mathias did the same and they shook hands with Silver. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Silver sank into her chair. “Is Jasper here?”
“I haven’t seen him,” Pallas said. “And I’ve been looking.”
The two brothers glanced at each other.
“Who’s Jasper?” Mathias asked.
Silver waved over the server. “He’s an amazing player. He always wins. If it’s a team event, his team wins. He knows everything.”
“He lives outside of town,” Pallas added. “He’s a thriller writer.”
Nick stared at her. “Jasper Dembenski? Are you kidding? His books are great. I can’t put them down. He lives here?”
Silver grinned. “Uh-oh. A groupie. You leave Jasper alone. He’s asked me to be on his team twice and I don’t want you messing that up. If you fawn on him, you’ll scare him off.”
“I’m not fawning.”
“You’re practically swooning.”
Nick’s expression turned wounded. “I’m impressed by his talent. That’s all.” He leaned toward Pallas. “I need you to defend my honor here.”
“I think you’re on your own on that one.”
Mathias chuckled. Nick groaned and the server returned with their drinks.
Like Pallas, Silver had ordered hot tea. As she poured a cup, she glanced at Mathias. “Nick repairs wooden panels, so what do you do?”
“I make kitchenware out of glass.”
Silver brightened. “The ones Atsuko sells? Those plates and glasses?”
Mathias nodded.
“I have several of your pieces. I’m working on collecting a set. The ocean-colored ones. They’re beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
Pallas listened to the conversation. So far neither man showed any signs of falling for Silver’s considerable charms. Were they immune? She hadn’t realized that was possible. On the bright side, maybe it meant a shot at more of Nick’s kisses, and wouldn’t that be nice?
“I wish I had some talent like that,” Silver said. “To be able to create something out of just an idea.”
“Me, too.” Pallas shook her head. “I can draw stick figures, but that’s about it.”
“You create weddings,” her friend pointed out. “I’m just a bartender.”
“You’re not,” Pallas reminded her. She turned to Nick. “Silver owns a tavern.”
Silver rolled her eyes. “I own a fifth wheel that’s been converted into a bar. I take it to weddings and other events in town. I like it. I get to meet a lot of interesting people.”
“Sounds like fun,” Mathias said.
“It is. And honest work, even if it’s not classy enough for some people.”
The brothers exchanged a look of confusion. Pallas recognized the potential danger and quickly changed the subject.
“Nick and Mathias are from a small town north of here. What was it called?”
“Fool’s Gold,” Nick said.
“The town has California’s longest serving mayor,” Mathias added. “Mayor Marsha Tilson. She’s a strange old lady who knows things she shouldn’t. We can’t figure out if she has friends at the NSA or God on speed dial.”
“Equally scary options,” Pallas murmured, glancing at Silver.
Her friend raised her eyebrows as if asking what was wrong. They both knew the answer. Silver had been about to go off on Drew—Pallas’s cousin and heir apparent to run the family bank. Back in high school, Drew and Silver had been an item. More than that—they’d been in love. But after graduating, Drew had broken up with her, saying he needed someone who ran in his social circle.
Pallas had never been sure of the exact phrasing but the message had been clear. He’d dumped Silver and had taken up with a sorority girl at his college. Ten years later, there was still bad blood between them.
The servers started passing out games. Pallas laughed when she saw the first one. “Hungry Hungry Hippos is one of my favorites,” she said happily. “I love this one.”
“Is it actually a board game?” Nick asked.
“If there’s a board somewhere, it counts,” Silver told him. “Watch out for her,” she said, pointing at Pallas. “She’s cutthroat when it comes to collecting marbles. There is no mercy in that one.”
Pallas stuck out her tongue, then turned the board so she had her favorite blue hippo in front of her. She stretched her arms, flexed her fingers a few times, then waited for the signal to begin.
Nick looked at his brother. “I think we’re in trouble.”
“Me, too.”
* * *
“HOW DO YOU feel about playing a courtier?”
Nick looked up from the panel he’d been sanding. Alan stood in the doorway to the workroom.
“Welcome back,” Nick said. “When did you get into town?”
“This morning. I’m here for the wedding tomorrow. So, are you up for it?”
“What do I have to