âIt was one of the best weddings Iâve ever been to.â
âOh, Iâll bet it was.â Unable to resist, Tommie added sweetly, âHow is she, by the way? You know, the lovely young brunette I caught you molesting in the bridal suite?â
Paulo chuckled softly, shaking his head at her. âStill holding a grudge about that, Tommie? Tell you what. The next wedding we attend together, Iâll let you molest me during the reception. Afterward, too, if youâre really good.â
âPaulo!â Daniela gasped, torn between shock and amusement.
With a mischievous grin, Zhane suggested, âHey, you never know. The next wedding you two attend together might be your own.â
This time Tommie did kick him under the table. Hard.
âOuch!â he howled.
Tommie just glared at him, unrepentant.
âYour wings and waffles are making my mouth water, Tommie,â Daniela said, her hazel eyes still twinkling with laughter. âIâd better go order my own before I dive face-first into your plate.â
âWhy donât you and Paulo join us?â Zhane offered, all but daring Tommie to kick him in the shin again. âI know how hard it is to get a table in here. Makes no sense for yâall to wait around when weâve got plenty of room to spare.â
âThatâs very sweet of you, Zhane. Do you mind?â Daniela asked, dividing a glance between Tommie and Paulo, who looked distinctly amused as he held Tommieâs gaze.
âI donât mind,â he drawled. âMiss Purnell?â
âOf course I donât mind. Youâre both welcome to join us.â Really, what else could she say?
Daniela smiled. âGreat! Iâll go order our food. No, stay,â she insisted when Paulo offered to take care of it. âI got it. You always mess up the order, anyway.â
âIâll go with you,â Zhane said, already on his feet. As he and Daniela started away together, he said to her, âSay, you wouldnât happen to be a member of the Santiago family, would you?â
âGuilty as charged.â
Zhane let out a delighted squeal. âGo on, girl! Youâre like Houston royalty!â
Danielaâs laughing response was drowned out by the noisy din of the restaurant as they moved off. Tommie and Paulo stared after them for a moment, then looked at each other, chuckling quietly.
âYour friendâs quite a character,â Paulo commented.
âYeah. He reminds me of the friends I had back in New York.â Tommie sighed contentedly. âItâs great to have soul mates.â
Paulo cocked an amused brow at her, but said nothing. When he slid into the booth beside her and his knee accidentally brushed hers, heat shot through her veins. She opened her mouth to ask him what the hell he was doing, then changed her mind. She knew heâd sat down next to her, purposely ignoring the other side of the booth, just to unnerve her. She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing heâd succeeded.
âYou come here often?â he asked.
âEvery Tuesday. What about you?â
âHavenât been here in months. Itâs one of Danielaâs favorite restaurants.â
âMine, too.â Tommie chuckled. âZhane thinks itâs a greasy spoon.â
âYet he comes here every week. Just for you.â
âThatâs what friends are for.â Tommie gave him a whimsical smile. âDanielaâs beautiful. She looks a lot like her brother, Rafe.â
âThatâs what everyone always says.â
âIs she a lawyer like the rest of the family?â
âYep. Best civil litigation attorney in the state. If you ever need legal representation, sheâs your woman.â
âI probably couldnât afford her,â Tommie said wryly.
Paulo chuckled. âThat makes two of us.â
They grinned at each other.
Without thinking Tommie reached out, touching the
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