Page 43 of Mark & Don't Tell

That’s a lot of history to omit, but the waiter appears to take our order, and I decide to let it slide. There will be plenty of time for history lessons later.

“What can I get for you?” he asks me.

I checked the menu before I left work and found something that sounded like it would fill me up and not break the bank. “I’ll have the roasted chicken salad.” There’s no guarantee they’ll pay for dinner, and at least this way, I’ll only be out thirty dollars instead of the fifty it would cost for an entrée.

“Okay, and for you?”

Kai orders lobster. Lincoln orders a steak. And Vic glares at me before picking up the menu. What’s with the look? Did I say something wrong?

“I’ll take two prime ribs. The garlic potatoes and roasted veggies as sides for both, and can we get two of the bruschetta as an appetizer?”

Holy crap, that’s a lot of expensive food.

“Of course,” the waiter replies, taking our menus. “Would you like another bottle of wine?”

“Yes, please,” Kai says without hesitation.

Another eighty dollars.

I’m way out of my depth here. It’s not like every pack I dated before was poor, but they were never two bottles of wine at a fancy restaurant rich.

“So,” I begin, trying to ignore the imposter syndrome. “Why did you start the company? I mean, aside from the pretty marketing blurb on your website.”

While Kai and Linc share another cryptic look, Vic is staring into his wineglass, eyebrows smashed together. A warning bell goes off inside my head. Something is off. They’re acting weird.

Or am I being too critical?

“We wanted to help people explore their sexuality without feeling dirty or shameful.” Kai is regurgitating the information from the About Us section of their website, and I frown as he continues.

“Okay.” I nod. “But why did you really start it? What was the reason? Did you wake up one day and decide you wanted to make dildos?”

A guy at the next table over glances in our direction. I wait for one of them to chastise me for being too loud or not being discreet enough, but they all laugh at my unexpected question.

Okay. That’s refreshing.

“I guess you can say it started with wanting to understand what makes a partner happy,” Linc offers, glancing at Vic, almost like he’s searching for some sort of approval.

Is he implying Vic doesn’t know how to do that, because I know that’s a lie. Vic scowls at Linc like he’s spit in his wine, and I bite my cheek to keep from asking more questions. There’s obviously some tension here. Do they not get along?

“Let’s change the subject,” Kai suggests.

Vic scoffs. “Why, Kai?”

“You really want to do this right now?” Kai asks.

“Why? You don’t? Are you ashamed?” Vic snaps the question.

My eyebrows jump. Even still I hardly know Vic, he doesn’t strike me as the type to get upset easily, and he always seems so in control.

“No,” Kai says firmly. “How many times do I have to tell you that?” Frustration radiates off the alpha, but it’s nothing compared to the anger vibrating off Vic.

Unease trickles through me. This is not how I imagined tonight would go.

“You can say it all you like, but it’s your actions that?—”

“Can we save the family drama for our Dr. Phil debut?” Linc cuts Vic off, gesturing to me. “We have company.”

My stomach turns. The conflict between them is so visceral, I feel my own adrenaline surge, ready to fight or run or whatever gets me to safety the fastest.

---