Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series

by Ainsley St Claire

  “Many times.”

  Thankfully, Elena and Ryder appear, taking the attention off of me.

  “Ladies,” Ryder says as she takes a seat next to me. “What’s new?”

  “Mia and Axel are going to get married,” Toni says with a Cheshire cat grin.

  My heart stops. If that gets back to Axel, he’ll think I’m planning a wedding and he hasn’t even proposed—if he’s ever going to. It’s too early to contemplate.

  “Now, Toni, that’s not what she said,” Caroline admonishes.

  But I see her wink. “Ryder, what’s going on with your dating life?” I ask to change the subject. She’s always good for a few stories.

  “Oh. My. God. I went out with a guy last night who had a reverse Prince Albert.”

  “Did you see it?” Sara says as she enters and puts down a tray of cheese, crackers, and grapes.

  “Hell yeah! I did more than that,” Ryder says.

  “Is the reverse a piercing on the top or the bottom of the head of his cock?”

  “The top. I think it’s going to be a requirement for all the men I date from now on.” Ryder turns to me. “Can you add genital piercings to your list of requirements on Flirt?”

  I’m sure I turn a lovely shade of crimson. “I’ll have to check with Sean, the developer, on that.”

  “I’m going to be sore for days. This guy had a giant dick and that piercing with the ball on top. That little ball rubbing my G-spot while he pounded into me and touched my hotspots set me off like a firecracker. It was the most intense sexual experience I’ve ever had. Damn.”

  “Did he wear a condom?” Elena asks.

  “Of course. As required. But I could feel everything just fine.” Ryder shivers, and we all laugh.

  Just then Dillon walks in the back doors. “What’s so funny?”

  “Ryder was telling us about her date last night. He had a reverse Prince Albert,” Emerson says, probably just to see her husband’s reaction.

  His hand immediately goes to his crotch. “Okay, if you guys need anything, we’re getting the grill going. And the heating lamps are working, thanks to Axel. Turns out they didn’t need the propane tank Trey bought. Axel knew how to open the gauge, and the natural gas from the house is hooked up directly. With the flip of a switch, it turns right on.”

  “Trey didn’t know the heating lamps were connected?” Sara asks, rubbing her forehead.

  Dillon leans down and grabs some cheese and crackers. “He knew the grill was, just not the lamps.”

  We all laugh. Some of Silicon Valley’s brightest minds are here together, yet they couldn’t figure out how to turn a nob and flip a switch. Stunning.

  Dillon shrugs and beats a hasty retreat back outside.

  “I don’t think Dillon is going to be getting a reverse Prince Albert for you,” Ryder says sadly.

  Emerson shrugs. “He doesn’t need a lot of help in that area.” She blushes, and I silently agree. Axel doesn’t need help in that area either.

  We sit around the fireplace a while longer, enjoying the heat and drinks and the chance to talk. When I get up to grab a glass of water, I see Axel listening to Landon tell some story.

  “I like Axel,” Tinsley says.

  I jump. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “My fault. I left my shoes outside since they’re covered in sand. Now I’m like a ninja.” She laughs. “Axel seems like a great guy, and he likes baseball as much as you do.”

  “Yeah, he is a great guy. I like him a lot.”

  “Are you going to take him to New York to meet your parents?”

  “We’ve been talking about a Yankees game. So hopefully.”

  As I’m filling my water glass, the guys come in with a tray of barbequed beef burgers, veggie burgers, chicken, and brats and place it in an open spot on the buffet line Sara has set up.

  “All right, everyone,” Sara announces. “Food is ready. The dining room will fit us all, but it’s a tight squeeze. There are a few side chairs for the corners of the tables, and we should be good.”

  Axel comes over and reaches for my hand. “I hear you ladies were talking about sex toys and body piercings.”

  “I’ll never share,” I whisper.

  Over a late lunch, we talk about all sorts of things. It’s like watching a pinball machine as the conversation bounces from one person to another. I mostly watch. The only time I seem to be the center of attention is when we talk about Viviana’s court case.

  “Do you think the Russian government is going to be able to rescue her?” Toni asks.

  I turn to Walker. “That’s probably a better question for you.”

  He pushes back a little from the table. “That’s hard to say. I know the Attorney General has been consulted by the State Department. If they make a deal, it’s out of our hands. We don’t typically go to court unless we are confident we can win. The evidence in the case against Viviana is pretty compelling.”

  “When will they know?” Jimmy asks.

  “Right now, they’re focused on the murder. Ultimately they’ll move on to the other two charges of being a foreign agent and espionage. The second stage—being a foreign agent—will involve the US senator she was manipulating. There are forty witnesses for that part of the case. That’s expected to last at least four months.”

  “Four months?” Landon’s eyes are wide.

  Walker nods. “They’re not in court every day. It’s a lot of going back and forth with cross-examining. Right now, the government is determining whether Viviana’s counsel will treat the former senator the same way she did Mia. That will tell us a lot.”

  I perk up. “What do you mean?”

  “The senator seems to have had real feelings for Viviana. Suppose he was manipulated to fall for her. In that case, he could be influenced to do it again and take the fall for the entire thing,” Walker answers.

  “That’s fucked up,” Mason says.

  “They’ll have the final stage of the case, which is the espionage. That will take some time too. They have a list of technology that’s under patent and has shown up in the Bay Area and elsewhere. Those attorneys have most of it wrapped up, but the more time they have, the more nails they’ll uncover.” Walker sighs. “Meanwhile, the Russian government can strike a deal at any time, and if they do, Viviana will be shipped back to Russia. The only time she’ll serve behind bars is right now, awaiting a trial that may or may not happen.”

  “That is all kinds of fucked up,” Nate says.

  “Well, this is quite the downer,” Caroline announces.

  “It’s my fault. I was curious,” Toni says.

  Our lunch does eventually become more jovial, and it’s almost dinner when we finally stand. Axel looks over at me. He has an early flight down to Los Angeles tomorrow.

  “Thank you for this amazing afternoon,” I tell Trey and Sara. “What a great getaway from the City.”

  “Are you guys heading out?” Sara asks.

  I nod. “Axel has an early flight tomorrow. But before we leave, can I help you pick up?”

  Sara waves the thought away. “No way. The housekeepers will come in tomorrow, and this place will look magazine ready. You guys have a good drive back. You’re smart to go before it gets dark. Getting through Mount Tamalpais is tough without streetlights.”

  Peter drives us back over the mountain and into the City. Axel and I don’t talk much, yet the silence is comfortable, which is new to me. It’s only an hour drive, if the roads are clear, but on a Sunday evening, the traffic coming back from Napa always doubles the time.

  “Now will you tell me about the body piercings you’re thinking of getting?” Axel teases.

  I laugh. “Ryder said she met a guy with a reverse Prince Albert.”

  Axel cringes, and his hand moves to his crotch.

  “She said it was life-changing, and she’s going to require it of all her lovers moving forward. I suppose if you were to get one, I might consider getting my nipples pierced.” I give him a misch
ievous smile.

  He shakes his head. “You’re part evil, aren’t you?”

  I laugh out loud. “Me? Never.”

  Chapter 32

  Axel

  Mia pulls the seat belt tight across her lap. She doesn’t typically hate flying, but today all the anxiousness of navigating the airport and the boarding process seems to have set something off inside her.

  I don’t know who’s more nervous. The last three weeks have been a blur, but it’s been great spending so much time together. Her app is going crazy now that it’s been opened to the general public in San Francisco. And, it’s starting to pop up in other cities, whether it’s been formally released there or not. That’s a good thing, but it’s exhausting, so we’ve decided a trip out of town is just the thing we need. The Braves-Yankees game tomorrow is the perfect chance to check in on a couple of my players, so we’ll kill two birds with one stone while we’re in the Big Apple and meet Mia’s parents.

  A flight attendant steps into our aisle so she can allow a passenger to pass her for the restroom. Then she turns and gives us a too-bright smile. “Ms. Couture, can I get you something before takeoff?”

  Mia smiles. “Water is fine.”

  The flight attendant then positions herself so her chest is directly in my face. “Hello, Mr. Remington. What can I get you before we take off?”

  I continue to study a player report I got just before leaving. “Coffee,” I tell her. “Black. Please.”

  She moves on to other people in the first-class cabin. Mia rolls her eyes.

  I bump her shoulder. “Don’t get your hackles up. I only have eyes for you.” I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze.

  The flight attendant returns after a moment, and her eyes drop to our fingers laced together. “Your coffee, Ms. Couture, and Mr. Remington, here is your water.” She places the glasses on two napkins on the console between our seats.

  “Thank you,” we both say.

  My brow furrows, wondering if she realizes she got it backward. I pick up the coffee and take a sip.

  A young girl comes up to our seats. “Excuse me. Are you Mia Couture?”

  Mia looks up. “Yes, I am.”

  “May I have your autograph?”

  Mia smiles. “Of course.” I hand Mia a pen, and the girl gives her a notebook. “What’s your name?”

  “Erin.”

  “Erin, so nice to meet you. How old are you?”

  The flight attendant approaches, and I see Peter back her away.

  “I’m sixteen. I’m looking at Columbia this weekend in New York.”

  “That’s an outstanding school. What do you want to study?”

  “I think I’d like to go into public relations.”

  Mia nods. “My company drives PRNow.”

  She lights up. “My dad uses Diamond Analytics at his company, which is how I know you.”

  “Well, thanks for saying hello. I hope you find all you want at Columbia. It’s a great school.”

  She smiles, but doesn’t move to return to her seat.

  “Erin, if you’d like, after we land in New York, we can take a picture together,” Mia adds.

  Her face lights up. “My dad and I would love that. Thank you.”

  “Then I’ll see you in the gate area in New York.”

  Several people in the first-class cabin are now straining to take a look at Mia as Erin moves away. Their puzzled looks confirm they can’t figure out who she is. Thankfully the captain announces that we’re cleared to leave the gate, so everyone has to sit forward in their seats as we push off.

  Mia pulls out her headphones and finds a movie. Once we hear the ding that signals the flight crew can move around the cabin, I notice the one for our section stands. She returns with a glass of what looks like carbonated water and lime after we reach altitude, and I relax into my seat.

  Mia falls asleep, and I dig into my work.

  As Mia sleeps, the flight attendant becomes very attentive—aggressively so. She keeps refilling my coffee, and her uniform seems to be popping buttons. Each time she brings me a fresh cup, she rubs her breasts across my arm.

  “Where are you staying in New York?” she purrs.

  I’m not interested. Sometime in the past I might have taken her number, but right now I have zero interest—and I would think that was pretty obvious. “In Manhattan,” I say, as curtly as possible.

  “I notice you’re not wearing a ring. Any chance you might want to hang out with me later?”

  I put my report down and look at her. She gives me a sultry smile.

  “Look, I’m traveling with my girlfriend, and I’m not even remotely interested. I think I have enough coffee. Can you please let me get some work done?”

  She stands up straight, her eyes as big as saucers, and walks to the back of the plane.

  The lady sitting across the aisle leans over. “You handled that very well.”

  I smile at her. “Thanks.”

  I return to my work, and a different flight attendant works the first-class cabin for the remainder of the flight. I’m disturbed only by Peter, who comes by to tell me he’s upping the security protocol when we land. After he explains, I walk back to the main cabin and confirm the plan for a photo with Erin and her father. I know Mia will still want to do it.

  When the captain announces that we’re in final approach, I reach over and shake Mia awake. “Sweetheart, we’re about to land.”

  “Already?”

  “I talked to Peter, and he’d like to take a few extra precautions as we exit,” I tell her once she’s awake. “I walked back to Erin and her dad and let them know we’ll probably be among the last to get off. But we’re still planning on the picture.”

  “Oh, okay. I don’t usually have to worry about crowds.”

  I shrug. “Peter has called ahead for security, just in case.”

  As requested, we wait for most of the plane to disembark. Once Peter thinks it’s appropriate, we walk out to a very crowded terminal. We spot Erin, and Mia poses for pictures with her and her dad and wishes her well.

  “Did something happen while I was sleeping?” she asks Peter as we head for the baggage claim.

  He shakes his head. “Nothing specific. We just want to be safe. This is a new age.”

  We walk through the terminal, and everything seems fine now that we’re off the plane, but I can’t shake this rattled feeling. I hope it doesn’t stick with me the whole time we’re here.

  Peter guides us smoothly to the waiting car, and we’re off into the traffic of the city. The plan is that we’ll check in at our hotel and get dressed for dinner with Mia’s parents.

  An hour later, I’m wearing one of the two wool suits I own, and I’ve selected a starched, white shirt and red tie. I could tell Mia was nervous when we arrived. Probably part of it was the flight for her too, but I’ve never seen anyone make her nervous the way her parents seem to. That’s not helping me relax either, though she does look beautiful. She has on some fabulous dress that she told me was vintage Chanel.

  Mia shakes her head. “If you keep running your hands through your hair, you’re going to go bald. And while bald is sexy, I kind of like the surf-boy look.”

  Mia told me her parents made a reservation at the new-place-to-be-seen restaurant for dinner. She says they made a big deal about how they could pull strings and get a reservation there on short notice. She advised that I should mention being impressed, and that alone would ensure they adore me.

  Peter brings the rental car around to pick us up, and when we arrive at the restaurant, he walks us in before evaporating. I’m sure he’s still nearby. After a moment, the hostess shows us to the table. Mia’s parents are sitting at a large banquette, oozing wealth and power. It’s clearly the spot in this restaurant where they can best see and be seen. Mia walks right up with a smile. “Mom, Papa, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Axel Remington.”

  They don’t stand and embrace her, which reminds me of something my parents would do. No
need for actual emotion—it’s more about the show.

  I extend my hand to her father. “Mr. Couture, it’s nice to meet you.”

  He shakes it, and his grip is firm but not bone crushing.

  I turn to her mother and extend my hand. “Mrs. Couture, it’s a pleasure.”

  She gives me a plastic smile and gestures to the open seating at their table. “Mia, do you really think a bodyguard is necessary? Seems a little showy.”

  I almost choke on my water. I follow her line of sight to where Peter is sitting across the room. How did she even notice him?

  Mia smiles, but she doesn’t respond.

  “Actually, it’s essential,” I jump in. “Mia is regularly approached. Plus, with Russian trolls posting false information about her, she’s become a target for conspiracy theorists. She has to have someone with her at all times.”

  Her mother purses her lips. We’re not getting off to a good start, but they have to understand this. I try a different tact.

  “What a wonderful restaurant. I can’t believe you were able to secure a reservation for us. You have some real weight around here. Thank you.”

  Her father sits up straight. “Yes, well, sometimes if you know the right people, you can pull a few strings. Mia tells us you work in baseball. Are you a player?”

  I chuckle and explain what I do.

  He shakes his head. “I just don’t understand why a player makes so much money.”

  “I suppose when less than two-tenths of a percent of the kids who play little league go on to play for Major League Baseball, it’s a pretty small group. And when a team like the Yankees earns north of four-hundred million a season between tickets, television, radio, concessions, licensing their logo, and all their other various revenue streams, their payroll is, relatively speaking, pretty low. The owner makes a nice profit.”

  “I like a man who knows his numbers,” Mia’s father says.

  I look at him thoughtfully. “We all know the real numbers person here is Mia.” I put my hand on her leg, and I can feel her relax.

  Her mother looks away. “Such a waste being all the way in San Francisco.”