“The ring, however, is lacking,” Nile announced.
Noah laughed heartily. “Only you could find a $12,000 ring from Tiffany’s subpar. You’re such a snob.”
Nile shrugged, then held my hand with both of his. “I wouldn’t call this an engagement ring at all. Darling, we will do better than this.” He patted my hand.
I frowned and snatched my hand back. The pride I’d felt in his compliment earlier disappeared as irritation took its place. “I quite like the ring.” I lifted my chin. “I picked it myself. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen aside from my sister.”
“Sister?” both brothers said at the same time, their voices as identical as the men themselves.
“Mmm-hmm. Opal.”
“You’re Ruby, and your sister is Opal? Two precious gems. I’ll bet there’s a brilliant family story about that,” Noah said.
“You’d lose that bet,” I stated flatly. “I thought we were going to get a late dinner?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
“Oh, were you?” Nile glared at Noah. “Then I’m sure you won’t mind if I join you, since it’s apparently getting-to-know-one-another time.”
Noah tilted his head, grinning, and gestured to what looked to be a restaurant down a long, arched hallway. A sign above the entrance had a single word written in a flowing blue text.
“Briz-o-lawd-e-co,” I sounded out the name above the hall. “What does that mean?”
Nile scanned the word. “Brizoládiko,” he repeated. “It’s Greek. Translates to steakhouse. Do you like steak?”
“Love it.” I nodded avidly, my mouth watering at the thought of biting into a juicy steak. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. My stomach had been tied in knots since we started getting ready for the auction.
“Marvelous. Shall we?” Nile bent his elbow for me to take.
I pressed my lips together and glanced over my shoulder at Noah, who was shaking his head and smiling. I took Nile’s arm. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Now tell me all there is to know about Ms. Ruby Dawson.” He patted my hand sweetly and led me down the long hall.
“There’s really not a lot to know. I’m just a country girl from a Podunk town in Mississippi.”
“Mississippi… I don’t know that I’ve ever visited that state before.” He lifted his chin as though thinking back .
“Well, you haven’t missed much.”
Thankfully, the host approached our group of three and promptly steered us through the fanciest restaurant I’d ever been in.
Before I could so much as touch the back of the chair I was led to, Nile pulled it out on my behalf.
“Um, thank you. That was super nice,” I said and took my seat.
“A gentleman always holds the chair out for a lady,” he said with a half bow.
I looked down at my plate and silverware. There were so many utensils—not just a fork, knife and a spoon. The setting before me had three forks, two spoons, and two knives. Not to mention the three empty glasses sitting in front of each person. I bit into my bottom lip, wondering why there were so many of each item when one would do.
Noah, who sat on my right, leaned over. “Spirits, love?”
It took me a second to figure out he meant alcohol. I was definitely on board for that. “Yes, please. I think I’m going to need it.”
Right after we sat, I watched stunned as a server grabbed the napkin on his plate and placed it on his lap. For him. The server repeated the process with me and Nile. No one said a thing, acting like it was perfectly normal. I’d never heard of a person placing a napkin on someone else’s lap. Very strange.
Within no time at all, two of three glasses in front of us were filled with water and red wine. Nile had spent some time discussing the wine extensively with a well-dressed man that had the title “sommelier.” This person apparently did nothing but talk about wine, serve it, and suggest what to eat with it, as though the wine was the main feature, not the steak. Personally, I found it all really weird. Why would you need a guy for that? I’d just taste it and see if I liked it.
I stayed quiet while Nile did his thing and Noah offered to order for me. I agreed and watched the two interact, sipping wine as I did so. The second the wine was even an inch farther down the glass, one of the servers was filling it back up. That part was cool.
Finally, our plates were delivered, and I waited with my mouth salivating until I noted which knife and fork the twins picked up.