“First time here. I’m sticking with red wine.”
“I assumed you’d been here before since Roarke owns it.”
Figured, Eve thought. “If I hit every place Roarke owns, just in the city, I wouldn’t have time to do anything else.”
“You’ve got a point. It’s a favorite of mine.” Obviously relaxed, DeWinter glanced around as she drank. “Close to work, beautiful decor, great people watching, and excellent service.”
As if to prove the last, Cesca set Eve’s wine on the table.
“You didn’t order any, but…” Cesca held out a black plate filled with thin, golden sticks.
“Olive straws. Cesca, you know my weakness. Thanks,” DeWinter said.
“No problem.” The waitress set down the straws, two little plates, some fancy napkins. “Just let me know if you need anything.”
“They’re terrific,” DeWinter told Eve, placing a few on her plate.
No point in being rude, Eve decided—plus they looked pretty damn good. And were, she thought when she sampled one.
“Why don’t we just get to it.” DeWinter nibbled on an olive straw. “I don’t need everyone to like me. I don’t even need to know why the people who don’t, don’t. You know as well as I: When you’re in a position of authority, some don’t. And when you’re a woman in that position, even though we’re in the second half of the twenty-first century, that just adds to it.”
She paused to drink again.
“But, even though you and I don’t and likely won’t work together routinely, there has been and will be times we do.”
With a shrug DeWinter gestured with her drink. “I can get around that, as can you. We’re both professionals, and good at what we do. But we also have personal connections.”
Eve gave the wine a try—really good—while she studied DeWinter’s striking face. “Did you practice all that?”
Though one perfect eyebrow shot up, DeWinter maintained the same even tone. “No, but I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. So … I’m friendly with some of your friends. Nadine, Mavis, for instance. Friendly enough that Mavis and Leonardo had my daughter and me to Bella’s birthday party. And wasn’t that an event?”
“For Mavis, Tuesday mornings are events.”
“That’s part of her charm and appeal. I like her quite a bit. I understand she’s one of your people—”
“She doesn’t belong to me,” Eve interrupted.
“She’s part—a key part—of your circle. A very tight circle. You’re careful who comes into that circle, and I respect that. I don’t expect you and I will be the B of Bs, but—”
“The what?”
“Sorry, my daughter’s influence.” Humor, the genuine sort, brightened her face. “Best of besties. We can maintain a professional relationship, but I’m curious what it is about me that irritates you.”
“I don’t think about it.”
Lips curved, DeWinter took another sip of her frothy drink. “Maybe, for the purpose of this exercise, you could.”
For the life of her, Eve couldn’t see why it mattered. She shrugged. “I don’t know you. You’re good at your work. Really good. That’s all I need.”
“I’m pushy, and so are you.”
“Okay.”
“We don’t necessarily approach a case the same way, but we have the same goals.”
“No argument.”
“You’re not the type of person I’d look for, for a friend, being you’re rude more often than not, single-minded, and manage to be a hard-ass and a tight-ass at the same time.”