“Textbooks are often filled with lovely illustrations. Focus on the words only and you miss some of the more beautiful messages.”

The smile his comment earned him felt like the first rays of sun after a cold and gloomy winter. “I like the sentiment, but I’m afraid it would be utterly lost on my father.” Her gaze shifted to the space just behind Kir’s shoulder and her smile slipped.

A moment later Roman stalked to Kir’s side, his voice low and calm but his words delivered in their mother tongue. “We have a problem.”

One thing his brother in arms wasn’t known for was drama, so if he said there was a problem, it had to be a sizable one.

Either Cassie surmised the urgency through Roman’s tone alone, or his intimidating size and presence jump-started the nerves she’d finally shaken, because she grabbed her purse and shot to her feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you, but I do appreciate the time to talk.”

Kir stood as well and buttoned his suit jacket.

Before he could say anything, Cassie stepped out from in front of her chair, aimed an unsteady smile at Roman, then met his stare. “Thank you, again.” For a moment, he thought she’d add something else. Instead, she nodded and offered a nervous wave. “I hope you have a happy birthday.”

Her stylish heels weren’t as tall as women often wore to the club, but carried her in long strides toward the bar’s interior and the exit beyond.

“She draws much attention when she moves,” Roman said with a mix of appreciation and humor. “All hips and attitude.”

It took a minute for what his brother had said to truly sink in, his attention still rooted to the door she’d disappeared through. When it finally did, he faced his friend. “Why are you looking at her hips? I thought you were saving yourself for Mrs. Right.”

“You said you were not interested, and a woman with grace and courage is very attractive.”

“You don’t know if she’s courageous.”

“She talked to you, didn’t she?” Roman waited. Ready for another comeback.

God knew, Kir wanted to give him one. His daily banter with Roman was one of the many joys of his life, but it was damned hard to generate a retort when he could only agree with his friend’s analysis.

Roman smirked, clapped Kir on the shoulder and turned him toward the door. “Come. Mikey’s waiting.” The seriousness in his tone crept back into place. “It’s good you got a few good surprises tonight, because you’re not going to like the next one.”

“Then perhaps it might be wise for you to warn me in advance?”

Pulling open the door to the bar’s interior, Roman shook his head. “Nyet. I’ll tell you in the car.” The door shut behind them with a stern thud that echoed in Kir’s gut, and Roman’s voice dropped another notch. “I like this bar, and they won’t let us back in if they’re introduced to your ugly side.”