Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams

            “I’m not intimidated,” Elena hissed.

            But then Michelle walked in, and her voice died. Michelle once again carried a pie plate, but this time she’d added a bottle of wine and a dose of understated sophistication that made Elena wish she’d put a little more thought into her own appearance. Compared to Michelle’s sharp blue shorts and sparkly Vipers T-shirt, Elena felt downright frumpy in her jeans and V-neck jersey.

            Michelle set her pie down among the other food on the dining table and then made a beeline for Elena, smiling brightly. “I brought you a gift,” she said, handing over the wine.

            “For me?” Elena blinked.

            “For the hostess,” Michelle said warmly.

            Elena accepted the bottle, unsure of what to say. “I— Thank you. That is very kind.”

            “It’s my favorite. It’s from a winery in Michigan.”

            Claud barreled in like the bull she was. “Where’s Vlad?”

            Elena pointed to the living room. At the sound of his name, Vlad turned and looked over the back of the couch. He lifted his drink in greeting. The movement tugged his shirt across his chest, and Elena’s mouth went dry. She tore her eyes away.

            Michelle picked up a plate. “This looks amazing. Did you make all this yourself?”

            “I did. I’ve been cooking for days.”

            “Wait until you taste everything,” Colton said. “Elena is a genius.”

            “Anyone can follow a recipe.”

            “Ma!” Linda shoved a plate at her mother. “Be nice.”

            Andrea gushed. “If any of this is half as good as the pancakes you made, I’m going to walk out of here a satisfied woman.” She preened for Colton’s sake as she dropped a dumpling onto her plate.

            Colton took the bait with a wink and a lean. “Darlin’, I guarantee you’ll walk out of here satisfied if you stick with me tonight.”

            Michelle caught Elena’s gaze, and they shared an eye roll and a hidden smile that made Elena think they’d be friends in different circumstances. But circumstances were not different, and the fleeting sense of belonging left a hollow space inside her.

            Alexis leaned over the table and gasped. “Are those blini?”

            “They are,” Elena said, surprised.

            Alexis made a lustful noise and plopped two of the cheese-filled crepe-style pastries on her plate. “Oh my God, I haven’t had these in so long.”

            “Where have you had them before?”

            “Culinary school,” Alexis said. She took a bite and moaned in a way that brought Noah swiveling around. “We didn’t do a lot of Russian foods, but a few. These are my favorite. I cannot believe you made these. I’m going to eat them all.”

            The praise mattered more than it should. Elena lifted her shoulder. “I like to cook.”

            “Well, that’s convenient,” said Liv, Mack’s wife, as she elbowed past Alexis. “Because Vlad likes to eat.”

            Elena forced a smile on her face and tried to participate in the conversation as if nothing was amiss. “I think I’m driving him crazy, to be honest. I fuss too much.”

            “All men liked to be fussed over,” Andrea said. “Makes them feel loved. Of course, some sexy lingerie never hurt anyone either.”

            “Except your husband,” Claud snorted.

            “Ma!”

            Elena met Michelle’s smile with one of her own. A real one this time. The unfamiliar sense of camaraderie grew.

            “So you and Vlad grew up in the same town?” That was from Malcolm’s wife, Tracy.

            “Yes,” Elena nodded, sneak-glancing at Vlad again. “We grew up in Omsk. It’s in the southern part of Siberia.”

            “I’m afraid I don’t know much about Russian geography,” Andrea admitted, selecting a cookie. “How far is Omsk from Moscow?”