fell. “But if you come back . . . I’ll have to kill you.”
CHAPTER 17
“W hat’s up, player?”
Nathan smiled and turned down the volume on his phone. The voice of his sister’s loudmouthed friend was bouncing off his loft walls. “As if you don’t know.”
“Who, moi ?”
“Keep your day job, Renee. I know you’ve talked to Sherri and know everything that happened over the holidays.”
“Yes, I can’t lie. She told me.”
“I figured as much.”
“What I can’t figure out is how either you or she could have thought for one second that showing her ass was okay!”
“Sounds like you’re under the mistaken impression that I care what you think.”
“Ouch!”
“I’ve already been down this road with Sherri. I’m not going to pull punches with you.”
“She told me that you think she overreacted. But really, Nate. Your girl is going to come down to a family function in a thong?!”
“It wasn’t a family function. She didn’t know neighbors would be there and I didn’t’ know what she’d wear. What we both knew was that it was an adult outing and we were in the Caribbean. Contrary to our prudish views in America, the rest of the world views their bodies differently. They’re not as uptight as we are.”
“You see my butt switching by with a piece of floss between these cheeks, you’d change your tune.”
“Ha! Damn, Nay. That’s TMI.”
“No, it’s TMA—too much ass!”
They laughed. “So is harassing me the only reason that you called?”
“It’s the main reason. But the other is to follow up on what you asked me a few weeks ago. Over the holidays I checked out the club scene—”
“I bet you did . . .”
“—and also talked with a couple club owners who are also friends of mine.”
“Did you share my client’s plans?”
“Contrary to your low opinion of my running mouth, I can be discreet. No, I said nothing of what your guy is doing in Atlanta. I just asked what types of clubs are hot now, and if they’d heard about any new clubs opening up this year.”
“Had they?”
“No. But I’d suggest you advise your client to get on this quickly and if possible, hook up with one of the new hotels being built right now. These establishments are always trying to set themselves apart and a novel entertainment concept would be enticing. I sent an e-mail with information I thought you’d find useful. Oh, and I’ll e-mail the invoice for this consultation.”
“Ha! Fair enough.”
“So when are you coming to Vegas to check things out?”
“Probably in the next couple months. I need to talk to my client, and there’s been a development at work.”
“What?”
“It just happened and I’ve not shared it with my family, so you can’t say anything.” When she remained silent, he added, “I’m going to need your word on this.”
“Okay. I won’t say a word.”
“I’ve been promoted to VP of the firm.”
“Congratulations! Nate, that’s exciting news!”
“And totally unexpected, but due to personal matters, the current man in that role stepped down.”
“Look at Mr. Nitpicky!”
“Girl, you need to quit with that teenage nonsense.”
“I think it fits you more now than ever.”
“Thank goodness you’re the only one.” He checked his watch. “It’s the weekend. Why are you on the phone with me and not on a date?”
“I’m three hours behind you, darling, and meeting my date in a couple hours.”
“You’re getting too old for the dating game. Better make a decision soon.”
“Haven’t you heard? Forty is the new twenty, and I’m a year away from that.”
“But don’t you get tired of going through the whole intro/ start-up situation over and again?”
“I’d marry in a minute if I met the right man.”
“Describe this right man.”
“Fine, packing, confident, successful . . . someone like you.”
“You’re a perpetual flirt.”
“Hey, it’s in the genes.”
“The ones in your blood or the ones you have
CHAPTER 17
“W hat’s up, player?”
Nathan smiled and turned down the volume on his phone. The voice of his sister’s loudmouthed friend was bouncing off his loft walls. “As if you don’t know.”
“Who, moi ?”
“Keep your day job, Renee. I know you’ve talked to Sherri and know everything that happened over the holidays.”
“Yes, I can’t lie. She told me.”
“I figured as much.”
“What I can’t figure out is how either you or she could have thought for one second that showing her ass was okay!”
“Sounds like you’re under the mistaken impression that I care what you think.”
“Ouch!”
“I’ve already been down this road with Sherri. I’m not going to pull punches with you.”
“She told me that you think she overreacted. But really, Nate. Your girl is going to come down to a family function in a thong?!”
“It wasn’t a family function. She didn’t know neighbors would be there and I didn’t’ know what she’d wear. What we both knew was that it was an adult outing and we were in the Caribbean. Contrary to our prudish views in America, the rest of the world views their bodies differently. They’re not as uptight as we are.”
“You see my butt switching by with a piece of floss between these cheeks, you’d change your tune.”
“Ha! Damn, Nay. That’s TMI.”
“No, it’s TMA—too much ass!”
They laughed. “So is harassing me the only reason that you called?”
“It’s the main reason. But the other is to follow up on what you asked me a few weeks ago. Over the holidays I checked out the club scene—”
“I bet you did . . .”
“—and also talked with a couple club owners who are also friends of mine.”
“Did you share my client’s plans?”
“Contrary to your low opinion of my running mouth, I can be discreet. No, I said nothing of what your guy is doing in Atlanta. I just asked what types of clubs are hot now, and if they’d heard about any new clubs opening up this year.”
“Had they?”
“No. But I’d suggest you advise your client to get on this quickly and if possible, hook up with one of the new hotels being built right now. These establishments are always trying to set themselves apart and a novel entertainment concept would be enticing. I sent an e-mail with information I thought you’d find useful. Oh, and I’ll e-mail the invoice for this consultation.”
“Ha! Fair enough.”
“So when are you coming to Vegas to check things out?”
“Probably in the next couple months. I need to talk to my client, and there’s been a development at work.”
“What?”
“It just happened and I’ve not shared it with my family, so you can’t say anything.” When she remained silent, he added, “I’m going to need your word on this.”
“Okay. I won’t say a word.”
“I’ve been promoted to VP of the firm.”
“Congratulations! Nate, that’s exciting news!”
“And totally unexpected, but due to personal matters, the current man in that role stepped down.”
“Look at Mr. Nitpicky!”
“Girl, you need to quit with that teenage nonsense.”
“I think it fits you more now than ever.”
“Thank goodness you’re the only one.” He checked his watch. “It’s the weekend. Why are you on the phone with me and not on a date?”
“I’m three hours behind you, darling, and meeting my date in a couple hours.”
“You’re getting too old for the dating game. Better make a decision soon.”
“Haven’t you heard? Forty is the new twenty, and I’m a year away from that.”
“But don’t you get tired of going through the whole intro/ start-up situation over and again?”
“I’d marry in a minute if I met the right man.”
“Describe this right man.”
“Fine, packing, confident, successful . . . someone like you.”
“You’re a perpetual flirt.”
“Hey, it’s in the genes.”
“The ones in your blood or the ones you have
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