AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Four
“Why don’t you just ask the woman out? She seemed nice enough at Rabiya’s dinner party, if a little nervous.”
Kasim nodded. He’d thought the same thing and it still bothered him. “Exactly! Why was she so nervous at a simple dinner?”
Jax laughed and shook his head, blonde hair falling over one eye. “If that’s how you feel, why do you want her so bad?”
“I don’t know. I asked her out and she said no.” Her rejection had stung more than he was willing to admit even to his best friend. His ego was bruised, sure. It had been a long time since a woman didn’t want to go out with him. In the half hour since he and Jax sat down for lunch at least seven women had slid him phone numbers or made outright overtures for a night to remember.
“Maybe you should just move on. It’s not like this town isn’t teeming with women eager to warm your bed.” He winked at the waitress who set their drinks down and turned back to Kasim. “Did she say why?”
He knew there were plenty of women who would say yes but none of it helped. He wanted Charla and he wanted her bad. “How do I get Charla to change her mind?” He’d sent more flowers in the days since her rejection, and a beautiful emerald necklace which she’d returned with a ‘thanks but no thanks’ letter. “None of it has swayed her at all.”
Jax leaned back in the booth and laughed. “Then you, my friend, are royally screwed.”
Kasim frowned, not liking that answer at all. “Why?”
“She obviously isn’t a gold digger, which means she’s not likely to forget that you think she is.” Jax’s face held a sympathetic smile. “Did she give you any reason to think she was after your money?”
“No, but it wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened.”
“So she’s guilty of other women’s crimes? Yeah just move on, man.”
Again that wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear. “I can’t do that.”
“Then you better figure out what she likes, because your expensive floral bouquets and jewelry aren’t working. According to your sister she wasn’t impressed.”
That pulled his attention to another matter he’d been worrying about. “What’s with all the secrecy with you two?”
Jax shrugged again and Kasim was really starting to hate that move. “Business.”
He frowned. “She doesn’t have any business.”
“Says you.” Jax smiled over his shoulder and slid from the booth, straightening his suit. “There’s someone I need to get to know better.” His eyes widened in surprise and he nodded towards the door, “Someone just walked in who might interest you,” he said and made his way to a slender blonde wrapped in a tight red dress.
Kasim turned and choked on his scotch at the sight before him. Charla in a sexy black leather dress and mile high red stilettos that made his mouth water. She was pressed up against the bar, smiling up at the giant of a bartender who was happily looking down her dress. Instantly he was on his feet and making his way to the long dark wood bar.
“What does a man do with muscles this big?” Her question was asked in a silky sweet twang that hit him right in the groin.
“I train for Iron Man, decathlons and other strength based competitions. This is my home base.”
Bull. Kasim rolled his eyes, sure the man was feeding her a line. He was about to say as much when Charla squealed.
“Get out! You’re little Abraham? Good lord the way John talks about you I thought you were a kid.” With her head tossed back and this husky laugh tinkling over the noise, she looked even more beautiful than he remembered.
“Nope, not a kid,” he blushed and slid the small glass of amber liquid in her direction.
“No kiddin’! I hear Australia’s next for you?”
The man nodded and Kasim listened as he told her all about his training and his favorite places to visit around the world. “Grandpa John is always happy when I come back so I can tell him all about it.”
“And about all the gorgeous girls you meet on the road?”
Unbelievably the man blushed again. What is he, a teenage boy? “That too.” His gaze finally landed on Kasim. “What can I get you?”
“Another Lagavulin,” he answered and pressed a little closer to Charla, who stiffened and looked over her shoulder, groaning.
“What are you doing here?”
