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“What do you mean? You’ll come, but you won’t talk?”
“I can’t drink.”
Samson approached the concierge’s desk. “Why not? AA?”
“Underage. I’m twenty.”
Samson stared at her for a moment. He had known that from her resume, but he hadn’t really thought about what that meant. April was a year younger than his baby sister. But Lana had been taking a glass of wine at special occasions since she’d turned sixteen.
“I can order for you,” Samson said finally. “It won’t be a problem.”
April chewed on her lower lip and waited behind him. Did this make her feel insecure, being on such an important business trip so young? Samson smiled at the concierge and picked up their keycards and then turned back to her.
“Remember that I have you here because I need your expertise. Don’t let anyone make you feel as though you don’t belong. Including me.”
April’s lips parted, and she nodded quietly. “I’m the best at that, actually. Making me feel like I don’t belong.”
“Old habits die hard.” Samson touched her shoulder lightly and guided her to the elevator. “To be honest, I used to have that habit as well. You learn to assess your own value and have confidence in it. You know already what you’re good at and what you need to learn, and that’s a good start. When I was your age…”
Samson raked his hand back through his hair and thought back on what he’d been like fresh out of college. “Well, I’ll just say, at twenty, I was not as capable of telling stubborn old men that they were wrong.”
“It bodes well for me that you consider my flaring temper a positive trait.” April looked up at him as the elevator doors closed.
“Just aim your flares away from me, if you please. I’m still smarting from the last one.”
With a stab of pleasure, he watched her giggle.
***
Samson took dinner and coffee in his suite while reviewing some paperwork. He hadn’t seen Ethan Crumb and Johnny Jones for a few years, and if he were honest, it had been too long. Since he began leveraging his real estate holdings into a larger conglomerate, Samson hadn’t had the time to lounge around on holiday with them. Now they owned their own little series of shops in several major metropolitan areas in the UK that were in severe need of a branding upgrade.
As he walked into the bar, he spotted one sandy head of hair and one dark, and a pair of empty martini glasses and came toward them with a smile and open arms. Ethan gave a little hop, and Samson lifted the petite man into his arms, causing Johnny to laugh deep and low.
“The giant came down from his cloud to see us, finally!” Johnny said.
“I’ll take it!” Ethan gestured toward the seats. “After you, Sir CEO, Mr. Important Person. You still drink? Scotch? Gin martini with a twist?”
“Scotch will be fine,” Samson managed to get out just before Ethan bounded off. “He’s got as much energy as ever, doesn’t he?”
“God, you’ve no idea, Sammy.” Johnny sprawled back into their booth. “Dunno how our little business would be still running if he weren’t like a bloody energy rabbit.”
“Energizer Bunny.”
Johnny waved him off. “Pfft.”
“I don’t know how you wouldn’t know that phrase. They have batteries in the UK.”
“They do. But you see, we got here an hour ago, darling.” Johnny wiggled his martini glass between two fingers.
“Here I come!” Johnny returned, juggling a glass of scotch and two more martinis.
“Tell the waitress to bring us something to eat, please. I’d like you two to still be capable of language by the time my associate gets here,” Samson said.
Ethan and Johnny fell against one another laughing helplessly. Samson rolled his eyes and went to get a menu.
Although neither man was near to sober, Samson enjoyed having the chance to simply talk with the two of them and catch up on their adventures. With their small business, they still got out and did new things. Samson found himself going out knowing exactly what would happen and how the people around him would react to each move. It made him wonder if that was why the day with April had been so enjoyable. They had explored, finding new and inspiring things together.
Samson took risks—business risks, calculated risks. However, in his personal life, he’d gotten comfortable. Maybe he needed to explore more. There was no risk in taking home some cute piece of ass whose face he probably wouldn’t see again and whose name he probably wouldn’t remember.
Johnny let out a low wolf whistle and sat up suddenly. “Good God, I think we’ve got a model in our midst, lads.”
