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Beckett
I’m taking great pleasure in pushing her buttons. Sure, my straightforwardness is like drinking from a firefighter’s hose, but she hasn’t asked me to tone it down. Still, I don’t want to smother her with my dirty talk… not yet, anyway.
I grab the menu. “Let’s order dessert.”
“What do you recommend?” Arianne asks.
“Crème brûlée, and the profiteroles are—”
My ringing phone interrupts. I normally set my phone on silent mode when I’m having dinner, but I wanted to be available just in case Rhys needed to reach me. I check my screen. It’s not him.
“I apologize,” I tell her. “I’ll be a minute.”
“That’s okay,” she says.
“Hey, Cesar, what’s up?” I say when I answer.
“Christensen, hermano, you’re still coming, right?” my friend asks.
I search my memory bank. Shit. “It’s tonight?”
“Don’t tell me you forgot.”
“I apologize, but it slipped my mind. I was in New York for ten days. I got here yesterday. Since then, it’s been nonstop,” I tell him.
“I see,” he says. “Was Rhys in New York with you? I tried calling him, but he isn’t answering.”
“No. He’s in Vietnam. It’s very last-minute. We’re having some issues with production.”
“Shit. I’m sorry to hear that,” Cesar says. “I guess you can’t make it?”
“It’s an important night for you. I’ll be there. I’m afraid I didn’t get Diana a gift.”
“She’ll be thrilled to see you. Gift or no gift. The Cuban band I flew in for the occasion hasn’t started playing yet, so get your pretty ass over here, con rapidez.”
“I’ll make up for the gift later.”
Cesar chuckles.
“I’ll be coming with someone. I hope that’s okay.”
“One of your boys?”
“No.” My gaze shifts to Arianne. A sexy little thing. “A woman.”
It’s dead silence on the other end.
“Cesar?”
“I’m still here. I thought we had a bad connection because I swear I heard you say you were coming with a woman.”
I know where he’s coming from. I don’t present women I fuck to my friends. Then again, Arianne doesn’t fall into that category.
“Idiot.”
“Is she a model you hired as arm candy for an event?” Cesar asks.
“She’s as gorgeous as a model, but no, I didn’t hire her.” Arianne’s face turns a bright shade of red. “We’re friends.” She averts her gaze. Okay, she works for me, but tonight, all bets are off.
