Untitled
Kingston
The shocked look of bemusement on Remi's face irritates me.
His dark eyes laugh at me as we wait for a server to come and take our drink order.
The bar is still quite empty and I'm glad I'm able to hear myself think as we wait on Max and Gabe.
Though, Remi is getting on my nerves. I'm still irked that I let him talk me into calling Skye.
The smirk that crosses his face makes me wonder how any women fall for him and his arrogance. I narrow my eyes as he laughs at me.
"It's your turn to call Juniper now and tell her that she shouldn't get her hopes up about getting together with you."
"Are you crazy?" he says, shaking his head. "There's no way I'm going to call Juniper and tell her that."
"What?" I stare at him, fold my arms, and take a deep breath. "It was your idea. You're the one who said we should let our assistants know that there will be no more romantic dalliances between us and them at the office."
He laughs like I've just told the funniest joke in the world.
"I cannot believe that you just had two conversations with Skye about not wanting to be with her. I can't believe that you actually listened to me and my teasing comments."
"So, you're not worried that Juniper is going to think that you and her will become an item?"
"Hell no. She knows that is never going to happen.
Neither one of us looks at the other in that way.
Juniper is the perfect assistant. For all I know, she's a lesbian.
She has no interest in me, and I have no interest in her.
We have zero sexual chemistry. In fact, if you ask me what color her eyes are, I couldn't even tell you. "
"You do realize I just made my assistant extremely mad at me because of what you told me.
I don't have time for this, Remi. You know I'm trying to woo the members of the New York Penguins hockey team to the firm.
I could have spent my precious time trying to make another meeting for drinks with Whittaker Matlock, the star center of the team.
If we sign him, the others will follow suit. "
"Well, you're the dumbass that called her and had the conversation," he says, shaking his head. "Plus, what do those two obnoxious conversations have to do with signing Whittaker? Why don't you just call him now?"
"That's not the point," I growl.
"I can't believe you asked her to dinner, bro," he says, shaking his head. I want to slap the smirk off his face. "And to think she turned you down."
"Well, that was the point, right? If she would have said yes, then I would've known she was interested in me." I don't care that she turned me down. Not like I actually wanted to take her to dinner.
"You really told your assistant not to get any ideas about being in a relationship with you." He bursts out laughing again. "I cannot wait to see you guys interact on Monday."
"If she even shows up on Monday," I say, thinking of Skye's pissed-off tone on the phone. I bet her fiery green eyes were blazing with fury. I wouldn’t mind seeing what she looks like all worked up.
"At least you know she's not interested. That has to settle your mind and put you at ease. Now you know that she doesn't want to see you naked and sit on your face at any point in her employ."
"You're an idiot, Remi. But you're right; she's not interested whatsoever." The thought doesn't fill me with as much pleasure as it should. "At least that’s what she wants me to believe."
"What? Now you're going to say you don't believe her?"
"I just think that it's a little bit weird that she was so vehement about the fact that she wasn't interested, especially considering the fact that she called me back to remind me that she wasn't interested."
"Kingston, dude. She's not interested in you."
"I mean, that's good. I don't need any complications at work.
Plus, I have plenty of other women," I say as I look across the bar and make eye contact with a beautiful lady with long black hair and dark brown eyes.
She smiles at me and offers me a small wave, and I nod to her before giving Remi a satisfied look.
He's not even paying attention to me, as there's a hot blonde making eyes at him, and he's making some weird gesture with his hands.
I don't even want to know what he's doing.
The hot brunette sips her bright pink drink and pulls out a cherry with her tongue while still making eye contact with me. "I wonder if I should go and practice my Spanish," I say, nodding toward the seductress giving me fuck-me eyes. Remi leans forward and frowns.
"How do you know she speaks Spanish?"
"Because she's got on a top that says ‘boricua forever.’" I smirk.
"This is why I'm the top partner at the firm.
I'm observant. Now, if you don't mind, I think I might go and introduce myself.
" I'm not sure what my motivation is to talk to her, but what I do know is that I no longer want to talk about my interaction with Skye.
"Okay, if you have something to prove to yourself, then go ahead." He looks at her. "She is pretty hot, but we're waiting on Gabe and Max, so I don't know that they would be happy to arrive, and you're halfway to bedding a hot little mamacita."
"Yeah, well, they're late, so all bets are off.
" I shrug and stand up. I'm about to head over to the sexy woman when I see Max marching toward us with a beer in his hand.
"Saved by the bell." I sit back down, give the seductress an apologetic smile, and look back over at Max as he takes the seat next to me.
"Hey, what's up?" he asks in greeting, putting a hand on my shoulder. His blue eyes are keen as he looks over at the brunette and grins widely. "Oh, I see you're making friends."
"Not much. You made it finally." I ignore his latter comment.
"Sorry. Lila was showing me some dresses that she wanted to buy, and she wanted my opinion on my favorite two." He sips his beer, and I can tell by the smug look on his face that he's remembering what he'd seen earlier. "I told her to get all of them. Especially the one with the lace garter."
"Really, Max? Is this evening just going to consist of you talking about Lila's shopping tastes?
" Lila’s pretty, but she's also extremely dramatic and has a penchant for jumping to conclusions.
She's the sort of woman that would drive me crazy, though maybe I'd feel different if I were in love with her.
"What can I say?" He shrugs. "I'm pussy whipped."
"I can't believe you're admitting that." I also can't believe how proud he is to make the statement, like it's cool to be under lock and key. I love Max like a brother. He's been one of my closest friends for years and I always thought we'd both be eligible bachelors for years to come.
I'd been shocked when he fell so quickly for Lila. He changed once he fell in love with her. He’s no longer the shark he used to be, and that annoys me.
It used to be him and me bringing in most of the new clients, wooing them, and making plans to get their business.
Now, it’s like he couldn't care less about money or being the top law firm in The City.
Chase, Parker, and Spector still means everything to me, and I’m still committed to bringing on clients that will show the world who we are. If I can get the top players from the New York Penguins to sign with the firm, I know other sports stars will follow.
"Well, I know if I didn't say it, you would." He grins at me, winks, and then looks over at Remi. "What's good?"
"Not much. You are not going to believe what Kingston just did."
Max's eyes snap back to me, and all I can do is glare at both men.
"I don't think we need to discuss that anymore, Remi.
" Irritation pounds in my temples, coupled with embarrassment.
I feel like an idiot and also offended that Skye decided she needed to call me back to tell me just how disinterested in me she is.
As if I hadn't been doing her a favor. I'd rather save her the stress of falling in love with me then realizing it was never going to happen.
Max turns toward me, his right brow arched. "Whoa, what happened? You look pissed."
"Let's just say that you should never listen to Remi for advice about anything." I grab my drink and sip. "Except for maybe the rules of evidence when it comes to—"
"Hold on." Max holds up his hand as he looks at his phone. He's either getting a call or a text message because his screen is lit up like it's Christmas, and he’s just turned on all the lights. "I think Gabe just got here."
"Awesome," I say, genuinely excited to see our fourth partner.
None of us have seen him in months. I look up and spot him strolling toward us with a cocky grin.
Gabe always has a smile on his face and a pep in his step.
I notice the hot Latina from the bar staring at him in awe.
He notices her and winks, and I stifle a groan.
Gabe Lucas is like a candle, and the women around him are like moths.
They cannot keep away from his dazzling flame.
He looks like a male model in his dark suit and white shirt; his hair is a little bit longer but still as dark as I remember, and his dark eyes seem to glow in his tan, handsome face.
He heads toward us with a leisurely gait to his stride, and I shake my head.
"Is Gabe still an attorney, or did he take up the catwalks of Paris? " I joke as I stand up to greet him.
"Gabe, welcome back." Max steps forward, and they hug.
"Hey, bro." He grins and looks over at me. I lean in and give him a hug.
"Looking as handsome as ever," I say, grinning.
"Not as handsome as you, old blue eyes." He grips the back of my neck before turning to Remington. "And you, Remington, brother. How's it going?"