The drink was in my hand before I could take another breath. I ran the tumbler under my nose, inhaling the barrel-aged oaky scent before tossing the drink back. Then I went to find Asher, pretty sure he was eager to head home to his wife.
And he was. I found him up in his office, counting cash and shoving it in the safe.
“Honey, I’m home,” I said, banging open the door.
At nearly forty years old, Asher didn’t even flinch. He just grabbed a pistol from his drawer and pointed it with perfect aim at my heart.
“You asshole. You’re gonna get yourself killed, Mike.” He tucked it back in the drawer before he stood and came my way, gathering me in a bro hug.
“Nah, I’m just as quick,” I said, whipping out my own piece.
I remembered a time not too long ago when things weren’t so playful between Asher and his pistol and me. Natalie had fled to Miami, and Asher had just learned he was the one who had knocked her up during an ugly threesome. I hadn’t wanted to tell Asher where she was, but when he shoved a gun at my temple, I didn’t have much of a choice.
That was when Lynx packed up to help Natalie and never came back.
And I fell in love with a quart or ten of Jack Daniels.
“Put your gun down, Mike. My wife is waiting for me to get home and fuck her.”
Settled back in his chair with his boots up on the desk and his wild blond hair sticking up in every direction, Asher asked, “What’s up with our hotel?”
I sat opposite him, propping my basketball shoes up on the desk too. “Foundation going in this month. Permits are all set. The plans have been approved all around. Thirty luxury one-bedroom suites and fifteen two-bedrooms, a lounge, high-end restaurant, and coffee shop all ready to be put up in one of South Beach’s premier blocks. As soon as the whole thing is framed, the work on the lap pool and decks overlooking the ocean will start. Maybe ten, twelve months, tops.”
“Good, I’m gonna tell Nat on this trip. We’re getting a sitter down there and will have some time alone. She’s probably gonna blow a gasket at first. But I got the plans on my phone and once she sees those, she’ll be all in.” He pulled his feet down and leaned forward. “You doing okay? Staci working out?”
“I’m fine, Ash. Staci is great and doing fine. She’s ready to take over the whole place.”
“I mean, are you doing okay, Mike? I know you’re looking for Lynx and tapping that other piece of ass at the same time. Granted, I’m not one to judge, but you gotta either stop looking for Lynx or you need to make a go of it with the stripper. Not both.”
I frowned, running a hand over the back of my head. “It’s not like that. Marta likes us being casual.”
Asher barked out a laugh. “Huh-uh. No woman likes casual, Mike, take it from me. She’s waiting for you to forget about Lynx, and she’s gonna be done waiting soon. Remember, she works for you. You’re setting yourself up for a big mess.” He leaned back in his chair and glared at me, his silver eyes shooting daggers my way.
“I can’t believe it! Asher, the king of the threesomes, giving me relationship advice.” I stood to go, but added, “I got it, Ash. I know what I’m doing. I got the club here while you’re gone, and I got the hotel in Florida when I head back. And I got Staci, and I’m gonna find Lynx. Because I’m that fucking amazing, man.”
“I’ll be there in a heartbeat when you realize you’re not that fucking amazing, Mikey-boy,” Asher called after me as I strode out of his office at the top of his adult-entertainment empire. “And send me the reports from tonight to my phone!”
