I felt a palm slap on my back. Turning, I found Asher. True to style, he was wearing jeans, an untucked tuxedo shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and motorcycle boots.
“Looking dapper,” I teased.
“I’m always going to be a ghetto rat.” He winked. “A rich one, though.”
“You’re a good man, Asher Peterson. You’ve got nothing to prove to me,” I said, staring him down.
Asher ignored my comment, leaning in to kiss Lynx on the cheek. “Gorgeous as always. Your sister coming?”
“Yes, she wasn’t going to turn down a weekend here with Landon.”
“Good to hear. Look at this place,” Asher said with pride. “My Quinn is going to have it all one day. Mike’ll be his mentor.”
This got a chuckle from me. “You’re not quitting anytime soon, old guy.”
“He says the same bullshit to me about LA, the old fogey,” Petey said as he joined us.
I chuckled. “Did you tell him to shut up?”
“Hell yeah.” Petey slapped my back. We’d been bouncers together before we all learned he was Asher’s half brother. Now he was a full-fledged brother and business partner. “But if he retires, more money for us, Mikey!”
“That’s the spirit.” I winked at Petey, and Lynx squeezed my hand.
“No fucking way, you two asses.”
Natalie walked over to our group. “Hey there.”
“Hey, doll. You having a good time?” Asher pulled her tight to his side, and I mimicked his move with Lynx.
“I am,” Natalie said, “but you need to let Lynx and Mike get drinks. You’re taking all their time. You too, Petey. Go mingle.”
“I got you.” Asher winked. “Go, kiddos, have fun.”
“Shall we?” I tilted my head toward the closest bar, and Lynx nodded. “Wine?”
“Please.”
“One white wine, a chardonnay, and a Jack on the rocks, please, Millie,” I asked the bartender.
“Coming right up.”
“Place is filling up,” Lynx said. The patio was filled with Florida’s socialites and a Who’s Who of the hotel business.
“It is. Pretty damn amazing.” I pressed my lips to her cheek, not wanting to let go of her.
“Hello, Michael,” purred a familiar voice in my ear.
I turned and pasted on a smile. “Mother, nice to see you,” I said as the prep-school boy inside me crept out.
“Beautiful job you did here. The decor is stunning.”
“Thank you. Although Lila helped, we had a decorating staff, so don’t think it was all me.”
“I didn’t,” she said.
“Mother, meet Lynx.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wind.”
