Beau let his arms drop. “Think of the chicks you could get if you were that big, though.”
“You having a hard time getting a date?” teased Mark.
“Who, me? I’m Christian Brockmore, double agent. I can have any woman I want.”
Mark had a standing gig for the Slade movies, but Beau was one of four actors to play Christian Brockmore. Like James Bond, they cycled the movies through every ten years or so with a new actor.
“What about you and Aspen?” Beau asked.
“I’m not gonna open that can of crazy.”
“That’s harsh, man.”
“It’s not like that for us. We’re Hollywood friends.”
“What does that even mean?”
Mark maneuvered his car into a parking space half a block from the restaurant. “It means that as far as the press knows, we’re a couple. She’s my standing date for public events. But in real life, we don’t even talk. No strings and no drama.”
“And no sex,” Beau added with a raised eyebrow.
“There wouldn’t be any anyway—not without a wedding vow.” “A vow of silence is all I need.”
“You really are a jerk sometimes, you know that right?” Mark undid his seatbelt.
“Yep.”
Mark’s phone rang and Kate’s picture appeared on the dash. He put the call on speaker. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mark, we have a situation.”
Mark exchanged a look with Beau. “What’s going on?”
“One of the contest winners is asking for another hotel room and I need you to authorize the charge.”
Mark sighed. People always wanted more. He’d hoped to have a nice lunch with some fans—talk movies and baseball. Not have to put up a wall to protect himself from being sucked dry.
Beau ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. “Does it have to be at the Rtiz?”
“Good question,” muttered Mark. They’d splurged on that one, hoping to encourage the wealthy to open their wallets a little wider. Any money they spent would have to come out of the funds earned through the contest, which meant Teens on Target would be out an extra thousand dollars or more because of the last-minute booking.
“The original documentation and advertisements don’t specify,” replied Kate.
“Did theyaskfor a room at the Ritz?” asked Mark.
“No,” answered Kate.
Beau smirked. “Tell them they can have a second room and then book them out by the airport.” Airport hotels weren’t usually as nice as the downtown accommodations, but they would be adequately housed for the night and Teens on Target would get the maximum amount from this fundraiser.
Kate didn’t respond right away.
“Did you hear that?” Mark asked.
“Yes. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Thanks, Kate. As always you’re the best.” They said goodbye and hung up.
Beau turned to face him. “It’s like I told you the other night. Everyone wants a piece of us.”
