On a grunt, he said, “Does the world really care about myhair?”
“Image iseverything, Jagger. The goatee and moustache add sophistication, so I’ll allow those. I’m touting you as the shiny, new Jagger Loving with the squeaky-clean reputation. What’s mymotto?”
He hated that she treated him like an errant child and rolled his eyes. “Help me helpyou.”
The sedan pulled to the curb in front of an unremarkable Northwest DC office building that housed the American Hotel and Lodging Association. He ended the call, exited the vehicle, and walkedinside.
If Jagger Loving had learnedanythingover the past year, it was not to screw his staff, his guests, or his clients. Something he used to do often and with vigor. The media might label him as God’s gift to the hospitality industry, but he was the biggest fucker in the business and had been damned good at it. His playboy reputation tanked when someone mewled a little tooloudly.
On his thirty-third birthday, he’d woken up buck naked and sandwiched between two equally nude female guests. After showing them out and comping their stay, he hoped they’d forget all about the wild night. But they wanted millions to keep quiet. He refused. They went public and a media frenzy followed. Unbeknownst to him, one of the women was married and the husband threatened to bash his head in. When the women threatened to publishallthe photos and videos, therealissue becameapparent.
His attorney had advised him to pay to make them go away. So he did. That had been the last straw. No more partying. No more late-night sexcapades. No more early-morning romps, either. Bad boy Jagger Loving had stopped, coldturkey.
Frustration burned a trail to hisgroin.
The hospitality industry meant everything to him. He’d built an empire from the ground up, and the sobering experience showed him how close he could come to losing itall.
When the daylong conference ended, the driver dropped him at Sargent’s in Georgetown for dinner. The top Zagat-rated restaurant had a six-month wait list. Leave it to his best friend, Maverick Hott, to wrangle them a table at the last-minute.
Jagger had barely stepped onto the sidewalk when Maverick bear-hugged him. “Jagger, baby!” One glance and his expression grew somber. “Christ, you look like you need to get laid, myfriend.”
Laughing, Jagger slapped his back. “You’re insane, you know that? Let’s go inside. My balls aren’t used to these freezingtemps.”
His larger-than-life friend slung an arm over Jagger’s shoulder and ushered him into the upscale eatery. Despite the wait, the host whisked them to a private dining room reserved for Washington’s elite and friends of theowner.
Relaxing onto the cushioned chair, Jagger eyed the plush décor. “How’d you pull thisoff?”
“I made a call.” Maverick dragged out a chair and sank down. “Jesus, I can’t remember the last time I saw your uglymug.”
The host handed them menus as their serverentered.
Jagger scanned the small plates. “Escargot and beef tartare. Mav, you good withthat?”
“I’ll eat whatever you order,” Maverick said, before addressing the waiter. “Your top-shelf whiskey, neat, and a bottle of your finest sparkling water.” With a tight smile, the attendantleft.
“Hear about Colton’s engagement?” Maverick asked, settling into thechair.
“I was so damn shocked, I was speechless,” Jagger replied. “Brigit, right? Can she handlehim?”
Crossing his legs, Maverick grinned. “He’s a pussy-whipped goner.” The two men laughed. “I have to admit, she’s good for him. He’s happy and that’s afirst.”
“I’ll meet her tomorrow. I’m stopping at Colton’s on my way to theairport.”
“Crockett’s news is what threwme.”
“What about him?” Jagger asked, dropping the cloth napkin on hislap.
“He gotengaged.”
Jagger laughed. “Sure he did. He’s as engaged as I am. No, he’s more like you, which meansnever.”
“I’m serious. Alexandra Mitus came back into town. Another happyidiot.”
“You aren’t messin’ withme?”
“No, brother, Iswear.”
Talking with Maverick had always been easy. They’d met freshman year at Harvard and had been close friends ever since. The server returned with their drinks, recited the chef’s specials, andleft.
