Page 94 of Handsome Devil
“Indeed. And same to you. Though it may surprise you that I find Ms. Sereda an excellent choice,” he informed me. “If you were to decide to enter into a relationship with a new woman, in light of your recent… struggles… and the end of your engagement… Only the right woman would do.”
“If you think Ms. Sereda is the right woman for me,” I told him, “you really may have missed something.”
“On the contrary. Imagine what a strong woman by your side, a woman like her, could do for your image. A woman who won’t abide by your most unsavory character traits and behaviors. Wouldn’t that be refreshing, for all concerned?”
Yeah. It would be incredibly refreshing, and no doubt entertaining, for my mother and my grandmother.
“So refreshing,” I agreed. “I’ll take it under advisement. Now, unless you want to help me shake it off, you’ll give me a moment to use the men’s room in privacy.”
I left him there with his mouth hanging open, and headed out to the lobby, with Rolf close behind. “Keep him away from me,” I told Rolf.
“Yes, sir.”
I went straight outside, but Devi was nowhere to be seen. When I walked back into the hotel, I saw two separate sets of signs for washrooms. There were several people mingling outside the closer one.
I headed toward the farther one and paced a moment, keeping an eye on the alcoves where the washrooms were. I pulled out my phone to call her.
But then Devi emerged, alone, from the far ladies’ room with her coat in hand. She saw me and stopped abruptly. She slipped on her coat and as she watched me approach, she looked pre-annoyed.
“How did you do that?” I asked her. I stood right in front of her, making her look up at me.
“Do what?”
“You impressed my family.”
“Oh, that?” she said breezily, but there was a spark of victory in her eyes. She knew she’d won that one. “I do shit like that all the time. You may remember I am a business woman. I know how to sell. Plus, I’m quite accustomed to chatting with VIPs. You may have noticed my best friend married a rock star.”
Yeah. I noticed that. Thanks to the other night at the bar. And my Instagram stalking sessions.
Still. Jesse Mayes was not a billionaire.
“Either way,” I said. “That was unprecedented. I’ve rarely met a woman who wasn’t instantly intimidated by my mother and my grandmother.”
“Whatever. I’ve been on the road with famous musicians. I’ve drank from champagne fountains with movie stars. I’ve gone shot for shot with bikers, I’ve backpacked through India, and I’ve partied with women so badass they’d make your grandmother blush. A rich old lady isn’t going to scare me.”
“Then where are you going?”
“I’m leaving. I’ve had enough fun for one night. And I’ve kind of lost my appetite.” She tried to brush past me, but I caught her arm, yet again.
She gave me a dark look that reached right down my spine and into my balls, yet again.
“What if you stayed?”
She shook off my hand. “And why would I do that?”
I took a deep breath and tried to be as human about this as I could. “Because I’m asking nicely.”
“No. You aren’t.”
“I’d like you to stay,” I forced out. “And say more nice things about me.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, likeWhat evil are you up to now?“And why would I dothat?”
“Because you’re good at it.”
Her eyes narrowed further.
A few people drifted by in the hallway. We both waited for them to pass, and I pointed at the door to the ladies’ room behind her. “Empty?”
