Gage smiled, recognizing the last remark as Dane-speak for “She turned me down.” He enjoyed another gulp of the beer, silently admitting that he was as glad of that fact as he was of the appearance of Dane’s sulking.
Alythia being relatively unknown pleased him greatly. What pleased him even more was the fact that she didn’t claim the kind of status her friends seemed to relish.
“Quiet ones are usually the biggest freaks,” Dane chimed in as if reading Gage’s thoughts. He shrugged. “I’m just saying that it doesn’t look like we’ll have to put much work into getting a little somethin’ somethin’ above-or belowground, is all.”
Gage poised his bottle for another swig and changed his mind. “Don’t believe everything you read,” he cautioned.
“Oh, trust me, my friend. Everything I know about that trio, I didn’t have to read.”
Instead of drinking from the bottle, Gage pressed it to his forehead, needing the cool to breach his skin. “Don’t do this,” he sighed. “It’s not the time for conspiracies.”
“That much I know.” Dane seemed to sober. “Already gave it my best shot and Jay’s still over the moon for this one.”
Gage finally pinned his friend with an expression that harbored no trace of amusement. “What’d you do?”
“Felt Jay had a right to know the word on the street about her.” Dane shrugged, downed a bit of the Budweiser he’d selected. “That fool tends to dwell in his own world, you know?”
“Yeah, minding his own business, finding a woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with... Lotta men would love living in that world.”
“Don’t even try it, G.” Dane used his bottle to point in Gage’s direction. “Hookin’ up with the wrong chick can turn a beautiful life into hell on earth.”
“Where’s all this comin’ from, man?”
“Coming from one friend to another.”
“Jay might not see it that way.” Gage went back to girl watching and nursing his beer.
“We usually don’t see it that way when being told something for our own good.”
“Right.” Gage left Dane’s counter-remark unchallenged and pushed away from the bar. “Guys, we can take this stairway down to find our lunch!” he called out to the rest of the group.
Gage waited for Alythia, offering her his arm when she broke away from her friends.
“Thanks.” She leaned into him a little. “Those mojitos were no joke.”
“There’s more where they came from.”
Alythia tilted back her head. “That’s good to know. Being around my girls for ten days will definitely put me in the mood for more.”
Gage slanted a look toward Dane, who responded with a mock toast of his beer bottle. “I know what you mean,” he said.
Chapter 3
It went without saying that the lower deck of the jet made quite an impression on Gage Vincent’s guests. Myrna and Orchid were very vocal in their appreciation of the sumptuous layout of the combination dining room and sitting room. Myrna oohed and aahed while breaking into a light sprint down the wide aisle. She trailed her fingers across the silk-covered beige sofas and chairs with embroidered finishes. Even Orchid, who had seen her fair share of private jets, seemed impressed by the understated decor of the grand space. She didn’t let too much of it show, preferring instead to use the opportunity to school her fiancé. Simply put, if Jayson was confused about what to look for when he bought his jet, use this for an example.
Jeena was equally as impressed. She was busy trying to get Gage to agree to a time when they might chat.
“I know neither of us are in the mood to discuss business, but you’re so busy every time I call,” Jeena rambled while tapping furiously at her mobile as she scrolled through the calendar there. “I’m pretty sure your assistant is sick and tired of talking to me while we try to work on a good time to meet. But I’m flexible with whatever we can...”
While Jeena talked, Gage only half listened. It was of no consequence. If need be, he could have recited her spiel verbatim. A good thing, too, because taking a more avid interest in the woman’s rambling wasn’t a top priority just then.
Gage kept his gait to a leisurely stroll.
So much the better for Jeena. She hoped she might be on the verge of nailing down a meeting with the elusive entrepreneur. Aside from her, the one thing Jeena’s...clients all had in common was Gage Vincent. They were either in business with the man or they wanted to be. Jeena hoped to be on the in business with Gage Vincent side of things. Having him on her side to smooth the way regarding certain ventures would be a coup indeed. But Jeena didn’t realize that she was pretty much carrying the conversation alone, with only Gage’s intermittent “mmm-hmms” to punctuate the discussion.
“I’ll have my assistant get in touch with you,” he managed just as they rounded the corner into the dining area. He didn’t spare Jeena a glance. His stirring gaze was set on Alythia as he and Jeena walked into the room, among the last to arrive.
Gage saw the smile enhancing Alythia’s profile when she angled her head to look up at the recessed lighting that added a golden glow to the cream, beige and cocoa color scheme. The space was devoid of windows, and woodgrain-based lamps had been added to provide warm illumination. Gage dipped his head, hoping to shield the smile that emerged as he studied her reaction.
“And here I thought the bottom of a plane was only for storing luggage,” Aly teased. Turning just as Gage looked up, she favored him with a smile across her shoulder.
Alythia’s comment closed off whatever attention Gage had been paying to Jeena.
“So when should I expect your assistant’s...call?” Jeena finished disapprovingly when she saw Gage walk on ahead to catch up with her friend.
Jeena’s cool, unreadable smile mimicked the one Zeke Shepard wore when he rounded out the group arriving in the dining space. He’d taken a deep interest in the sight of his old friend leaving one beauty to catch up with another.
“My friend has a one-track mind sometimes,” Zeke noted to the petite woman Gage had left behind.
Jeena ceased working at her phone. “One-track?” she queried of the slender dark man next to her.
“One reason Gage agreed to this trip is because all of Orchid’s friends are dimes.” Zeke grinned.
“That’s cold,” Jeena chided, though lightly. She pulled a stylus pen from her bag and blandly regarded the man in question. “I’d like to think he really wanted to do something special for his friend.”
“Well...that, too.” Zeke gave a little shrug. “But being surrounded by four beautiful women won’t be a hardship.”
“Hmph.” Jeena tapped a finger to her cheek and slowed her pace a bit. “Are you saying that he plans to sleep with all of us?”
“Nah.” Zeke’s response was softer, reassuring then. “My man’s already made his selection.”
Jeena stroked the soft hair tapered into a V at her nape while studying Gage and Alythia. The two stood discussing an oil canvas that was on display inside a cozy alcove a ways down from the dining room. She gave a sideways glance up at Zeke.
“And what about you? Have you made your selection, as well?”
“Not