Tags:
Fiction,
General,
Suspense,
Fiction - General,
Romance,
Literature & Fiction,
California,
Contemporary Women,
Murder,
Romantic Suspense Fiction,
Upper Class,
Murder - California - Beverly Hills,
Collins; Jackie - Prose & Criticism,
Beverly Hills,
Upper class - California - Beverly Hills,
Beverly Hills (Calif.)
so discerning you only go for the ones you can’t have. What’s that about?”
Bobby decided to ignore Frankie’s veiled comment.
“You’re such a privileged prick,” Frankie muttered, only half-joking.
“Go fuck yourself,” Bobby responded good-naturedly.
“Yeah, yeah,” Frankie sighed, taking no offence. “If only I could it’d make life so much easier.”
“C’mon, guys, we’re in a casino,” M.J. said. “You got a choice – gambling or food, so somebody make up their freakin’ mind.”
“Steak,” Bobby decided. “I need my strength if I’m spending the rest of the night with this asshole.”
Frankie rolled his eyes. “It takes one to know one.”
“You think?” Bobby said, checking out a sleek blonde walking past with a much older man.
“I know ,” Frankie responded, his eyes swiveling to take in the blonde’s ass.
They finally ended up in Morton’s Steak House where the waitress was no slouch when it came to spotting three sexy, obviously single young guys. She zeroed in on Frankie, who threw off that bad boy vibe she’d always found irresistible.
Frankie flirted back. Waitresses weren’t his usual style, but this one had an amazing rack, and he wasn’t about to waste a night away from Annabelle. Besides, Annabelle was enjoying a little something on the side, so why shouldn’t he?
“What’s your name, beautiful?” he asked, after ordering a steak, fries, and his favorite onion rings.
Running her tongue along her lower lip in a most provocative way, she leaned into the table. “Patricia,” she said. “But my friends call me Tree.”
“An unusual name for an unusual girl,” Frankie said, turning on the bullshit charm that always worked so well for him. “You’re too fine to be slaving away at a job like this. How come?”
“I’m actually an actress,” she explained, her expression serious. “Doing this to make the rent until I can afford a move to New York.”
Bobby and M.J. exchanged looks. They knew exactly what Frankie would say next.
He didn’t disappoint. “Maybe I can help,” he offered in his best sincere voice.
Bobby raised a cynical eyebrow. M.J. stifled a laugh.
“Really?” Tree said, wondering if this guy was as full of crap as most of them were.
“Yeah, really,” Frankie continued. “I know people. I got connections.”
M.J. rolled his eyes.
“What time you get off tonight?” Frankie persisted.
Tree paused for a moment. This guy was cute enough with his long hair and bedroom eyes, and maybe – just maybe – he could help her.
“Eleven,” she said, licking her lips again.
“Then eleven it is.”
“Y’know,” Bobby said, after the waitress had moved onto another table, “you should get yourself some new lines.”
“Yeah,” M.J. snickered. “It’s way beyond time, man. ‘I got connections’ simply don’t cut it.”
“It’s not a line,” Frankie protested, feeling boastful. “I can make that girl a lot of money.”
“Doing what?” Bobby inquired.
“Something that comes naturally,” Frankie replied. “I’ll give her a test run an’ let you know.”
“Let us know what ?” M.J. persisted, exchanging another knowing glance with Bobby.
Frankie paused for a moment. Should he tell them about his and Annabelle’s money-making venture or should he not? He’d been dying to show off about pulling in the big bucks, but he knew that somewhere within Bobby there lurked a strong moral streak, and he had a feeling that his friend might not approve of his new business.
On the other hand – fuck it. Bobby ran a club where booze, drugs and getting laid took center stage, so who was he to object?
Frankie decided to go for it and reveal the truth. “I’ve been meaning to tell you guys something,” he began.
“If it’s about the hookers, we know,” Bobby said matter-of-factly.
Frankie was thrown; he wrinkled his forehead. “Huh?”
“What?” M.J. guffawed. “You thought it was a secret?”
“Are you
Lisa Black
Margaret Duffy
Erin Bowman
Kate Christensen
Steve Kluger
Jake Bible
Jan Irving
G.L. Snodgrass
Chris Taylor
Jax