we were in there, I gave him a new idea.
“Elle likes you,” I said.
“No shit. You brought me in here to tell me something that’s obvious for all to see?”
“Ok. But can’t we use that to our advantage?”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that you can use your charm to find out the information that we need to find.”
Ryan sighed. “Iris wouldn’t like that one bit.”
“I realize that. Listen, I’m not asking you to sleep with the woman. Just, you know, use your charm on her. Flirt with her a little bit. Loosen her up.”
“That’s your area, Nick,” Ryan said. “At least, it used to be at one time.”
“Well, it’s not anymore. Anyhow, it’s not me she’s digging, it’s you.”
Ryan gave me a dirty look, but said “Okay. I’ll do it. But Iris better not find out about this.”
“Number one, how can she find out? Number two, extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. I know that you know how to wrap women around your finger. I’m asking you, as your oldest friend, to do so here.”
Ryan shook his head, but said “okay. You’re right. I’ll work my magic. But it stops at innocent flirting.”
“Goes without saying,” I said.
“Okay, then,” he said, and the two of us walked back to the table.
“Well, Ryan, I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty to order us an appetizer. I ordered the Roasted Maitake Mushrooms and Goat Cheese Tart.”
“Mmmm, sounds good,” Ryan said, and gave her a patented come-hither look. Elle looked like she was about to melt.
Dayum, that boy is good, I thought. I almost forgot how good he was. Hell, he’d even give the old me a run for his money.
Ryan leaned in a little further across the table, and put his hand in Elle’s hair. “ You have beautiful hair. I like it down. It suits you.”
Elle giggled and blushed, and shifted in her chair. “Do you think? Do you like this color? I thought it was a little much.”
“No, I think that it’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”
More giggles and she looked down at the table, with her hand over her eyes.
“So, let’s get down to business. Before pleasure, anyhow,” Ryan said.
“Yes, let’s,” she said. “Now you wanted to discuss a partnership between your concern and mine. What did you have in mind?”
“Our foundation has $10 million to spend on efforts to end puppy mills. I need to know what Senators to target for these contributions to help get this legislation enacted. Which is where you come in. You have the contacts I need. I have the cash. Let’s work together.”
“Sounds like a very interesting offer. Very interesting.”
Ryan cleared his throat, and looked at me. “Well let’s work out the details, and then we can get into more personal topics.”
So, for the next half hour, Elle and Ryan hashed out the details on their proposed partnership, while I quietly sipped my scotch. I tried, very hard, to keep my mind off of Scotty, but it was getting more and more impossible to do.
Finally, the two came to an agreement, and Ryan cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. He took a deep breath, and turned his full attention to Elle. “So, Elle. Uh, I’d like to get to know you on more of a personal level. But I was wondering. I mean, tell me if this question is t oo intrusive, but….what is your, you know, marital status? Are you seeing anybody right now?”
I cleared my throat and nudged him. “Uh, maybe I should cut out right now and go back to the hotel room.”
Ryan gave me a look that could kill, but, again, it was so imperceptible that anybody but myself wouldn’t notice it. “No, actually, that won’t be necessary.” Then he raised his eyebrow in a look that said you’re staying right here.
Elle looked somewhat uncomfortable, but said “no, not seeing anybody. I, uh, just got out of a messy divorce.”
Ryan nodded. “Been there. Trust me.” He shook his head. “My ex-wife was a little bit on the cuckoo side. Well, strike that. A lot on
“Elle likes you,” I said.
“No shit. You brought me in here to tell me something that’s obvious for all to see?”
“Ok. But can’t we use that to our advantage?”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that you can use your charm to find out the information that we need to find.”
Ryan sighed. “Iris wouldn’t like that one bit.”
“I realize that. Listen, I’m not asking you to sleep with the woman. Just, you know, use your charm on her. Flirt with her a little bit. Loosen her up.”
“That’s your area, Nick,” Ryan said. “At least, it used to be at one time.”
“Well, it’s not anymore. Anyhow, it’s not me she’s digging, it’s you.”
Ryan gave me a dirty look, but said “Okay. I’ll do it. But Iris better not find out about this.”
“Number one, how can she find out? Number two, extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. I know that you know how to wrap women around your finger. I’m asking you, as your oldest friend, to do so here.”
Ryan shook his head, but said “okay. You’re right. I’ll work my magic. But it stops at innocent flirting.”
“Goes without saying,” I said.
“Okay, then,” he said, and the two of us walked back to the table.
“Well, Ryan, I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty to order us an appetizer. I ordered the Roasted Maitake Mushrooms and Goat Cheese Tart.”
“Mmmm, sounds good,” Ryan said, and gave her a patented come-hither look. Elle looked like she was about to melt.
Dayum, that boy is good, I thought. I almost forgot how good he was. Hell, he’d even give the old me a run for his money.
Ryan leaned in a little further across the table, and put his hand in Elle’s hair. “ You have beautiful hair. I like it down. It suits you.”
Elle giggled and blushed, and shifted in her chair. “Do you think? Do you like this color? I thought it was a little much.”
“No, I think that it’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”
More giggles and she looked down at the table, with her hand over her eyes.
“So, let’s get down to business. Before pleasure, anyhow,” Ryan said.
“Yes, let’s,” she said. “Now you wanted to discuss a partnership between your concern and mine. What did you have in mind?”
“Our foundation has $10 million to spend on efforts to end puppy mills. I need to know what Senators to target for these contributions to help get this legislation enacted. Which is where you come in. You have the contacts I need. I have the cash. Let’s work together.”
“Sounds like a very interesting offer. Very interesting.”
Ryan cleared his throat, and looked at me. “Well let’s work out the details, and then we can get into more personal topics.”
So, for the next half hour, Elle and Ryan hashed out the details on their proposed partnership, while I quietly sipped my scotch. I tried, very hard, to keep my mind off of Scotty, but it was getting more and more impossible to do.
Finally, the two came to an agreement, and Ryan cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. He took a deep breath, and turned his full attention to Elle. “So, Elle. Uh, I’d like to get to know you on more of a personal level. But I was wondering. I mean, tell me if this question is t oo intrusive, but….what is your, you know, marital status? Are you seeing anybody right now?”
I cleared my throat and nudged him. “Uh, maybe I should cut out right now and go back to the hotel room.”
Ryan gave me a look that could kill, but, again, it was so imperceptible that anybody but myself wouldn’t notice it. “No, actually, that won’t be necessary.” Then he raised his eyebrow in a look that said you’re staying right here.
Elle looked somewhat uncomfortable, but said “no, not seeing anybody. I, uh, just got out of a messy divorce.”
Ryan nodded. “Been there. Trust me.” He shook his head. “My ex-wife was a little bit on the cuckoo side. Well, strike that. A lot on
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