Page 103 of Their Courtesan
Miguel neither frowned nor showed any joviality at such a statement.He must like Zack enough to keep coming up on his deck.Zack was a great charmer, but there were a few who easily became exasperated with him. Somedays that could be Seth.Yet I keep coming back for more.He really did need to expand his social circles.
“So, what do you do?” That was the right thing to ask in these situations, right? Of course it was. Seth knew how to play the just-met game as well as anyone else. Now, if he could hide how much he hated that game… “Real estate?” That’s what most people with an accent like that were into.
“Close. My family is in casinos and resorts. We’re in talks to build a casino not too far from here. I’m overseeing it.”
“I can’t wait to have a new place to gamble all my money away,” Zack said. “You can count on me to keep the coffers full. Drink?”
Miguel accepted a beer. “I’m actually from Monaco. Well, Monaco and Spain. Mostly Monaco. That’s what I consider my personal home, anyway.”
“Wow.” Seth finished his drink and called for Zack to bring him a beer too. “You’re already one of the most elite of the elite here then.” Monaco was not the type of place his family would approve of. They wouldn’t care if Seth vacationed there every great once in a while, but to make it a lifestyle? He could already hear his father grumbling about excess and frugal wastes of money.“Pay your damn taxes!”One of the few multimillionaires around who got excited about paying his share of taxes. At least Seth would give him that.
“It’s a beautiful country, but there is a lot I like about here, too.” Miguel popped open his beer. “Like the women. Top class.”
“Hear, hear.”
NowthatSeth could toast to.
To most around there, three rich men standing around drinking craft brew on a five million dollar yacht and talking about the beautiful women of the city was completely normal. Seth did not often partake in these sorts of get-togethers, organic or planned. Whether it was a lack of company (his preference) or no drive to have “guy talk,” Seth had eschewed most of this kind of socialization. Today, however, he found the company worthy of his time, if only because Miguel was more him, less Zack.
That and having a good love life for the first time in a long time made him more open to such discussions too.
“Found yourself a new Mrs. America yet?” Zack asked after polishing off his beer. “There are a lot of prime candidates around here. You’ve got your old money daughters and widows and divorcees… if you like cougars, I hear Caroline Grant is still looking for a new husband.”
“Don’t do that to him.” Seth had never heard a story about Caroline Grant-Mathers thatdidn’tend with busted balls and tears. “Although he seems the type to take care of himself.”
“Or, you know,” Zack continued, “you can find yourself a lovely little lady who is all ass and sass. Those are fun.” His grin was so fuckin’ dumb. Seth couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ve found a woman worth dating,” Miguel said, while also accepting a second beer. “I think I might even be in love. I just got back from a trip to Monaco with her.”
“Whoa, that was fast. I was only half serious.” Zack handed him another bottle and offered Seth another as well. He declined. “That’s faster than Seth here. We’ve been trying to get him hitched for a decade now.”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Some things take time. I’d rather wait and find the perfect woman than waste my time chasing terrible ones. Unlike you.”
“I’m not looking to settle down anytime soon,” Zack said. “Not like our new friend here. Already falling in love and shit!”
“Sometimes you have to move halfway across the world to find the woman who is right for you.”
“Or you can stay in your own neighborhood.”
Both men exchanged a leveled gaze.What’s this all about?For some reason, a little warning bell went off in Seth’s head.
“Yahoo!Zackie!”
That feminine trill could’ve only been Toya or Tanya or whoever the hell she was. Zack rushed to the side of the boat and waved down at two women clacking in pumps and grinning through fake tans and department store sunglasses. Their bulbous fake tits were so frozen to their chests that not even seeing them bulge from black tube tops could make Seth do anything but shake his head. Miguel also did not look thoroughly impressed.At least he has tastes. Unlike this guy.Seth couldn’t wait to hear more stories later.
“Look, the girls are here!” Zack met them halfway down the ladder, helping Toya and Tanya to gingerly step on deck in their ridiculous pumps. Dr. Christens had half a mind to quip that they were destroying their hips wearing those things, but decided against it. “You’re just in time, ladies. We’re on our second round of beers and liable to loosen our zippers and wallets at any moment.
Seth rolled his eyes. Miguel took another swig of beer and set the bottle down on the wet bar.
“Unfortunately, I must be going now,” he said the moment Zack had an available ear again. “Business to tend to.” He shook both men’s hands once more. “See you two around. Thanks for the beers and the company.” He swung a leg over the side and descended the ladder as soon as both girls were safely on board.
“What an accent,” one of the young women said. “Why don’t you have an accent like that, Zackie?”
“I swear I’ve seen him before,” said the other. “Oh, thank you!” She took a shot of vodka like it was nothing.
Seth was already coming up with excuses to leave. He couldn’t tell Zack that he had a girlfriend because, well, Zack would call bullshit and that would start a fight again. So would implying that he felt like being loyal to Judith for now.Or at least until I get the firmest no in the universe.Only then Seth might start dating again in another… oh… two years.
“I remember now!” Toya held up her bedazzled phone between two garishly long nails. “His photos were onThe Celeb Dockettoday!”
