Page 83 of Their Courtesan
“Yeah, that guy. Mr. Downsizing.”
“That’s the one.”
“Who bought it? Anyone I know?”
“I highly doubt it. He’s in real estate or something. Casinos? Something like that. His family’s building one nearby and he’s in town to oversee it. So unless you’re rolling in that world now, I highly doubt you’ve heard of him yet. I only know him because he’s been down at the marina many times and drinks beer on deck with me.”
Seth snorted. “You’ve replaced me as your best friend, I see.”
“Hey, I needsomeonewho will leave the dock with me. For a doctor, you sure get seasick a lot.”
Don’t remind me.Seth liked the idea of yachting in theory… but the few times he had gone in his life, including on Zack’s boat, he ended up so green that even the ocean couldn’t out-foam him. The only times Seth got motion sick was when he went out on the water. Flying, driving,roller coasters…those were fine. “What does being a doctor have to do with it?”
Judith interrupted him. “Casino, huh?” There was something uneasy about her tone. “That would be the first in a long while. Then again, with all you rich dicks, I’m surprised it’s taken this long. What was the guy’s name again?”
Zack gave her a suspicious look. “Miguel something. Bolivar. That’s it. Miguel Bolivar, from Spain. Er, I think. I know it’s Europe. Maybe France? No, it’s Andorra. Wait… what’s that really tiny country by there?”
The smile remained on Judith’s face, but it was so forced that Seth wondered if she was going to faint. He put his hand on her leg, feeling her cool flesh turn warm beneath his touch.
“Monaco,” Judith said, hand covering Seth’s. “You’re thinking of Monaco.”
“You know Miguel?”
Nobody could read Judith’s face if they tried – and Seth did. He tried so hard that he went cross-eyed. “I’ve heard of him.”
She and Zack held their gazes long enough for the waitress to return with tea and water refills. Seth made a note to ask Judith about this later. For now, he was happy to curl his fingers with hers and think of everything they would do that day.
Zack excused himself from lunch on the pretense that he had a family thing later that afternoon. Seth figured he was full of shit, but went along with it, shaking his friend’s hand and wishing him well. When he was alone with Judith again, he said, “Sorry my friend’s an ass. Don’t know what’s up with him.”I know.
“Was he? I thought he was charming.” Judith chuckled, relaxing in her seat again. “You have to understand, my barometer for ‘ass’ is set pretty high. Takes more than a good-looking grump to set me off.”
“Wait, you think he’s good-looking?”
“Don’t you?”
“Never thought about it.” Seth couldn’t say he sat around thinking about which of his friends was the hottest. Sure, Zack was conventionally attractive… it wasn’t just his money that got him all those women, not that he had heard of many lately. Not since the trip to the Château… well, not since Seth made it public that he was seeing Judith regularly, and not since Zack deduced that his friend was in love with a woman who charged him money for the experience. “Should we go?”
They had no concrete plans until that evening. Seth figured they could take things slow through the afternoon. Maybe see a film. Go to the park. Shop. Whatever Judith wanted to do. Yet when he asked her what they should do, she simply said, “Anything is fine. I’m happy to get off the mountain for a while.”
He took her hand and led her down the sidewalk. With no destination in mind, they walked slowly, aimlessly, grateful that it was a Thursday and thus there weren’t many people out to get in their way. Seth hated crowds. His patients were also lucky if he let the husband or boyfriend in… not that those guys were ever around for the birth of their kids.
“Now that’s a look,” Judith said, gesturing to his cheek. “What are you thinking about? Artist stuff?”
“Actually, it’s doctor stuff. Had a random memory.”
“About delivering babies?”
“Uh huh.”
“You know…” Judith squeezed his hand. “You’re the first obstetrician I’ve met who didn’t make a big deal about the number of lives he’s brought into this world. I keep forgetting you used to do that.”
“I never brought anyone into this world. That’s all the mothers.”
“I see.”
“I’m serious. My job was to guide and make sure no complications arose. Or if they did, I fixed them. I must’ve done okay, because nobody died on my watch… although I’m sure if I didn’t retire so early, they would have. Nobody’s a doctor for more than ten years without at least one death, no matter what kind of doctor they are.”
“Those poor podiatrists.”
