Page 36 of Nightclub Surprise
“August, I don’t have any friends here yet. I haven’t started working, so I haven’t had many opportunities to make friends since I moved here.” She looked down but then looked back at me. “Hey, do you think Leila would like to joinme?”
“I know she would. Give her a call after you drop Calum off at school, and see if she’s free.” With one more kiss, I left her and headed off to mymeeting.
Gannon and Nixon were already at the King’s Road Café when I got there, though our foreman had yet to show. Scones and coffee had already been served, so I took a seat and helped myself. “How are you gentlemen doing this finemorning?”
Gannon’s eyes were bright. “I’m doing pretty damn good, considering all the shit that’s come my waylately.”
Nixon chuckled as he sipped his steaming hot coffee. “Would that little blonde babysitter have anything to do withthat?”
“She might,” Gannon said as he winked at our other business partner. Then his eyes fell on me. “And you look like you’ve got extra pep in your step as well, August. Any particular reason forthat?”
“Well, I found out yesterday that I’m a father to a six-year-old boy. His mother and I had one night of mind-blowing sex the night before I left for boot camp, producing a child that she’s just confessed is mine.” The waiter came up, interrupting my news. He stood, poised for my drink order without saying a thing. “Espresso macchiato, please.” He hurried off to get my drink, and I turned my attention back to myfriends.
“And you’re happy about it, so that means it’s with a woman you like,” Nixon said. “So, both you guys are fathers. Well, now I feel left out—not that I wish some random woman would show up and tell me I’ve fathered achild.”
I nodded. “The mother of my child isn’t some random woman. She and I were neighbors back home—I’ve known her as long as I can remember. I’ve already asked Tawny to marry me. That’s her name, by the way, and my son’s name isCalum.”
Nixon smiled. “Way to go. I’m glad you’ve found someone. I’m actually a little jealous—to tell you the truth, I can’t get this one girl off my mind. We had one crazy Halloween night, and she’s been stuck in my head ever since. But that wasn’t that long ago, so maybe this feeling will fade, whoknows?”
Gannon laughed. “I’m asking Brooke to marry me on Thanksgiving at her family’s get-together. Wish me luck, guys. Her brother Brad is my best friend, and I’ve been told to keep my hands off his baby sister. As if I could help that. She’s the most lovable woman I’ve ever met. So, I’ll face Brad and the rest of her family’s wrath if I must to make her mine in every waypossible.”
I didn’t envy Gannon with that mess. “At least I don’t have to worry about Tawny’s family. She’s an only child, so there’re no siblings to deal with there. And her parents don’t seem to interfere too much in her life. I think Tawny and I have found what everyone looks for. True love.” I looked at the waiter as he brought the drink to me, placing it in front of me on thetable.
“Are you three ready to order?” he askedus.
“Not yet,” Gannon informed him. “We have one morecoming.”
With a nod the waiter left us, and we got back to our conversation. Nixon mused, “So, this grand opening we’re having won’t be at all like we initially envisioned. For you guys, anyway. I’m still a free man. Hey, maybe Katana will call me, and I can invite her to be my date for thatnight!”
Gannon looked at Nixon with wide eyes. “You don’t have hernumber?”
“Nah, it was a one-night thing, but I gave her mine just in case.” Nixon looked hopeful. “Maybe she’ll call. I hope shecalls.”
I laughed. “You sound like you really like this girl,Nixon.”
He nodded, and then took a sip of his coffee. “When we came up with this grand idea to open a nightclub for the uber-wealthy, part of the plan was for us to score hot chicks. Now that’s not even on the agenda for any of us,really.”
“Who knew?” Gannonadded.
There we sat, three friends who’d gone into a business venture together with the grand fantasies of single men. Only now we all seemed to be preoccupied with special women. It seemed we’d never get to have even one night of unadulteratedphilandering.
But they’d both had years of living that kind of life, and I’d had my fair share as well. How funny that things change soquickly.
Things were going much better than I had ever expected, and my life was changing for the better with each passing moment. Things could only get better fromhere.
Chapter Twenty-one
Tawny
When I realized my sapphire ring was missing, I had a pretty good idea where it had gone. August had to have taken it to use it to buy me an engagement ring. That didn’t surprise me onebit.
I’d spent the day shopping with Leila, and we had a very nice time. With her help, I actually made a lot of purchases and was waiting patiently for August to come home so I could show him just how much I’d added to Calum’s closet as well asmine.
But the hours ticked by and finally, at seven in the evening, he graced us with his presence. We’d been waiting in the main living area which was right behind the foyer. I thought that would be the best place if we wanted to see him when he first arrivedhome.
Calum ran to August as he came through the doorway. “Dad!”
“Calum!” August shouted right back at him. Picking him up, I noticed him whispering something to our son, and Calum’s little head nodded in a fast motion. “Good, glad youagree.”
