Dirty Dining by EM Lynley Read Free Book Online

hard-won victory over his baser desires blew up in his face Monday morning. Ron Templeton, an old college friend and now Brice’s boss at the venture capital investment firm of Christie, Parker, and Lane, rolled into his office, not bothering to knock on the half-shut door, and deposited himself in the same chair Watkins had used a week earlier.
    “Hope you’re not busy tomorrow night. And if you are, cancel your plans.”
    “Okay. Why?”
    “Got an investor who’s looking to plant about fifty mil. I need your help to land him.”
    “What can I do?”
    “Cathcart runs a private equity fund in Missouri, and he’s pretty excited about visiting San Fran again. We lost out to Valley Ventures last time he was looking to invest. I need you to take him around and show him a good time.”
    Brice sat back in his chair. This was Ron’s code that the prospect was gay, most likely closeted back in his red-state home life, and wanted to blow off more than steam while he was in town. The added implication was that if Brice showed him the right kind of fun, he’d toss them fifty million to invest.
    “Cathcart? Did I sit in on meeting with him a while back?”
    Ron nodded, a smile just starting to play around the edges of his mouth.
    “So, what did you have in mind?” Brice asked, dreading the answer.
    “Somehow he heard about the Dinner Club. Can’t wait to go. Make some reservations for tomorrow night, and you’ve got Wednesday off. Let him do or have whatever he wants. Money is no object here.”
    Brice shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to see Remy again while a client watched. He’d been able to stay away from the place only by pushing his willpower to the limit. Now his boss had asked him to go back.
    “Sorry, Ron, I can’t make it.” Best not to explain why.
    “I don’t care what it is, cancel it or postpone it.”
    “It’s not that…. Why not send Watkins? He loves the place.”
    “What is it, then?” Ron paused. Brice could almost hear his brain whirring, trying to decide whether to mention outright Brice being gay or say anything remotely sexual, even though they’d known each other for years and Brice had never been in the closet. California and federal laws could be tricky on the issue of what might be considered inappropriate. And Brice was the firm’s attorney. “Cathcart doesn’t like Watkins. He likes you.”
    “Do you mean ‘like’ as in the high-school-girl usage of the word, or just that he doesn’t care for Watkins’ personality.”
    Ron chuckled. “Definitely the latter. I’m not sure about the former. But he won’t hit on you if you’re someplace with willing participants.” He paused and smiled mischievously. “Look, I don’t think he’s got the hots for you. But if he did, couldn’t you just smile at him? For fifty mil?”
    “I can’t believe you just suggested that.” But Brice was more amused than annoyed. He could hold his own, but sometimes a little extra smile—from the right guy or woman—could grease the wheels on a business deal, even when nothing was expected to come of the flirtation. “I could sue your ass.”
    “Well, I suppose that’s better than the alternative,” Ron said. It was only because they were friends Brice let him get away with the comment.
    “You don’t know what you’re missing.” Brice gave as good as he got. He leaned back in his chair and considered his options. He really wanted to see Remy. And Brice admitted the blatant sexuality of the club was a lure. He didn’t feel entirely comfortable with being on display, but who was even looking at him? Watkins had had his mind—and his hands—on his own serving boy and hadn’t cared what Brice was doing. “Okay. I’ll do it this one time, for you. And the knowledge of how much of the fifty mil I’ll get.” As a junior partner, he got a tiny share of profits.
    Ron stood up and leaned across the desk so he could slap Brice on the shoulder. “There you go. Take one for