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I nodded and took a sip of champagne, hoping no one would hear me to pretend to agree with this guy. He was a complete prick, but I needed to appeal to his good side for an upcoming business deal. The way he talked about women, it was no wonder he couldn’t lock one down. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to, it was because no one wanted him. His ego would never let him admit the harsh truth, though.
“A wedding in the Hamptons probably.”
“Exactly. And then they want babies. God, those things are so loud. Not to mention needy. That whole daddy daycare thing. Leave that to the women.”
Oof. He just kept getting worse. If it got me a business deal, I’d play along.
“I wouldn’t even know what to do with a baby.” I shrugged, half playing along and half pondering my situation with Heart. I really wouldn’t know, but the day I would need to was approaching faster than I liked.
“I know what you do. You hand it back to its mother.”
I forced a laugh before lifting my glass. “Cheers to the bachelor life,” I said.
“Now hold on there,” said Chuck, putting his hand up and raising a skeptical eyebrow.
I looked at him curiously.
“You talk a big talk, but I heard you’re off the market with that Shipley girl…”
“Oh, that?” I waved him off. “I’m just telling the poor girl what she wants to hear.”
“Ahh,” said Chuck, impressed. “Well played for a swell lay.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, cheers to that.” Chuck raised his glass and clinked it to mine before he downed it.
“It’s nice to meet another businessman with their eye on the prize. We should sit down for a meeting sometime,” I offered.
I had cast my line and now I just needed to reel him in.
“I’ll have my assistant call yours.”
He bit.
“Uh-oh,” he said suddenly, looking behind me. “Yourfiancéeis headed this way. Man, does she look like a real dime. You’re a lucky man.”
“We’ll talk soon,” I said, shaking his hand firmly.
“Count on it.”
I turned and spotted Kiera walking toward me with determination and a martini in her freshly manicured hand. She wore a black silk dress that plunged at the neckline, revealing her sun-kissed tan that was probably sprayed on. Her teeth peeked out from her red lipstick in a seductive smile.
“Daniel,” she purred, draping her arms around my neck. “I thought I would run into you here.”
“Kiera.” I nodded as I looked around the room for Heart. The last thing I needed her to see was Kiera all over me, giving off a very wrong impression. But I didn’t see her. I figured I would get this over with quickly and then go find her.
“Not up for bid tonight?” asked Kiera with a smirk.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I said.
“I had my checkbook and everything.” She pouted.
“There’s plenty to bid on tonight. You could put it to use.”
“Oh, you know I don’t really care about all this charity bullshit,” she said, lowering her voice so no one would hear.
Then she leaned in close and whispered. “You know, charity or not…if you liked what you saw, I wouldn’t charge you.”