Page 76 of Inside Out

Frank quirked a brow. He knew damn well I didn’t have someplace else to be unless it was a private party for two. “That sounds perfect,” he said to me then turned his attention to his wife. “Sweetheart, the caterer is looking for you.”

“Not again,” she grumbled. “I’m ordering pizza and wings for our next party.” She rose up on her toes and gave Frank a quick kiss. “You promised, Rome,” she tossed over her shoulder as she exited the room.

“Everything okay?” Frank asked, looking first at Jules and then me.

“Everything is perfect. Don’t let us keep you from your party. I’m going to order a ride through my handy app.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Frank said firmly. “Stevens will take you anywhere you want to go.”

“It’s very thoughtful of you to offer your driver, but Stevens might be enjoying a night off.”

“Nonsense,” Frank said, fishing his phone out of his pirate’s coat. I recognized that tone of voice. It was no use arguing with him. “Stevens, I need you to give Rome and his boyfriend a ride back to their hotel.” Frank listened to his driver’s response then thanked him before hanging up. “He’ll pull the car around in ten minutes.”

“How do you know we’re going back to our hotel and not another party?” I asked.

Frank’s answer was an eye roll and a snort. “It was really nice to meet you, Julius. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”

“I’m looking forward to it too, Frank,” Jules said, shaking the man’s hand.

“I guess I better head back to the party where I’ll either receive unsolicited investment advice or ignore attempts to solicit my backing for the next big thing. You guys have a good night.”

Frank wrapped me up in a bear hug before he left Julius and me alone.

“What exactly does Frank do for a living?” Julius asked me once we were waiting on the front porch for Stevens to pick us up.

I pulled Julius into my arms to offer him my warmth. “Software and cybersecurity development. He could be every bit as rich as the big guys if he moved to Silicon Valley, but he didn’t want to uproot the life he built here.”

“Neither of them sounds very happy,” Julius said. “Maybe a change of pace and scenery is what they need.” Jules’s insightfulness amazed me. He’d pointed out something to me that I should’ve seen a long time ago. “It sure worked out for us.”

“Who’s the charmer now?” I asked as Stevens pulled up in front of the house in a black, Mercedes SUV.

“I’ll show you charm.”