Page 76 of Single Malt

After we’d all gotten drinks, Fury led the way to a booth in a back corner. He was the tallest of the four of us and had the solid muscle that made people think he’d played football or was a firefighter or something like that, so people got out of his way without him needing to say a word. Sean might’ve been the most charismatic of my siblings, but Fury was a force to be reckoned with.

“Mr. Jenkins had a problem with the latest numbers for the Reprised account.” Fury directed his statement to Cory. “I explained to him what it meant for it to plateau, and he seemed to accept it, but we both know he’ll probably call on Monday and insist we both meet with him to discuss the next step.”

“I really wish people would read the contracts they’re signing.” Cory sighed. “We could save so much time and energy.”

I held up my hand. “No shop talk.”

“So, you don’t want to tell us how things are going with Shannon’s?” Sean asked with a grin. “I’ve heard rumors that you’ve gotten into some pretty exclusive clubs. Exclusive and…different.”

“Who told you that? London or Carson?” I took a sip of my beer and grimaced. Maybe I should do some business here too. This was awful.

“Carson,” Sean said. He looked at Cory. “Did he tell you the name? I can’t remember it.”

“Club Privé.” Cory rolled his glass between his palms, an anxious tick of his that I hadn’t seen in a while. Either he was stressed about something or had gotten better at hiding his nervous gestures.

“Club Privé?” Fury’s eyebrows shot up. “When I was at the New York office last year, I heard a couple employees talking about it. It’s a sex club, right?”

“Sort of.” I explained what I’d seen there and then filled them in about Black Masque too.

“Damn.” Sean let out a low whistle. “And you say I have an easy job. I think you win on this one.”

“You said Carson knows the owners of the one in New York?” Fury asked.

“London too,” I said. “But I don’t think she knows what sort of club it is.”

“She better not.” Sean’s expression darkened. “I’d beat the shit out of any guy who took her there.”

I snorted. “Says the guy who’d probably go in a minute if he got the chance.”

The way Sean’s moss green eyes lit up told me his answer better than any words would have.

“Can I use your name if I look into membership in New York?” Fury asked, his expression contemplative. “It sounds like something I might enjoy.”

Considering Fury’s personality, his interest didn’t surprise me. In some ways, Gavin Manning reminded me of him.

“Sure.” I took another drink and made a face. “This shit should be illegal.”

“Does that mean you want something different?”

I hadn’t heard the waitress approach. “Sorry.” I gave her my most charming smile. “I can’t help but be a critic. I make the stuff.” I held up my drink. “Not this stuff, though. This is awful.”

“Well, that’s what happens when you order what’s on tap at the end of spring break.” She grinned at me. “Why waste the good stuff when half of our patrons have been shit-faced all week?”

Right. Spring break.

“You get a lot of business from Stanford?” It was a work question. Nothing personal at all.

“We usually get more of the graduate students and TAs here,” she said. “I take it you’re not either of those.”

“We’re not.” Sean leaned forward and flashed the smile that gotten him in – and out – of a lot of trouble. “I’m Sean McCrae. Maybe you’ve heard of me.”

The woman gave him an appreciative look, clearly liking what she saw, but the smirk on her face said she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. Smart woman.

“Should I have? Are you…important?”

I chuckled as Sean’s face lit up. I teased him that what he did was easy, but I knew he worked just as hard as the rest of us. Some of it was just good work ethic, but he also had something that most of the rest of us had a lot of too: a highly competitive nature. The only person who loved a challenge more than Sean was his twin, Xander. It was one of the reasons Xander was so good at what he did too.

“You have no idea.” He winked at her. “Do you have a break coming up? We could find a private spot. I’d be happy to show you a thing or two.”