Parker was talking about something important. Something that had to do with asset portfolios and double returns on investment.
I should probably be listening to him.
But how was I supposed to concentrate when Charlie wouldn't look my way?
I'd watched her after she emerged from the back, looking far more composed than she had before. And I smiled to myself knowing that I'd had some kind of effect on her, even if she was trying to pretend otherwise.
"And the biggest asset, we feel..." Parker droned on, nose-deep in his sales spiel and showing no signs of coming up for air. I tuned him back out again as Charlie rushed past our table, studiously avoiding my gaze, and went back up to the front of the house to talk to one of the servers. I couldn't hear the sound of her voice from way back here, but I liked watching the shapes her lips made. I shifted in my seat, discreetly moving my stiffening cock away from my leg as she dashed back to the kitchen.
"Knowing you like I do," Parker smarmed, "I think the aspect that will attract your notice the most is—"
She was always running. She ran with her head up, eyes darting everywhere but over towards me. I had the strangest compulsion to strip naked and stand up on the table just to see if she could pretend not to notice that.
"So I'm pretty sure this is the best we can do and you know I was trying to do right by you, Chance-y boy," Parker concluded. I had missed ever single word of the offer so I just blinked at him and kept my face neutral. He squirmed a little and looked down at his phone. "You're right," he said. "I can ask about that, give me a sec."
His fingers flew over the keys of his phone as I sat there wondering what I had just asked for. Parker was one of those people who couldn't stand silence, had to fill it at all costs. My distracted attention was making him antsy and on edge.
Without even meaning to, I had him right where I wanted him.
I felt like jumping up and kissing Charlie right on the lips in front of everyone. Ever since I'd bumped into her, literally, she'd done nothing but make this deal better.
"Gentlemen." Our server appeared at the side of the table, all smiling deference. "I hope you enjoy your meals," she said, laying out our plates. "Can I get you anything else?"
I looked down at the artfully prepared presentation. It was clear that the chef was no slouch here, and the food looked like it cost an arm and a leg, and possibly a head too. But I didn't give a fuck, it was Parker's business account we were spending from, not mine. "Maybe another bottle of wine?" I asked.
She nodded crisply. "Of course sir, another bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon?"
I shrugged, smiling. "Surprise me," I told her. Leaving it up to luck, like I always did.
She grinned, and dashed back to go find something that I was certain would be perfect. That was the way to go with these things. Let other people think they're helping you. People loved to help, even if they claimed otherwise.
I looked back over towards where Charlie was standing. An idea was starting to form in my head, and as I took a bite of the food that I intellectually knew was delicious, I couldn't taste it, because I was so focused on her.
"Tell you what," Parker said, sounding a little irritated as he looked down and read from his screen. "Since you’re giving me the hard sell, let me show you another property we have in our portfolio."
I blinked and sat back in my seat. "I didn't realize I had to give you the hard sell to get that, Parker," I said carefully. It was the truth too, just not the way that he'd expected. I wasn't holding out on him. I'd just been ignoring him entirely in favor of watching Charlie.
"What property is that you want to show me?" I asked.
Parker's eyes widened, and I had the feeling that he must have already named it, but he plowed on anyway. "The casino," he said triumphantly. "We only just got the licensing finished last week, so it's brand-new. Kind of the biggest jewel in our crown."
The only crown I was interested in was the crown of blonde curls on the top of Charlie's head and what it would look like wound around my fist as I kissed those stubborn lips.
I looked up to find her again and this time when I spotted her the idea that had been forming in my head suddenly burst forth crystal clear.
"—test your luck." Parker said.
"I'm sorry what was that?" I asked.
He repeated his line, but I missed it again, because in that moment, Charlie finally met my eyes.
For a second it was like everything tunneled down to pin prick, and the connection between us vibrated across the room. I smiled at her, and her lip lifted up in the corner — just a fraction — before she scurried away.
I had to know more about her, I knew that, right down in my gut.
"What do you think?" Parker said. "Are you up for a few games?"
I took another bite of my meal, and chewed thoughtfully before washing it down with the wine that our waitress had poured while I was staring at Charlie. Then I searched the room again until I caught sight of her curls.
"Depends," I said to Parker. "Can I bring a date?"