Betting on Bailey

“It’s yours,” I tell her sincerely. “I didn’t realize how good I had it with you. How are you making out with your clowns?”

“They aren’t that bad,” she replies. “Just needed a little whipping into shape. Some of them thought a woman couldn’t lead a kitchen.” She snorts. “I corrected that impression.”

Helen stands five feet tall, and weighs ninety pounds soaking wet. Still, I feel sorry for the idiots who dared to even hint that she didn’t belong. Helen can kick ass with the best of them. “The fools.” The phone chimes in my ear. Another call’s coming through. “Hey, Helen, I have to go. I’ll call you back over the weekend.”

Juliette’s on the other line. I pick up the call. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Sebastian,” she says, her voice urgent and slightly irritated. “Where have you been? I’ve left you a couple of messages today. Don’t you check your texts?”

“I work in a kitchen, Juliette,” I point out. “I’m hardly going to be fiddling with my phone when food’s about to burn on the stove. What’s going on?”

“A couple of the franchise deal investors are in town tonight, and they want to meet you at Seb New York,” she says. “Can you skip pool so they can meet you?”

I think of Bailey. I’ve been looking forward to this evening all week long. In the shower, I’ve closed my eyes and imagined her slick, wet body next to mine. Her eyes had widened when I’d hinted we were interested, and her breathing had caught. She’d definitely picked up on the signal.

I can’t wait to see where this evening might go. It’s been years since I’ve felt this kind of anticipation for a woman. Juliette’s franchise opportunity pales in comparison. “Sorry,” I tell her. “I can’t. I’m busy tonight.”

“Sebastian, this is really important. We just need thirty minutes. What if I can get them there in an hour?”

I’m leaving in twenty minutes to head to the Maxwell Club, where Daniel and I are teaching Bailey how to play pool. Then again, the franchise deal is important, isn’t it? For so many years, I’ve dreamed about showing everyone in Mississippi that I defied their expectations and made something of myself. What’s a pool lesson in comparison?

My phone buzzes. It’s a text message from Daniel. Leaving work now, it says. See you in thirty minutes?

I make my decision. “No can do, Juliette,” I tell her, my voice steady. “I’m far too busy running my restaurants for last-minute meetings. Next time, give me a little more heads-up. ”

There’s a long pause, then she clears her throat meaningfully. “Running your restaurants?” Her voice has a hint of suspicion in it. “Is that the real reason you can’t meet us today?”

“What are you saying, Juliette?”

Her voice is curt. “The window of opportunity is small, Sebastian. We may never get another chance like this. Our entire focus should be on this deal.”

“Seb New York and Seb II are always going to come first. You have to know that.”

“Make time for this, Sebastian,” she says. “Else this might slip through your fingers.” She sighs. “I’ll look through your calendar and arrange another time. Oh, tell Clark I’m going to be really late. I need to take these guys out for drinks first.”

“Stay away from Seb New York,” I warn her. “Ben’s not ready for prime time yet.”

As I get ready to leave, I dwell on my warped sense of priorities. I should have blown off Daniel and Bailey, and met with the investors, but I don’t want to. The only place I want to be this evening is at Maxwell Club, helping a curvy redhead improve her pool game.

10

Who wishes to fight must first count the cost.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Daniel:

I’m back in that alley behind the Maxwell Club, and I can’t tear my eyes away from Bailey. She’s wearing lingerie. Lines of leather and lace crisscross her breasts. The thong she wears shows the lush curves of her ass. Bailey’s dressed for sex, and I’m ready to oblige and next to me, so is Sebastian.