Bound (Mastered #1)(45)

Chaz forced her to look at him. "What's really going on, North Dakota?"

He called her that when he wanted her attention. "Nothing." She smiled. "It's all good. I promise. Now, do you think we should haul the food to the roof? Or serve it down here?"

"Down here. Definitely."

"Would you be so kind as to ring the dinner bell?"

After everyone had gone through the chow line, Amery fixed herself a plate and headed to the roof.

Applause greeted her. Then Emmylou raised her wine cooler. "A toast to the excellent hostess, Amery Hardwick, for arranging such an awesome dinner party. For feeding us and for welcoming old friends and new."

Amery blushed when everyone toasted her. "I'm just glad you all came and brought friends, or I'd be eating pasta for the next three weeks."

Laughter.

She seated herself across from Larry and Rich.

Larry patted her arm. "We missed you this week. Chaz said you dragged him to a different bar for happy hour Friday night." 

"Dragged? Please. Chaz put up a token protest. He's been forcing me to go to Tracks for years. And as much as I love hanging out with you guys . . ."

"Trust me, sweets, I understand. Finding a straight guy who regularly hangs out in gay bars usually means he's not entirely straight. I don't blame you for casting a wider net."

"Did you meet anyone at the bar Friday night? Or did Chaz scare them all away?"

Amery laughed. "He scared them away. You should've seen the pants he was wearing." She kept an eye on her guests while Larry and Rich bickered good-naturedly over a TV show, their cockapoo, Fritzie, and Larry's pesky mother. She shoved her plate aside.

Chaz's neighbors, Jake and Lucas, sat on either side of her with their dessert. She gestured to Larry and Rich. "Have you guys met?"

"Yes. Chaz is acting as your cohost tonight if you hadn't noticed," Rich said.

"I'm fine with that. I'm flying solo anyway."

"Beautiful woman like you?" Jake said. "How's that possible?"

She turned her head to study him. Tall. Good looking. Dark hair and dark eyes. Sweet smile. But he did nothing for her. Not the way Ronin did.

Stop thinking about him.

"So, Jake, I admit I've got a total mental blank about what you do for a living."

"We bankers are either villains or ghosts."

"Now I remember. Investment banking."

"Specializing in small businesses," he added.

She smiled at Lucas. Equally attractive. Sandy brown hair, green eyes, freckles, and dimples, but she felt no zing of attraction. "And how about you?"

"Professional mud wrestler. This is the cleanest I've been in weeks." He paused and grinned. "Just kidding. I run an at-risk management system for kids with a history of truancy."

"That's noble. Does the program keep them in school?"

"Our attendance numbers have gone up significantly, which is encouraging, and they increased our budget this year. Not to bring up business at a social event, but we're looking at upgrading our existing pamphlets with a hipper design to appeal to our demographic. The kids complain what we've got is lame and straight out of the 80s. Since you own a graphic design business, would you be interested in pitching an idea?"

Amery never turned down the possibility for new work. "I'd love to. Can you get me copies of the existing brochures and all your promotional materials?"

Lucas said, "Hey, Chaz, buddy, can you come here and bring your murse?"

Jake snorted. "Watch him get bent out of shape about his man purse."

"It's not a murse, you moron. And you don't get to make fun of my messenger bag since you asked me to put something in it," Chaz sniped. He lightly whapped Lucas on the back of the head with it before dropping it on the table.

"Sorry." Lucas turned and grinned at Amery. "Just because it doesn't have flowers and rhinestones on it doesn't mean it's not a purse."

Amery bit her cheek to keep from laughing.

"Anyone need anything from the kitchen?" Chaz asked. When no one answered he disappeared into the roof-access doorway.



       
         
       
        

Lucas slid the envelope in front of her. "It's all right here, including my contact info. Take a look and let me know either way if it's something you'd be interested in. We could discuss specifics over lunch."

"Thank you. I will." They discussed national ad campaigns, arguing good-naturedly about the impact of social media versus traditional media outlets.

Jake made the time-out sign. "The truth is no one knows what works." He beamed at Amery. "I'd be happy to discuss what does work in the business world-having your banker as a partner. I'd love the chance to pitch to you on why you should switch your business banking to Western National."