“Actually, Vec, it’s the Miami gallery I’m interested in.”
Her eyes were positively luminous. “Now you’ve got my attention. Why don’t we get together and discuss it?”
Austin patted the small of her back. “I’ll call to see what your schedule’s like. Are your numbers still the same?”
“They are. How long will you be around?”
“I’m trying to work about three deals.” Austin smoothed a hand across his close-shaven jaw and grinned sheepishly. “That’s why I’m meeting with this guy.” He jerked a thumb in Qasim’s direction. “Killing all my birds with the same stone and I’m even heading out to Robb’s party tonight.”
“Me, too.” Vectra slapped Austin’s arm.
He eyed her speculatively. “Guess I don’t need to ask whether you’ve got a date already?”
Vectra used a flippant shrug as her response. “Hope that doesn’t mean you won’t come? I’ll be there, and I’m sure my date won’t mind us talking for a while.”
“Mr. Wilder?”
Qasim, Austin and Vectra turned toward the host who had interrupted.
“Your table’s ready, sir,” the man announced.
Austin squeezed Vectra’s arm once the host had moved on. “I’ll take what I can get. See ya tonight.” He kissed her cheek, clapped Qasim’s arm. “See you at the table, man.”
“Shall we?” Vectra looked from Qasim to the dining room and back again.
“You’ve got a date to Robb’s party?” he asked.
Smug, Vectra leaned close, pretending to straighten Qasim’s tie. “Guess you didn’t get around to scaring everybody away from me.”
Qasim brought his hands to her waist, cupping her hips firmly enough to keep her still before him. “Don’t play this game with me, Vectra.”
“It’s not a game I started, Qasim, and since games aren’t my style, consider this as me coming clean.” She moved closer, silently commanding herself not to swoon over the feel of his hands on her body.
“We were friends. Good ones. I wanted more—by more, I mean that I wanted to sleep with you. You had to know that.” She searched his bottomless eyes for a moment before she continued. “Yeah...I believe you did, and you withdrew anyway. I can accept that, but then you tell everyone else to stay away from me like I’ve got the plague? No, Qasim, I’m not playing a game. I only have questions. I’m guessing the answers aren’t all that easy for you to give.”
She glanced toward his hands, smothering her waistline. “Excuse me?” She waited, walking away when he released her.
The attentive server smiled engagingly while Austin Sharpe praised Qasim for his banking skills. She then laughed good-naturedly when Qasim told her that given all the money he was making Austin she should expect him to leave her an outrageous tip.
“Seriously now, man, about these investments. Should I buy stock in all three?” Austin queried while adding a wealth of cream to his coffee.
“Not all three.”
“Uh-oh.” Austin grinned. “So which one didn’t make the cut?”
Qasim stirred his preferred black coffee. “None of them made the cut.”
Austin stilled, the mug halting halfway to his mouth. “You’re kidding?”
“No...but I could if you just really have a need to throw good money away on worthless stock.”
“Forget I asked.” Austin sipped on the beige-hued coffee.
“So what’s goin’ on in Miami?”
“New investors I’m trying to woo.” Austin pushed at the shock of blond hair that consistently fell across his forehead. “I want a mixer that’s off the beaten path, hence me wanting to use Vectra’s gallery in Miami Beach.”
“I didn’t know you knew her that well.” Qasim managed the comment in spite of his clenching jaw.
Austin nodded amidst a chuckle. “I was an intern for her dad’s company—the man’s brilliant. I have a lot of respect for Oscar Bauer.”
“Second that,” Qasim added.
“Hmph...for all the good it did me.” Austin sounded playfully distressed.
Qasim tilted his head. “How so?”
Austin shrugged. “Well, it’s important to bond with the father of your intended,” he smiled, “but that was useless since I fell into the dreaded realm of friendship.” He looked up as if to measure Qasim’s reaction. “You know what I mean.”
Qasim toasted the man with his mug. “Explain it to me.”
“Look at her, Sim.” Austin nodded across the sun-strewn dining room where Vectra sat with her father. “I mean, what guy in his right mind would want to be ‘just friends’ with her?”