Page 2 (1/2)
Max was out to ether what the public wanted and in the art of delegating, he had told Nikki He’d had the cash to start up the business, she’d had the ability and the knowledge When he’d hired her, she’d suggested bringing in Julian, who’d been her best friend forever As they’d prospered, they’d added the rest
Nikki was Max’s nuuides, then for training them It worked out well, since Max didn’t particularly like to stick around and run the business Max liked hisother people work for hi in Colorado
"That took long enough," Patricia said as they approached the table
"Nikki was flirting," Andy teased
"Oh?" Patricia Broussard had been born and bred in Cajun country, and, like Andy, she had long dark hair Her eyes were equally dark, and her grin was entirely iuy?"
"Very ave a buave him a twenty," Andy corrected
"He looked like he needed it," Nikki said quickly as Julian stared at her in surprise
"Actually, he looked like he ht be pretty handsoave a bum a twenty?" Mitch, their out-of-towner, a blonde fro a lot more in tips than I am"
"She’s cuter," Patricia told him
"He just seeet past this moment, shall we?"
"No, I like this conversation All work and no play, Nikki… " Nathan, as living with Patricia, teased
"Actually," Patricia said, eyeing Julian and then Nikki, "h," Julian said
"Thanks," Nikki told him
"No, no, that wasn’t about you," Julian protested quickly
"I know," Nikki assured him She stared at Patricia "It’s just that we’ve known each other forever It’s like a brother/sister thing Now can we get down to business?"
But Nathan grinned, leaning forward "Nikki, forget business We’ve got to get you set up with sohed deeply "I do not want to be set up with anyone"
"Her last excursion into ah "But, then, I did tell her not to date the creep"
"I’ve never seen you date," Patricia told her
"That’s because she hasn’t in nearly a year," Julian informed them
"What? Why, that’s… un-A her teeth "He wasn’t a creep He just wanted to go off to Hollywood and get rich and fa and support hiendas," Nikki said firmly "I love this business and I love New Orleans I like California, but I want to live here He really wasn’t a jerk"
"Not a total jerk," Patricia interjected "He was really good looking, and he could be really sweet"
"Sweet?" Mitch queried politely
"Flowers, opening doors… the little things But in the big things, he wanted his oay"
"See, I just don’t think that she felt that thing for hi… but when it’s just not there, it’s just not there," Nathan said
"Yeah, but if you always had to wait for it to be there," Mitch laughed, "I’d spend a lot hts alone than I already do No wonder you’re so tense, Nikki"
"I’et off it, she’ll talk to Max and see that your ass is fired," Patricia warned sweetly
"Ouch!" Mitch said
"Guys, please," Nikki said "I’, and I take ht noe need to worry about work, okay?"
Julian turned to Andy "Just how decent would this bum of hers be if we cleaned hihtfully "He just looked… down on his luck"
"Okay, guys, playti wasn’t that much of a creep, just a little self-centered I had no intention of going anywhere with him, so it was fun, but it’s over And thanks, but I don’t want to date the bum I’m fine I love my apartuys I’m normal, not tense, and when I want to date, I will"
"Maybe she’s working the strip clubs at night under an alias," Mitch teased She shot hireen eyes He lifted his hands "I’ot notes from Max Mitch, you’re welco as you validate it first Julian, if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable on the walks, tell them you’re ed "That’s what Max said to tell you He said it works for hi to pick up old Max?" Julian demanded