new friendship, but our main alliance will be with Remi.
“What about tonight?”
“Tonight she’ll introduce the world to the new owners of Gemini Studios. The main studio production will stay in California, but the management offices will be here. With the incentives the state’s offering to film in New Orleans, we’ve become Hollywood South. It’s the perfect vehicle for us to launder money so it’s a good investment.”
Emma could tell their talk was almost over, because Cain was breathing differently under her wandering hand. “Has anyone figured out who owns the other forty-nine percent?”
“Not yet.” Cain laughed. “When they do they’ll just think your father’s finally decided to spend some of that milk money he’s been hoarding.”
“You’re a riot, mobster,” Emma said as she pinched Cain’s nipple. “Anything else we need to talk about?”
“I see a long discussion about how many orgasms you’ll have before we need to dress for tonight.”
“What are the odds it’s more than one?”
“Let’s just say that’s the safest bet you’ll ever lay,” Cain said as her hand went down the front of Emma’s jeans. Emma stiffened when Cain stroked her clitoris firmly. “See, there’s one already.” Cain chuckled.
*
“Mano, cut the third degree. I met the woman on the way back from Florida and that’s it. I don’t have time for anyone in my life right now, thanks to all we have going on.” She finished pouring the last drink and handed it to him. “I’m giving this venture a year or two. That’s how long it’ll take to turn Gemini around and hand it off to someone we trust, or sell it.”
“In life anything’s possible, Remi. You just have to want it bad enough.”
Remi puffed her cigar and for some reason thought of Dallas Montgomery and how impossibly blue her eyes were. “Maybe, but I’m not looking for anything here. I’m just curious.”
She picked up the tray and headed out to her parents’ patio to join the rest of the group. When she saw Molly, Lisa, and Mano’s wife Sylvia sitting together with an empty space for her, she almost turned around.
“Come sit by us, lover,” Lisa said.
“I don’t know, who’ll protect my virtue?” Remi asked. Her brother as well as her partners knew their women were safe from Remi’s considerable charm, but the girls liked to exercise her wit when they had the chance.
Molly picked up one of Remi’s hands and asked, “How are you going to win the hand of the fair Dallas?”
Remi squeezed Molly’s hand and said, “Back off, I mean it. You all leave that poor woman alone. Dealing with Dick must be a full-time job, and we won’t add to her load.”
“Remi, starting tonight you’ll be in the limelight more. It’ll affect your reputation with the ladies if you show up at places alone. You don’t want people to think you’ve lost your touch, do you?” Sylvia wheedled.
“Who said I’m going anywhere alone? Thanks for your concern, though.”
As if on cue all the wives said, “Well, who is it?”
Loving the game and being a master of patience, Remi smiled, then got up and walked to her open briefcase. After she pulled out a local magazine, an issue dealing with a new line of swimwear, she held it up.
Dwayne’s voice rose to a scary octave when he looked at the woman on the cover. “Get the fuck out of here. You’re taking Susan Wilkins to this thing tonight?”
“I met her a month ago on one of my visits to the new studio offices. The magazine was using the pool on the roof to shoot the December cover. Juno, Simon, and I were taking a little tour and stopped to watch. During one of the breaks she came over and introduced herself. She’s really a nice girl, so I called and asked if she wanted to go with me tonight.” Remi smiled at the open-mouthed men and took a sip of her beer.
“Did she mention any friends?” Steve asked, looking at the beautiful African-American model on the cover. He stopped asking any further stupid questions when Lisa delivered a blow to his head.
“What’s Dallas going to think when you show up with bikini girl?” Molly asked.
“I’m not seeing Dallas, so why does it matter?” Remi dropped the magazine and took her seat. “I’m not kidding—no matchmaking from you three.”
“Of course not,” Lisa said.
“We wouldn’t dream of it,” Molly followed.
“You have our word,” Sylvia finished.
“I’ve seen cobras look more sincere,” Remi said. “I’d think you’d have your hands full dealing with these fools.” She pointed at the guys and laughed as all three raised their middle fingers in salute. “Come on, let’s get this over with, and remember, no comments or interviews for the press. We don’t need to become front-page news and give the feds an unfair advantage.”
Chapter Eight
“You need to wear the green Vera Wang tonight. You know, the one with the low-cut back,” Bob said, rummaging through Dallas’s closet. She’d passed on the room at the Piquant for the night, just wanting to go home. “We need the upper hand with this lowlife, and from the way those bitches waxed poetic about him, he seems like the type who thinks with his dick.”
Hearing
“Watch your tone.”
