where three suits had been waiting. Her glimmering platinum hair was chopped shoulder length, and she had on some sort of purple makeup that looked like war paint.
“Oh Mama,” Quinn said. “What would you do to that one?”
“How long do I get?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“I’d turn her more ways than a monkey can turn a coconut.”
He looked at me. “Can I make an observation?”
“Please do.”
“You’re saying all the right things about these chicks, but your heart’s not in it.”
“Like I said, tonight’s more of a test drive.”
“You know what you need? You need to get your pipes cleaned. You’re in my town, let me make a call. Right now you’re sitting in a steakhouse, but you’re only thirty minutes away from the best night of your life.”
“What’s her name?”
“Her
I shrugged. “I’m a detail guy.”
“You are that,” he said. “Her name is Heavenly.”
“What makes this hooker better than all the rest?”
He did that smile thing with his face, and when he did it, I smiled too.
“She got a friend for you?” I said.
“Her roommate’s Delight.”
“Heavenly Delight, huh? What are they, a tag team?
He cuffed me on the arm. “I won’t pretend I don’t know,” he said.
We sat in silence awhile, me thinking again about how we’re all just a phone call away from a life-changing event. Quinn’s eyes fairly danced with anticipation, like a kid hoping I’d take him to get ice cream.
“What the hell,” I said. “Make the call.”
“Really? That’s great! You won’t be sorry!”
He stepped away from the table. A moment later he returned, still on the phone, but didn’t sit down. I heard a click.
“Tell me you didn’t just take my picture,” I said. He pointed behind me. “Chick with the boobs.” He pressed a few buttons, ended his call.
We finished our fine dinner with a sauterne as rich and thick on the tongue as syrup.
“That some kind of wine?” Quinn said. “Are you kidding me?”
“It is and I’m not.”
“Tastes more like desert. What is it?”
“Lafaurie Peyraguey,” I said, showing off my French accent.
“Those words could never come out of this fucked-up mouth of mine,” he said, “but I can see why it’s your favorite.”
“Actually, purists prefer Chateau d’Yquem.”
