The Power Trip

he didn’t like it. He didn’t like anyone poking around in his so-called love-life. It was nobody’s business but his.

‘Dessert?’ he asked stiffly.

‘Coffee,’ Xuan relied. ‘Black. Nothing fancy.’

‘It’ll keep you awake,’ he pointed out.

‘My problem, not yours.’

Standing by the table, Mai tapped her foot impatiently.

‘One black coffee, Mai,’ Flynn said, glancing up at her. ‘And do you have any of that delicious pie you keep for special customers?’

Mai softened as she sensed there was nothing going on between Flynn and the Asian woman. ‘For you,’ she said softly, ‘bien sur.’

‘Thanks, Mai.’ And he couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to sleep with the young French woman. She was certainly pretty enough, and from what he could tell she had a nice personality.

No — it wouldn’t work out. After a few weeks he’d end it and she’d be upset and hurt. Random hook-ups were not worth the trouble. Besides, he planned on still frequenting the bistro when he was in town, and like he’d told Xuan — do not shit where you eat. A firm rule to believe in.

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘Did you come?’ Cliff asked as he rolled over to his side of the bed. He wasn’t that concerned; on the other hand, he was not averse to a rave review.

‘Oh my God, did I!’ Lori responded, full of fake enthusiasm. She didn’t believe in lying unless it was absolutely necessary, only why tell one of the biggest movie stars in the world that once again he hadn’t hit a home run?

Cliff was okay in bed, although he was certainly no Superman. He was almost fifty years old and a textbook lover. Five minutes of foreplay, followed by a quick fuck, followed by her going down on him until he came in her mouth and woe betide if she didn’t swallow — that really pissed him off.

She knew why. He’d once relayed the story of a famous tennis player who’d allowed a random date in a restaurant to slip under the table and suck him off. But Random Date was smart: she hadn’t swallowed, she’d spat his sperm into a paper cup and rushed it to a friendly doctor who’d inseminated her, and voila! One successful paternity suit.

Cliff Baxter had to know exactly where his precious sperm was headed. And who could blame him?

It was almost a week after the coyote/sprained ankle incident. Lori was fully recovered, for that’s all it had been, a light sprain.

Cliff had filled her in about the amazing trip they were to take; he’d even sent her out with his personal stylist to purchase a few suitable outfits.

The thought of the Kasianenko yacht intimidated her. Everyone would either be very old, obscenely rich, or at the very least horribly famous. And there she’d be, just the girlfriend, for it was common knowledge that Cliff Baxter was a confirmed bachelor, who had no intention of ever getting married. He said so in every interview he ever gave, hammering the point home.

Being just the girlfriend was starting to get old. It occurred to Lori that he could dump her anytime, exactly like he’d done with the string of girls before her. It was a scary thought. What would she do? Where would she go?

Although Cliff paid for anything she wanted, he didn’t give her actual money. He had given her a Visa card with a five-thousand-dollar limit, and knowing Cliff, if they split, he’d cancel it immediately. Basically that meant she’d be as broke as when she’d entered into the relationship. He’d presented her with a few pieces of jewelry, nothing too expensive. Even the car she drove was only a lease — registered in his company’s name.

What could she do to secure her position?

Nothing much, except continue to please him.

Lately she’d been thinking about the young man who’d rescued her on the hike. Chip, with his strong thighs and rippling muscles. What a hunk. Was it wrong to fantasize about him while Cliff was on top of her?

Funny really, here she was getting boned by a man who millions of women lusted after, a man she’d once thought she’d loved, and her excitement level hovered at zero. What was wrong with her?

Nothing. She simply wasn’t into a man who was almost twenty-six years older than her and treated her like an accessory.

Why didn’t anyone ever mention the age gap when they were busy writing about them?

Because nobody wanted to get on Cliff Baxter’s bad side, that’s why.

* * *

It occurred to Cliff that Lori had not been as thrilled about going on a magnificent yacht as he’d expected her to be. He’d been prepared for fireworks and raging excitement. Instead he’d gotten a half-hearted, ‘Sounds great.’

Hmm… was Lori starting to take the good life for granted?

Was she getting blase?

No. Impossible. She was living a life she could only have dreamed about. She was with him, and he knew without a doubt that most women would give their left tit to be in that position. After all, he’d been voted Sexiest Man Alive in People two years in a row. He had an Oscar and an Emmy. A red-hot long- standing career. Three cars. A New York apartment. A mansion in Beverly Hills. A house in Tuscany. No ties to hold him down.

In short, he had the perfect life.

Or did he?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

A resounding trio of yeses. He had enough married friends to convince him that staying single was the only way to go. He’d worked hard for his money, and how many poor schmucks had he seen lose half of what they’d earned to some greedy soon-to-be ex who demanded everything.

He could understand if there were kids involved, since child support was a given. Other than that — forget it.

Was Lori reaching that all too familiar stage in their relationship where she wanted more?

Commitment.

The dreaded word.

No, thank you.

Cliff made a decision. He’d take her on the trip, make sure she had a wonderful time, and then when they returned to L.A., he’d ever so gently cut her loose.

Cliff Baxter would soon be back out there. Single and ready for the next adventure.

Chapter Twenty-Three

They went shopping. They spent a lot of money. Or rather Luca spent and Jeromy encouraged. They bought clothes and shoes and luggage from the designer stores, then finally they stopped by Cartier, where Luca gifted Jeromy with a black Seatimer Pasha watch for everyday use. At nighttime they both wore their gold Rolexes, but Jeromy had his eye on a more expensive model.

Luca didn’t get the hint. Instead, he bought Suga a diamond-encrusted bracelet as a consolation prize for her cut-short tour.

Jeromy tried not to look pissed off, although he was. When would Luca stop spending money on the fat cow?