One Night With Her Read Free

with a
bright smile.
    “And now there’s something else we need to
talk about,” Henry began, steepling his fingers together, his tone
shifting to serious as he motioned for someone to join them at the
bar—a suited man with black hair, and a blue-and-red striped tie.
Only politicians wore such ties. Jack tensed; politics was not his
favorite playground.
    “Jack, I want to introduce you to Marquita’s
brother, Paul Denkler. He’s running for city councilman in our neck
of the woods and he’s been focused on safe streets, schools and a
balanced budget. But somehow that message has been subverted by his
opponent, who’s decided to fight below the belt and attack our
business. If Paul doesn’t win, it could be very bad for business,”
Henry said, and Jack’s ears pricked at the words bad for
business . He didn’t like those words. Not one bit. He preferred good for business , so if this fellow played on the good
side, then he’d hear him out.
    “Lay it on me,” Jack said, and a meeting
about selling The Mona quickly became something else entirely.
    * * *
    The deal had been signed. The new product
would have both prominent in-store and online placement, and Jack
had promised an extra shipment for Marquita and Henry’s personal
stash. The undecided part? How he felt about Denkler. How he felt
about getting involved in politics. He didn’t have a thorny past
with a politician; he didn’t have a senator dad he detested. He
simply followed the news, and knew that politics was a slimy, dirty
battlefield. Jack had served his country for six years and that was
about the extent of his interest in matters of state. This thing
with Denkler, though—it wasn’t a matter of state, so much as a
matter of business, and a matter of personal business. Jack cared
deeply about Henry; the man was a business partner, and had been
through hell and back during the past year as his wife battled and
beat breast cancer.
    What pissed him off was the opponent’s
tactics, and how the other guy was going after Paul Denkler through
his brother-in-law’s business, which had nothing to do with the
race. That was underhanded, and that didn’t sit well with Jack.
    But whatever he decided to do, he’d do it
with Casey on board. The two were a team, and always had been, so
he’d have to table Henry’s request until he spoke with his sister
and laid it all out for her. For now, he shoved thoughts of
politics and campaigns and consequences aside. Henry and Marquita
were off to a dinner meeting, and Jack was alone, so he settled in
at the bar and ordered a vodka tonic, scrolling through his phone
as he waited for his drink.
    He’d been planning on having a drink with
his good buddy Nate tonight, but Nate had to work late on a
last-minute deal. They’d agreed to still meet tomorrow morning for
a round of hoops before work. That meant Jack’s agenda for the rest
of the evening was simple—a quick drink, then he’d watch some of
the Yankees game from the comfort of his living room. Those twin
activities would help him crash later, because he sure could use a
decent night’s sleep before the appointment that Casey had arranged
tomorrow at two. Just the thought of dealing then with the shit
that was in his head gave him an ulcer, but he knew Casey would
kick his ass if he didn’t give it a shot.
    She wanted him to start dating again. She’d
told him the upcoming charity event they were sponsoring next month
for breast cancer research would be the perfect time to get back on
the market, or at the very least, to slough off all his regret from
the past. As if that were possible. But Casey had her mind set. She
seemed ready and eager to get him back on the scene, judging from
the story link she’d just emailed him. The note was titled, New
York’s Most Eligible Bachelors.
    Look! You’re on the list! Sex-toy mogul Jack
Sullivan tops this year’s list of the city’s most eligible
bachelors in business. Don’t you think he needs a new woman