“But the fact remains that Nick needs an out,” Dean said, dumping ketchup over his fries. “I realize that legal or civil action may or may not prove gratifying in the end, but right now—” He pointed at Nick. “He needs money. And lots of it. Otherwise, we’re going to have to start paying for our lunches.”
Chuckles traveled around the table, infecting even Nick. “I’ve tried everywhere short of a lone shark, guys.” Nick shook his head. “I can’t get a loan.”
“Maybe what you need to do is stop thinking about getting a loan and start thinking about selling a small percentage of the restaurant to a silent partner,” Ken suggested. “Not a huge chunk of it. Just enough to pay off the actual debts Ginny racked up for you.”
“What about his savings? She wiped him out of well over fifty grand.” By the tone of his voice, Dean didn’t like the idea of Nick just cutting his losses.
“Look, if Nick wants to retain control of this restaurant,” Ken said, “he’s going to have to chalk some of this up to lost causes.”
Nick started nodding. “Yeah…I see where you’re going with this. Find an investor to sell just enough of the restaurant to pay off the bank fees, the line of credit, and the suppliers. But more importantly, Hang Ten is still mine.”
Nick ran a quick tally in his head. A hundred and fifty thou should do it. He’d have zip to fall back on, but maybe the bank would let him keep his line of credit.
“Great.” Nick clapped his hands together. “Now where am I gonna find an investor in this economy?”
All of Nick’s friends’ ogling eyes drifted toward the door. He glanced over his shoulder to see what they found so fascinating.
Deidra pulled open the front door of Hang Ten. The cool air blowing past Lecie nearly carried away her courage. Camille and Tasha were sure that Dean was going to accept Lecie’s proposal, so long as he wasn’t involved with someone. Yeah, right. Since when is a hot guy like Dean not involved?
Lecie was already on the verge of running when she glanced around the restaurant and saw Nick, Dean, and two other guys she’d seen them dining with in the past. Great. Nick and all his friends were here to witness her humiliation.
“Camille,” Lecie whispered as they lingered near the “please wait to be seated” sign. “I’m thinking this is not such a great idea.”
Camille looked at her with a stoic face. “So you’re ready to go home?” she asked. “Back to France?”
No. Lecie wasn’t prepared for that either. She felt a groan rumble up her throat. Damn Papa anyway. “All right.” She folded her arms at her waist and stiffened. “It’s just not that easy.”
Keri approached the group, grabbing four menus. “Ladies…how are we today?”
Goods and fines came in staggering replies.
“Your regular booth?” Keri asked, looking at Lecie. She nodded. Keri gestured and cut a path toward the rear of the dining room. Lecie and the others followed.
Once they had settled into the booth and ordered a round of lemon drop martinis, Keri left and all eyes turned to the table off in the corner filled with men.
“The owner of this place…?” Tasha inquired. “What’s his name?”
“Married.” Lecie cut her eyes to Tasha. “His name is married.”
“Well that may be.” Tasha giggled. “But he is delicious—” She looked at Camille. “Isn’t he?”
“Oh, yeah.” Camille said, grinning. “Now we know why Lecie and Deidra like to come here.” Both women laughed.
Lecie waved her hand in the air. “Remember me?” she asked. “The sister-in-law…to both of you, I might add.”
“Oh, good Lord…” Deidra grumbled, glancing around the restaurant. “There’s nothing wrong with looking.”
“Thank you.” Camille and Tasha said in unison.
Then Camille took it solo, saying, “Guys do it all the time. Why can’t we?”
Tasha gave Lecie one of those reproaching looks. “I love your brother dearly, but I can still appreciate a nice looking man when I see one.” She smiled and her eyes drifted back over to Nick’s table. “Even married ones.”
“Speaking of married…” Deidra’s eyes fell over the restaurant again, looking troubled. “Where is Ginny? It’s not like her to not be here.” She gave the guys’ table another quick once-over and then looked back at Lecie. “She’s always here stalking Nick.”
“She doesn’t need to stalk him anymore. She’s his wife now.” Lecie took a sip of her drink to get the bitter taste of her words out of her mouth.
“And if you don’t want to head back to France pronto,” Tasha said. “You’d better turn into somebody’s wife real quick.”
Lecie replied, “That’s easier said than done.”
Tasha shrugged. “You just go up to the guy and say, you want to make a quick, what…hundred thou…for a few months of your time?” She glanced at the table of men, then turned back to Lecie. “He looks like he could put a hundred grand to good use.”
“Easier said than done.” Lecie repeated her mantra, but with more tenacity this time. She knew what she had to do. She got that she was dealing with Papa—a man who never played fair. Finding a husband, even a temporary one, was her only hope. But that didn’t make the task any easier.
“Nonsense.” Tasha rolled her eyes.
Lecie nearly laughed out loud and began shaking her head. Easy for Tasha to say, she wasn’t the one who had to walk up to Dean and make the proposal.
“Want me to prove it?” Tasha asked.
Lecie narrowed her eyes and studied Tasha. Was she serious? Maybe Lecie should call her bluff. “You going to propose for me?” Lecie chuckled.
Tasha elbowed Camille. “Let me up.” She followed Camille out of the booth, stood over the table and said to Lecie, “Watch and learn.” She gave Lecie a wink before turning and heading toward the table with Nick and his friends.
The booth of blondes and their lone brunette friend had been a favorable topic at the guys’ table, ever since they’d walked in. Dean didn’t miss the fact that Nick’s eyes were staying on the cute little blonde a little longer than usual today. The one who’d been coming into the restaurant for the last few weeks with the darker haired girl. He took it as a good sign that Nick was showing some interest in a new woman. Maybe she could help him move on.