Free Romancing Tommy Gabrini by Mallory Monroe Page B

going over at
Trammel for years.   You’re what we call a
‘Jillian territory’ client.”
    Tommy
smiled.   “A what?”
    “Jillian
territory.   She said guys like you are
offended if people of a lower rank than hers have any dealings with you.   So she does all the wheeling and dealing with
you and a handful of other clients.    But
I’ve seen you around for years.”
    Tommy
was a little taken aback.   He never
recalled seeing her, not ever.   But if
Jillian was safeguarding him as Grace suggested, he would understand why.
    “But
these two guys here,” Grace moved on, “are my two closest friends.”
    “I’m
her best friend,” Nayla said, “and he’s the wannabe.”
    “Forget
you,” Jamie said.   Then he moved closer
to Tommy.    “So what are your intentions,”
he asked, “regarding our Grace?”
    Nayla
looked alarmed.   Grace laughed.
    “Yeah,”
Grace said in a playful spirit, “what are your intentions?”
    Tommy
held up his hands.   “I come in peace,” he
said.
    “Yeah,
right,” Jamie said half-jokingly.   “That’s what those bank robbers said who robbed that bank the other
day.   They said they came in peace, too,
and then robbed those poor people blind.   So can you honestly tell us that you don’t have a robbery on your mind?”
    “Oh,
I’ve got it on my mind,” Tommy said to great laughter from Jamie and
Grace.  
    Then
Tommy looked at Grace.   “But only if
she’s willing to be taken.”
    Jamie
smiled.   He liked that response.   He liked it a lot.   “You’re all right,” he said with a nod of his
head.
    Nayla,
however, wasn’t sold.   She looked at
Grace, but then stared at Tommy.

 
    An
hour later and Tommy and Nayla found themselves the only two still seated at
the long center table.   Grace was dancing
with Jamie, and their other friends were on the dance floor, too.   Nayla took her drink and moved to the seat
next to Tommy.
    Tommy
smiled.   “So you’re the best friend?”
    “That’s
right,” Nayla said proudly.   “Since we
were kids in middle school.”
    “You’re
still kids,” Tommy said.
    Nayla
laughed hysterically.   It was so
exaggerated, in fact, that Tommy just stared at her.
    “But
for real,” Nayla said when she settled back down, “I’m actually older than
Grace.”
    Tommy
looked at her.   What did that have to do
with anything?   “Are you?”
    “Actually
I am.   I’m four years older than she
is.   Most people think she’s older, can
you believe it?   They’re always telling
me how I look younger and prettier and some guys even have the nerve to say how
Grace doesn’t even compare to me.”
    Tommy
continued to look at her.   He knew a
come-on when he saw one.  
    “You
should hear them,” Nayla went on.   “Just
because I have hazel eyes and she doesn’t, and I like a good time when Grace
wouldn’t know one if it bit her in the butt.”   She laughed at this.   “But I don’t
know.   What do you think?   Would you prefer a good time girl, or a
prude?”
    Tommy
gently stirred the liquid in his glass so that the Angostura bitters of his gin
and tonic would blend.   Then he took a
sip sat his glass back on the table.   “I
prefer Grace,” he said and then looked Nayla dead in the eye so that they could
fully understand each other.   Because he
wanted to be clear: he wasn’t going to be fucking around with her.
    Nayla
felt a twinge of embarrassment when he looked at her that way, as if she was
begging his ass, but she managed to smile and lift her glass just the
same.   She knew when to hold’em.  
    “Here’s
to Grace,” she said, and he did lift his glass in acknowledgement of her
toast.   But he quickly turned his
attention away from Nayla, and back to Grace.   Which was fine by Nayla because she wasn’t impressed.   Not with his good looks, not with his
beautiful hair, not with his fancy clothes and jewelry.   There was something hard-edged about Tommy
Gabrini.   Something