Static filled the line, and then Bishop let out a laugh. “No way. Same goes. Who is she?”
“Who is yours?” I countered, not wanting to go there yet.
As close as Bishop and I were, too much was in chaos right now. I didn’t want to say too much about Ryan. It seemed wrong somehow. It should be private, at least for a bit. Personal.
Just ours.
Too much of it had already been up for my father’s consumption due to his interruption. I wasn’t about to gossip to Bishop.
He sighed and the sound was decidedly misty for my normally non-emotional best friend. He’d certainly had his share of pain in his past, which he rarely liked to talk about. That included not getting too involved in his personal relationships. In a lot of ways, he was like my brother. He was more discriminating than Dex, but he never stayed lonely for long.
I understood all too well why he didn’t want to be, after what he’d dealt with.
“She’s amazing. Seriously amazing. We’ve been wrapped up in each other for days. We barely break to eat. Unless it’s off each other. I put slices of pineapple on her—”
I held up a hand, but he obviously couldn’t see me. “I get the picture. And normally, I’d say I was jealous, but I’m pretty pleased with my own situation right now. Mine is also local.”
“Yeah. That is a problem.” He paused. “I’m thinking of asking her to come back with me.”
My eyes widened. Something was definitely in the air, even on the other side of the world. “To live with you?”
“Well, she doesn’t have to move in right away, but she could. Why not, right? I like this feeling. Hell, I love this feeling. She’s incredible, Pres. Just the sound of her laughter makes me grin like an idiot.”
&n
bsp; “You know, you’re on a tropical island. I think the hotels pump drugs into the air conditioning system so you spend all your money. Falling for some pretty girl in a lei is just the next step.”
His laughter was quick. “Not in Hawaii, son. No leis. But she wears the fuck out of a bikini. Like I can’t even tell you.”
For a moment, I let myself imagine Ryan in a bikini. Hot pink, to offset her dark hair, jewel eyes, and olive skin.
I shifted on the edge of my desk at my definite discomfort down south. Would she like to go to the South Pacific? I should ask.
And hey, look at that, my schedule was opening up.
“You’ll have to connect me with your travel agent.”
“Oh, is that so? Thinking of finally taking a vacation in oh, 2024 or so?” Bishop teased.
“I’ll have more time on my hands much sooner than that, coincidentally enough.”
Not that I wouldn’t be working. I couldn’t not work. It was in my DNA. I’d just be taking more time to play, especially if I could figure out how to convince Ryan to play with me.
Innuendo absolutely intended.
“Why is that? Your dad’s retiring anytime now, isn’t he?”
“Yes. And so am I. Well, not retiring. But I gave my notice.”
“Notice of what?”
My lips twitched around a smile. “Has too much sex dulled your hearing?”
“Dude, maybe. I’m not sure half my senses are still working. But what a damn way to go. Now what exactly are you talking about? Use small words. I’m exhausted.”
“My heart breaks for you.” I had to grin. “I quit. I’m no longer a partner of Shaw, Shaw, and Shaw. Guess they’re going to have to change that name, huh?”
We would’ve had to anyway once my father officially retired, but now the firm wouldn’t only be made up of Shaws. It would be Shaw and Stone, assuming Bishop didn’t run off with his cabana girl and never returned to Kensington Square.