“We can rectify that, too, unless you don’t want to?”
“I’d love to see one. But I don’t know if I want to gamble.” She wrinkles her small nose.
It’s cute. And I can read her thoughts—the money. Evie is incredibly frugal. She brings a packed lunch every day, and never drinks those fancy concoctions from cafés around the office. I suspect everything she owns came from a clearance rack, and she drives a modest car.
“We can play a few hands.” The casino is going to be disappointed, but they’ll live. “You’ll enjoy it. You know how to play blackjack?”
“Yeah… But nothing too high stakes.”
“You’ll change your mind when you start to win,” I tease.
“The house always wins. Otherwise nobody would be operating casinos.”
“Over time, yeah. But short term, who knows? Besides, it’s an experience you should have, especially since it’s your first time in Vegas. I’ll front it. Part of the date package.”
Chapter Fifteen
Evie
The restaurant is fantastic, totally fancy and expensive. I pretend not to see the prices on the menu so I can actually order something to eat. Nate is relaxed and, again, greets the maître d’ by name while slipping him some money.
I watch him peruse the wine list, liking his semi-casual look. It still amazes me that the man can’t pick out his own clothes, but wears them so well. He’s rolled up his sleeves, exposing his arms almost to the elbows. They’re muscular, defined and utterly hot. I watch them flex every time he turns a page on the list, picks up his water glass, adjusts his napkin. It’s really too bad men don’t know how sexy forearms are. Forearm and hand pics would get them so many more women than dick pics.
In my peripheral vision, through a huge bay window, I can see photographers lurking outside. A few took photos, but they weren’t too obnoxious. Probably saving the obnoxiousness up for later. When I’m stupid and relaxed, they’re going to pounce, I’m sure of it.
Shouldn’t they be hanging out at that chapel across from our hotel? I’m sure some drunk and/or high celebrities are getting married there even now. That’s gotta be more newsworthy than me and Nate eating dinner.
Regardless, I do my best to ignore them and enjoy the moment. I’ve never had a chance to eat with Nate one on one like this, even though I’ve been working for him for months. It’s mainly my doing. I bring my own lunch, and Nate eats out. He asked if I wanted to have lunch together a few times, but stopped when I declined. I don’t know what billionaires have for lunch, but I’m pretty sure it’s something fancy, and I didn’t want to impose.
Although it’s a fake date, the company is fabulous. If Nate weren’t my boss, I’d definitely be open to more with him.
Yeah, because a girl like you runs into billionaires like him all the time.
Okay, maybe not. But still…a girl can daydream, even though the kind of women he’s usually seen with are the exact opposite of me—wealthy, extroverted, classy and model gorgeous. It’s a pretty sure bet that none of them ever puked on a reporter’s shoes.
While we’re dining, Nate amuses me with stories about him and his family. And the horrible pranks he pulled in college.
“You never got into trouble for that?” I ask, laughing at one particularly clever practical joke he pulled on an “asshole stats professor.” The nerve it took to shred everyone’s midterm and turning the resulting confetti into a gummy-worm-filled piñata is… Wow.
“Nope. He could never prove it was me.”
“But didn’t he try to flunk you?” Some teachers can be petty.
“How? I aced every test.” He winks.
“So if you’re good at business and data analysis, why didn’t you go into the main business at Sterling & Wilson? I mean, if I’m not being too presumptuous by asking.”
Nate sips his wine and smiles. “Nah, it’s fine.
Somebody had to take over the charity part of the family fortune. Justin was chosen to lead Sterling & Wilson’s for-profit side. He’s great at that, and there isn’t room for two top dogs. Big egos, you know?”
“You? Ego?” I ask, surprised. Not to say that he doesn’t have a bit of healthy self-regard, but he could be utterly insufferable, given his background.
“We all have it. We just don’t pound on our chests or anything because, you know, it hurts the ribs. The thing is, I enjoy my work, so there’s no reason to try to run the for-profit side. I don’t have to make any big decisions that affect meeting a profit target.” He shudders like it’s the most horrible thing that he could be doing. “The most complex thing I have to do is come up with a budget and make sure we’re spending the money responsibly. Like I told Justin, all the benefits of the family fortune with none of the responsibility.” The grin on his face is boyishly charming.
Except he’s downplaying what he does. He might call it “none of the responsibility,” but he takes his work seriously. And what he does is just as important as what his older brother does. I wonder if it’s the laid-back attitude that makes him so compassionate and good, even if he doesn’t like to advertise the fact. To him, the world is full of abundance, and there’s no reason not to share the bounty with everyone.
After the final course of port and cheese—which taste like pure heaven—Nate charges the dinner to his credit card and tips the server with cash. I used to waitress when I was in Dillington, and I appreciate the gesture.