Taming the Carefree Billionaire - Marie Higgins Page 0,5
usually women Thomas and Cole brought with them on occasions.
“It depends,” Thomas flirted, moving closer to her, “on if you’re available.” He winked.
Her cheeks flushed. “My answer is the same each time you’ve asked me. I’m working, so I’m unavailable at the moment.”
Thomas looked at Cole, shaking his head. “Why is she always working?”
The redhead chuckled and escorted them to a table overlooking the golf course. “Maybe I won’t be working next time.”
“I can only dream.” Thomas took his seat.
“Enjoy your lunch,” she said before leaving.
“Okay, now tell me,” Thomas picked up his menu, “where I can find the camerawoman.”
Cole removed his cowboy hat and placed it on the seat next to him before lifting his menu. His gaze moved over the thickly laminated paper. “All I know is that her name is Morgan and she takes photos for a living.”
Thomas didn’t want to get upset, mainly because his headache from this morning would return. He breathed in slowly and deeply. “I’m sure your brother knows more. Will you call him?”
“Already did.” Cole paused as his gaze zeroed in on something. “Oh, this looks good. I think I’ll have the turkey and bacon club sandwich with avocado.”
Thomas clenched his teeth. He wanted to yell at his friend and tell him to focus... although, that sandwich did sound appetizing. “You already talked to your brother?”
“Yep.” Cole set the menu on the table. “I asked him how he met her. He told me he bumped into her when he was involved in a car accident. My brother had to stay to give the police his statement. She was there taking pictures. My brother and this woman chatted for a few minutes. He asked her to come to the casino as his date.”
“And all your brother knows is her name is Morgan?”
“Yep.” Cole tapped his fingers on the table.
“I’m confused. Your brother spent a few hours with her and yet he doesn’t know her last name or where she works?”
Cole chuckled and pushed his light brown hair off his forehead. “Tell me, my friend. At what point during your first date with a girl do you find out her last name and occupation?”
Grumbling to himself, Thomas glanced over his menu. He hated it when Cole was right. Thomas also hated to look like a fool. “She took pictures of me and sold them to a newspaper without my consent.”
“That’s why they are called paparazzi.”
“I know,” Thomas snapped.
“She also sold a few more of your pictures to other trashy tabloids.”
“What?” His voice lifted as he slammed the menu on the table, knocking his knuckles against the table too hard. “What other papers?”
Cole tilted his head sympathetically. “Does it matter? The deed has been done.”
Thomas forced himself to calm his anger. He really didn’t want his head hurting any more than it was already. “No, it doesn’t matter.” He sighed. “I just wish I knew where she worked so I could go talk to her. She has no right—”
“They do if they have a license.”
Thomas scowled. “Will you stop making sense?”
Cole chuckled and turned his focus to the waitress coming to their table. He gave her his order as Thomas quickly scanned the menu again. Nothing sounded good right now. Any kind of food wouldn’t taste good while he was still upset over the mysterious lady. He gave his order to the waitress and she left.
“Hey,” Cole said, resting his elbows on the edge of the table. “I’m really sorry about your loss. Twenty-grand is a lot of money.”
“Those dice were rigged, I tell ya,” Thomas chuckled, trying to change his sour mood. “I demand a repeat of Friday night but this time, I win.”
Cole shook his head. “My brother assured me that nothing was rigged.”
“And you believed him?”
Cole shrugged. “He’s my brother. I should believe him. Besides,” his gaze moved to his menu, “your loss went to a good cause.”
Thomas snorted. “How do you figure that?”
“You helped someone else win big, and they probably needed the money more.”
Thomas rubbed his forehead and moved his attention to the window. Men and women were out on the manicured green grass of the golf course enjoying their day. The glaring sun was already promising to turn into a scorching afternoon here in the Napa Valley.
The waitress returned with their drinks. Thomas picked up his ice-water and sipped. Just off to the side on the outdoor patio stood a short, rotund, balding man. His outfit was what caught Thomas’ attention. He’d seen this man before, but his still