“Did she offer you a trip or something? Jewelry? I always wanted to know what she does to make the girls go out with him? Did she tell you that this was the only way you’d be able to bag a man like Charlie Hampton so you better make it count?”
I blinked at the drunk man. “Sounds like a bitch,” I said. He laughed, throwing his head back and clutching his gut.
“She has her moments. You don’t look like the girls she usually picks up for Charlie.”
I frowned. “Thanks. I think.”
“No, I mean it’s a good thing,” I said. “I usually can’t stand Charlie’s girls.”
“Well, I’m not his girl. I’m more of his employee, really.”
He laughed. “That’s an interesting way to put it. Hey, you tell me if he’s messing about. I’ll sort him out for you,” he said. I nodded, amused. I kind of liked this guy. Charlie had interesting family members. But then again I was pretty sure that he negged me just now.
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Do you know where he is?” I asked.
“I was just about to ask you that,” he said. He went over to the bar and poured himself a generous serving of a brown liquid. More? Okay then. Far be it for me to ruin his good time. It was technically a Saturday night and it wasn’t even ten yet. The night was still young. “Let’s wait for him,” he said, plopping on one of the seats. I laughed. Okay, I really liked this guy.
“So, what do you do?” he asked. “What’s he paying you to do? You’re not his housekeeper, are you?”
I was just about to answer when the door opened.
“Ah, speak of the devil,” Niall said, jumping up to his feet. Charlie walked in with a priceless mask of confusion on his face.
“Niall, what are you doing here?”
“We were waiting for you,” he said.
“We?” he looked at me, then at Niall again. “You stink, are you drunk?” He took the drink from him.
“Me and your new girl were just talking about you. Weren’t we, pet?” he said, grinning at me. Charlie looked murderous.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No, I like this one. I never thought your mother would go as far as buying you a woman but she’s nice. Can we keep her?”
“My mother had nothing to do with this. She doesn’t even know Brenna.”
“Shut up,” Niall said. He started giggling. “If it wasn’t her then who? Your taste isn’t this good.”
“I… Brenna is my surrogate,” he said. Niall stopped laughing. He seemed to move a couple of degrees closer to sober.
“Your what? Don’t mess about. She’s your what?”
“My surrogate. Didn’t you say I should just bite the bullet and take matters into my own hands?”
“I didn’t think you would actually do it?”
“I was through with the mindless dates with mindless women.”
“So, paying a woman to carry your baby for you was better?” he asked in disbelief.
“You suggested it,” Charlie said smugly.
“It wasn’t a suggestion. I was just thinking out loud.” Niall fell into a chair dramatically. I couldn’t help it, I laughed. The men finally looked over, paying attention to me after their heated argument.
I stood up. “Anyone want some coffee?”
13