Whiplash River by Lou Berney

Author:Lou Berney
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2012-10-23T14:31:49+00:00

Chapter 26

The spiky-haired guy, Gina’s assistant, darted after Quinn and tried to get in front of him.

Good luck with that, Shake thought.

Shake had concluded that his reunion with Gina couldn’t have gone any worse. Now, though, as Quinn wrapped her up in a big hug, he revised that assessment.

Shake realized that he’d really never, in all their time together, seen Gina at a loss for words.

“Bro!” the assistant said to Quinn.

“Quinn,” Shake said. “Let’s go.”

Quinn ignored both of them. He held Gina out at arm’s length and looked her over.

“What a peach! I was not properly briefed on the matter.”

Gina laughed. “I don’t think I’ve been briefed at all.”

“Bro!”

“Quinn. We’re done here.”

“Harrigan Quinn. Call me Harry.” He gave Gina a wink. “Or sweetheart. Or sugar pie, I’ll answer to either of those too.”

She laughed again. “Gina Clement,” she said. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Bro!” the assistant said, his face red. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“It’s okay, Brady,” Gina said. “I think.”

She looked at Shake. Shake shrugged. Quinn had already crossed to the couch and made himself at home.

“Who’s a guy gotta sleep with around here to a get an Arnold Palmer, on the rocks?”

“First one’s on the house today,” Gina said. “I’ll let you off the hook just this once.”

Quinn chuckled. “I knew I was gonna like you.”

Gina nodded to the assistant. He hesitated, then headed for the door. Shake stopped him.

“Don’t bother. We’re not staying.”

“Sure we are,” Quinn said. “Mind your manners, Shake.”

“Yes, Shake,” Gina said. “Mind your manners.”

Jesus Christ, Shake thought. He sat back down on the edge of the desk.

“I apologize for interrupting,” Quinn said. “I know you two have a lot to talk about. Shake filled me in, the broad strokes. I told him I’d been there myself and I have. If you’re human, you’ve been there. I’m right, aren’t I? You go there, you come back, you hope the journey makes you a better person. I think it’s made Shake a better person. I feel I can say that, Gina, knowing him now like I do.”

“Quinn,” Shake said, but Gina cut him off.

“Please, Harry,” she said. “I’d love to hear more about Shake’s journey.”

“When I was young man, younger even than you are now, Gina, I went abroad to pursue a certain career opportunity. Thailand, the land of smiles. And—you ever been there?—land of the most beautiful women on the planet. Present company excluded, of course.”

“Why, thank you.”

Quinn shot a twinkling glance at Shake, like, See how it’s done? Shake rubbed his forehead with the heel of his palm.

“Anyway, as I was saying, when a man gets his heart broken, the only thing he—”

“When a man gets his heart broken?” Gina said.

“Yes. When a man gets his heart broken—”

“Quinn,” Shake said.

Quinn held up his palms. “Down to business, you’re absolutely right. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and we’ll have plenty of time to chat about life and love. Now, Shake told you about the thing in Cairo?”

Gina was looking coolly across the room at Shake.

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