Page 26 of Players Like Us
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here.”
Tate held out a hand, his grip firm. Then he pulled him into a hug, uncharacteristic, and yet Neal couldn’t say it was unwelcome. Marriage suited his brother. “When do I get to meet the woman responsible for the ‘new and more relaxed’ you?”
“Charlotte doesn’t get off work until 4:30 p.m.—” a faint smile played about his lips “—not until the buzzer goes off.”
“Buzzer?” Meredith had shared the whole story about how their perfectionist brother had fallen for an unconventional woman who didn’t care about designer clothes, fancy jewelry, or the difference between flannel and suede. According to Meredith, their new sister-in-law would rather have a dog and a husband who adored her. Well, looks like she’d gotten her wish because the way his brother’s voice dipped and his expression turned all soft said he was head over heels for Charlotte and he didn’t care if she wore steel-toed boots and jeans with holes in them. “I’m looking forward to that visual. I always thought you’d end up with the CEO of a company or a model, but the model would never be long term.”
Tate’s blue eyes shifted to silver, his voice spilled emotion. “There’s nobody like Charlotte.”
Spoken from a man in love. “Okay then, I’m happy for you, and I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the reception, but…”
The soft expression hardened, the smile flattened. “I didn’t think you’d show, though I’d hoped you would. I’m sure you were busy.”
Sarcasm at its best. “If you’d picked up the phone instead of sending me a text message, maybe I would have…” The fact that his brother couldn’t bother with a simple phone call had angered Neal, made him wonder if Tate preferred he stay away.
That gaze that always saw too much narrowed. “Would it have made a difference if I’d shown up at your doorstep—provided you were there and it was a current address? Would you have come?”
Neal didn’t hesitate with his answer. “Yes. If I’d known you really wanted me there, I would have come.” For too many years all he’d ever wanted was his brother’s approval and he’d stopped looking for it years ago when he realized it would never happen. No matter what Neal did, how many businesses he started or how much money he earned… Tate would have a comment and a correction. But if his brother had picked up the phone and asked him to attend his reception instead of sending a terse I eloped and we’re planning a reception next month. I’ll send the details if you can make it? Then he would have attended because a phone call would have meant Tate wanted him there and this wasn’t because his new wife insisted upon it.
Tate rubbed his jaw, shifted from one foot to the other. “I’d like to believe you, but you didn’t show up for Meredith’s wedding, and she begged you to come. Why did you tell her you would and then call her two days before the event and back out? That really hurt her.” His next words sliced Neal. “I’d rather you not build up her expectations. Next time, just say no and let her deal with it.”
“Right.” Same old big brother, dictating the rules even if he didn’t have all of the facts.
“So, what have you been doing?” A raised brow, a curious “Are you working, or...?”
“Or playing?” Neal forced a smile, held his brother’s gaze. What would he say if he knew the truth? Maybe it was time to find out. “Of course, I still play, but I’m not twenty-two anymore and it takes me longer to recover.” Somewhat true, but the real truth was that he didn’t have the interest or the desire to hop on a plane and fall from one party into another...one bed into another... “Since I’m getting older and not capable of partying like I used to, I figured I needed another diversion.” He offered a truth he didn’t often share. “A few years ago, the owner of a restaurant I frequented was close to bankruptcy. Bad luck, family debts, all of that. He came to me to see if we could work out some sort of deal so he wouldn’t lose his restaurant. I could tell the place was his life and I might be a jerk, but I just couldn’t squash the guy’s dreams. However, I also wasn’t going to give him an unlimited line of credit with an indefinite timeframe to pay back the loan. I told him I wanted 75% of the business. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but he didn’t really have a choice.”
Tate couldn’t hide his surprise, or his approval. “It’s good business. It’s tough to do, especially if it’s a friend, but…”
Neal shook his head. “We weren’t friends at that point. He was the owner of one of my favorite restaurants. I had my own table, a standing reservation, and the ladies loved it. The guy even created a special appetizer because I told him I had an affinity for beef carpaccio.”
“Making a deal like that with a relative stranger when you’re not really sure of the outcome? That takes guts...and risk.”
Okay, here it comes. The lecture that was about to start would contain a warning about risking too much and not doing a cost-benefit analysis and all of that other nonsense. “It wasn’t such a risk because I looked at his books before I agreed. I saw the revenue and expenses, what he was paying for food, drinks, supplies, and rent. I knew he was overspending for liquor and seafood. He didn’t have much negotiating power since he was too small and didn’t know the right people.” This time Neal gave him a real smile. “But I did. I knew a lot of people, and while they never considered me a businessman, I spent enough money at their establishments that they didn’t want to disappoint me by denying a favor. Dominic and I signed a contract whereby I would possess 75% of the company, I would negotiate the deals, and he’d find a way to adapt his menu options to make them more cost-beneficial. I also suggested a special night of appetizers and wine or some other thing that women like. If we could get them in there, they’d come back and they’d bring their partner. The restaurant business is a difficult one, and if you can find a loyal customer, you have to also find a way to keep him. Dominic was an excellent chef with a dream, but he ran the business with his heart. You can’t succeed if you don’t look at numbers and how much something costs.”
Tate’s brows pinched together, the frown came next. “I agree. But… How did I not know you understood all of this and…where did you learn it?”
“You mean when did I stop being the family idiot and jokester? We all have our roles, but sometimes those roles don’t fit anymore. That’s when we have to find something that does. I was restless but didn’t know what I wanted to do until Dominic presented his offer. It’s been three years and we’re not only business partners, we’re best friends. Plus, I reworked the ownership, so he has 70%. I still have to reel him in on the business side, but he’s gotten better.”
“Does Meredith know? Or our father? Anyone else other than you and Dominic?”
Neal shook his head. “What would be the fun in that? I like to play it cool and keep my life under the radar...gets less attention and you can focus on what you want to do without interruption—” he paused, cleared his throat “—criticism, or critiques.”
“I see.”
Had he just hurt his brother’s feelings? That hadn’t been his intention, but he’d needed to do this himself, on his own terms. “Look, I never possessed the confidence or the ability to say I’m going to do something and then actually do it. You were always the bright star; Meredith and I were just little flickering candles.”
Tate’s gaze narrowed on him. “That star got pretty heavy, and I wouldn’t have minded sharing it.”
Neal knew his brother was talking about the “responsibility” that was hefted on him by the rest of the family, including his mother. “Meredith and I should have helped with that, but we were just trying to avoid the old man’s criticism most of the time. Still, I’m sorry I didn’t step up.”
His brother shrugged. “Thanks. So, are there any more surprises you’ve been keeping from me and Meredith? A secret girlfriend?”
Neal squashed that question with another reveal. “I’m also part owner in a few other business ventures.” A shrug, a shake of his head. “Maybe I’m a sucker for a good story or maybe I’m a sucker for a sob story, but if a person can show they have a plan and are willing to work at it, and are agreeable to adjusting the plan enough to make it a success, then why not? What am I going to do with my time and money anyway except squander both?”
Tate opened his mouth to speak, closed it. Stared. The response made Neal uncomfortable as he fought the heat creeping from his neck to his cheeks. “Okay, would you rather I say I have been squandering the time and money?” His brother’s blue eyes sparked with an emotion Neal could not identify. Pride? Approval? Acceptance?
“I had no idea. Neal, I had no idea you’d invested in businesses.” Tate rubbed his temples, blew out a long breath. “How could I not have seen?”
