Page 27 of Payoff Pitch
He turns to Cheetah. “Start dancing. Shake your booty.”
Without hesitation, Cheetah does as instructed. Harper is already grinning from ear to ear while watching his over-the-top moves.
“Faster.”
Cheetah complies.
Layton smiles as he looks back to Harper. “What do you call a cow who twerks?”
Naturally, Cheetah begins twerking.
Harper giggles and asks, “What?”
“A milkshake.”
Harper’s giggles get louder. “That’s silly, Uncle Layton.”
Arizona looks at Layton practically with hearts in her eyes. She fell hard and fast.
TANNER
Even though it’s my night with Harper, I allowed Fallon to take her tonight before she leaves tomorrow to travel to her father. I texted my poker group about putting together a last-minute game.
Monthly poker games with several of my favorite local clients have been something I’ve always done. When Fallon and I were married and we lived in New York City, I hosted them there. Since I moved to Philly a few years ago, I’ve continued the tradition, though most of the faces have changed. Layton and Cheetah are now regulars. Trey comes sporadically. I think Gemma forces him to socialize with the guys now and then, though he prefers to spend all his free time with her. Vance McCaffrey and Daylen Humblecut from the local professional football team, the Philly Camels, are regulars too.
We drink high-end whiskey, eat good food, smoke Cuban cigars, lose money, and have a lot of laughs. I value this time with my clients who I consider my closest five friends.
I called my regular caterer to see if she could puttogether a few last-minute snacks for us, but she couldn’t do so on such short notice, so I just ordered a few pizzas. These guys don’t care. I prefer for it to be classier for my clients, but it doesn’t faze them.
I have a fantastic bar and game room in my house. Some might call it a mancave, but I think it’s a bit nicer than that. It does have a large, fully stocked bar, along with professional-grade poker and billiards tables.
Layton and Cheetah are pouring their drinks when Vance and Daylen arrive. They have a friendly rivalry. Cheetah holds up his fist for Daylen to bump. “How’s it going, Bumblebutt?”
Daylen lets out a loud, bellowing laugh from his enormous tight end’s body. “It’s Humblecut,Cheetah. Did you know that cheetahs can’t even roar? They’re the only bigpussycats who can’t. They only meow. So pathetic.”
Layton chuckles. “That’s a great fact. I’m using it with our team.”
Cheetah elbows him and mumbles, “Says the man who’s pussy whipped.”
Layton licks his lips and wiggles his eyebrows. “Sure am.” He looks at his watch. “In fact, you’ve got about two hours until my girl is back and then I’m outta here to go be with her.”
Cheetah turns his attention to Vance. “What about you, camel-toe QB, are you seeing anyone?”
Vance and Daylen are night and day, yet somehow, they’re the best of friends. Vance, with his dark, nicely brushed, and slightly overgrown hair, shows the world a grumpy exterior, even though I know the heart of a lion exists inside him. Daylen and I are the only people privy to just how big that heart is.
Daylen has blond hair that seems to have a new style each week. It toggles between longer and messy to a damn mohawk. He messes with his facial hair just as much. He’sgoofy and lights up every room he enters with his larger-than-life personality.
Vance narrows his green eyes at Cheetah. “I might have my eye on someone from the Anacondas that you all like to hang out with. You know Kamryn Hart, right? She’s smokin’ hot. I met her at a club recently and we hit it off.”
I see Cheetah’s jaw tighten, and I turn to Layton with an unmistakable expression of surprise. He mouths, “He has a thing for Kam.”
Interesting. In all my years of knowing him, Cheetah has never been serious about anyone. I clear my throat. “I met her twin sister this week. She’s Harper’s new nanny.”
Vance asks, “Are they identical? I don’t think I met her.”
I nod, desperate to maintain a cool demeanor. “They are.”
Daylen wiggles his eyebrows. “Are you going to tap your nanny?”