The Love Triangle. Nic Tatano

the dimly lit restaurant at exactly seven o’clock, looking around the lobby and not seeing anyone but the host in a tuxedo at an oak podium. The middle-aged gentleman looked up at her and smiled. “Good evening, Miss. Do you have a reservation?”

      “I’m supposedly meeting someone, but I’ll need a table for one and a big bottle of wine if I get stood up.”

      He studied her face. “Ah, yes, you’re obviously Mister Frost’s dining companion.”

      “How did you know?”

      “He told me to keep an eye out for an attractive flame-haired woman with an attitude to match.”

      She couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, that’s pretty much spot on. Is he here?”

      “Yes, he enters through the back door to avoid the paparazzi. We have a nice secluded table for you. Right this way.”

      She followed the host through a maze of tables, already filled as the scent of seared beef and the sounds from a piano filled the air. Lexi had only read about this place, with its thousand-dollar dinners and well-heeled clientele, mostly old guys with young trophy wives. As she looked at the patrons her best emerald green dress suddenly felt like something from a close-out store. Luckily no one paid attention to her. The host led her around a corner, where she found Jake Frost in a gray three-piece suit seated at a table. He smiled and stood up, then pulled out her chair. “Right on time.”

      “In my business you have to be.”

      The host gave a slight nod. “Enjoy your evening.”

      “Thanks, Frederick,” said Jake, as he sat opposite her. “You look great, Lexi.”

      “Thank you, but I think I’m a little underdressed for this place.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous, you’d look fabulous in a burlap sack.”

      “Okay, Mister, you can dial down the compliments. A little, anyway.” He smiled at her, his dazzling look sending an electric charge through her body. “So, you won Sunday.”

      “Yeah, had a good game. Didn’t get beat up too bad. You have a good week?”

      “Yes, things went well.” She turned her attention to the leather-bound menu with a gold tassel running down the middle. She opened it and read the list of elaborate entrees, none of which had prices next to them. “Uh-oh.”

      “What?”

      “No prices on the menu. I always worry about ordering a hamburger and getting a bill for fifty bucks.”

      “Well, they don’t serve burgers here. But I know what you mean. My family didn’t have much growing up and I guess that stays with you forever. It took me a while to stop clipping coupons.”

      “You clipped coupons?”

      “My rookie year. My financial advisor finally told me to loosen up a bit.”

      “I’ve noted you give a lot of it away.”

      “Ah, you’ve vetted me.”

      “Girl’s gotta know who’s taking her out. But yes, I checked you out and was very impressed at your considerable amount of charitable donations.”

      “Lexi, I couldn’t possibly spend all the money I’ve made in a dozen lifetimes. May as well do something good with it.”

      “Very noble.”

      “And at this point I have no one to leave it to.”

      “I see.”

      “So obviously since you’re here, I survived your investigation.”

      She scrunched up her face a bit and looked at the ceiling. “Well, there was one thing in your dossier that raised a red flag just a bit off the ground.”

      His eyes filled with worry. “Red flag? I’ve never been in trouble—”

      “Your seeming affinity for tall, slinky blonde supermodels who appear in swimsuit issues wearing very little.”

      He blushed a bit. “Those, uh, were youthful indiscretions. Fame and fortune do strange things to guys and when women like that throw themselves at you – well, you can imagine.”

      “So you no longer think with the wrong head.”

      He shook his head and smiled. “You’re not exactly shy about expressing yourself, are you?”

      “As you said, I’m a handful. Anyway, this bikini babe thing is in the past, huh?”

      “Well, if your investigation turned up dates along with those photos, you would have noted all those so-called relationships were nearly ten years ago. I’ve grown up and my tastes have changed.”

      “Ah, I see. Changed to what?”

      “Right now I seem to be into smartass redheads with a brain. But they’re so damn hard to find.”

      ***

      Two and a half hours later they emerged through the back door into the chilly night.

      The waiting limo was surrounded with photographers and autograph-seekers.

      “Aw, hell,” said Jake.

      “I thought no one knew you were here since you came in the back door.”

      “Damn Twitter. There’s a hashtag called where is Jake Frost and when I get spotted, a flash mob shows up.” He put his arm around her shoulders and ushered her toward the waiting car. The flashes from the cameras blinded her and she felt herself being pushed into the limo. Jake slid in beside her as the chauffeur closed the door. Her vision cleared and she looked through the windows as the vehicle pulled away. “Damn, you go through that every day?”

      “Yeah. Pretty hard to hide when you’re six-five and play for a New York football team. Some days I wish I’d get traded to a place like Kansas City.”

      “I’m sure you don’t.”

      “Of course not. But I’m always reminded of the old saying about fame. People dream of being famous and then when it happens they go through life with sunglasses on.”

      “I wouldn’t know, but it sounds about right.”

      “That’s one reason I like to vacation out of the country, where no one watches American football and I can be anonymous.”

      She looked out the window. “So where are we going?”

      “Up to you. But I need to be asleep by midnight.”

      “What, is it a school night?”

      “No, we’re in the middle of the season and athletes need proper rest. Besides, we have team meetings and workouts tomorrow at ten.”

      “Right, forgot about that. So what did you have in mind?”

      “We can ride around the city, go to a club, go to my place and talk, or I can take you home.”

      “Well, I get the idea that after the scene we just left you’re not wild about going to a club, but then again, neither am I. I think I’ve outgrown that stuff. And though I have enjoyed our evening so far I’m still not ready to tell you where I live. Hope you’re not offended by that.”

      “Not at all. I meant I could have the driver take you home after he drops me off. Wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

      She reached over and patted his hand. “I don’t feel uncomfortable at all. I guess we could go to your place for a while and talk. If that’s actually what you have in mind. Talking.”

      “Regardless of what I might have in mind, you’ve been in control of things the entire night, wouldn’t you agree?”

      She laughed a bit. “Yeah, I guess so.” She leaned forward toward the driver. “Home, James.”

      “Yours