FRIDAY NIGHT
ON ‘NCONTROL

“So, Tony, have you found one yet?” Nick asked his friend.

“Yup.” Tony was smiling a huge grin.

“Oh man. Is it that bad or that good?” Nick laughed.

“Depends.” Tony pointed.

Nick’s smile disappeared.

“C’mon! That’s an easy one.” Tony was still smiling.

“Pick another.” Nick said in a flat tone.

“Nope. Do it, or lose.”

“You don’t understand.” Nick started.

“What’s to understand? She’s turned down every guy flat that’s even got close to her. I’ve been watching and that famous ‘Carter smile’ ain’t gonna do shit for you this time. I so have this one in the bag. It’s either her, or you admit defeat. What’s it gonna be?” Tony was so sure of himself.

Snort “That’s what you think.”

A short while later Nick walked over to Cesilie who had been sitting quietly on the side of the boat. “Hey you, having a good time?” He sat down next to her.

“Do you actually know all these people?” She asked.

“Well…” He smiled at her and then continued, “Some of them and then some of them are friends of friends or just people we met out and about at the races.”

“I’m sorry Mrs. Murray put you up to baby-sitting me.” I guess as a celebrity you get used to always having lots of strange people around.

“Really, it’s no problem. I was gonna ask you to come out here anyway. Really, don’t look at me like that.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why where you gonna ask me?”

“I don’t know. Cause I thought you were cute, I guess.” When she turned her head away from him, “Hey, I’m just being honest. It would then give me a reason to be able to sit and talk with you and find out more about you. Like I’m doing now, or trying to do.” When Nick looked over Tony was just smiling and shaking his head.

“Who’s that?” Cesilie asked.

“Who? Tony? He’s just a friend. He travels with me sometimes, helps out.”

“So, he’s someone here that you actually do know?”

Laughing a little, “Yeah, I’ve known Tony for quite a while.” About that time a group of people bumped into Nick and Cesilie almost knocking them backwards into the water. “Maybe this isn’t the safest place to sit after all. Why don’t we go sit at the table or something?”

“Table? Where’s that?” She gave him a puzzled look.

“Inside. Where else would it be.” Extending a hand he was rewarded when she accepted. As they walked inside he just smiled at Tony.

Once inside the two fell into comfortable conversation about a variety of subjects. Nick found she was easy to talk to once she relaxed and opened up some. The young woman still nervous in the unfamiliar surroundings found herself starting to let her guard down around Nick. He was charming and seemed harmless. Laughing at some silly comment he had made she jumped slightly when he reached out and touched her cheek.

“Sorry, you just have the cutest dimple right there,” touching the spot again, “when you smile and laugh like that.”

“One of the many things I inherited from my dad.” She rolled her eyes a little. God how she hated that dimple.

“Don’t, it’s cute.” He was smiling at her. “You’re pretty close with your family, huh?” That was one of the many things about which they had talked. The party was winding down and it was getting late.

Yawning before answering, “Yeah. Daddy’s little girl and all.” She was laughing again. “Look, I better go. It’s late and I’m starting to get sleepy.”

“You’re at the Casa Marina, right? So are we. Give us a few minutes to gather up and we’ll all go back together. That way you’re not walking back alone in the dark.” She just gave him one of those looks. “Besides, if something happened to you, you know Mrs. Murray would never let me hear the end of it. C’mon, it’ll only take a few minutes.”

Conceding, “Sure, if it’ll save you from getting in trouble. Don’t wanna cause that now, would we?” He just winked and went to get Tony and Mike.

<~ Chapter 1 or Chapter 3 ~>


Karina 2003