GRRR!

course. Mother would never forgive me if I missed a Sunday brunch.
     

Chapter Six
A Room For A View
     
    Rico checked his look in the mirror. Very suave, he decided and grinned at himself. Tonight, he was on the prowl and in a big way. Katia was a thing of the past and he wasn’t about to let the bitch interfere with his life one more minute. Locking the door as he left the house, he hit the button on the key ring, unlocking the door of the
    Porsche. He jumped in, and less than ten minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of
    Meow Mix and killed the engine. He adjusted his coat as he walked to the door and pulled out a ten spot for the cover charge.
    “Hey, Rico,” the doorman said as he took the money. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”
    “How you doing, Ralph?” Rico grinned as he shook the man’s hand.
    Ralph leaned in and whispered, “Check out the sweet little piece of ass at the end of the bar. I think she’s just what you’re looking for.”
    “Thanks. You take it easy,” Rico said and went inside.
    The music was loud but the room wasn’t overly crowded yet. Still early, Rico thought and checked his watch. He took a stool at the bar and waited for the bartender to notice him.
    “Rico, what can I get you, man?”
    “Grey Goose martini, dirty. How you been doing, Luis?”
    “Can’t complain,” Luis replied as he mixed the drink, then set the glass on a napkin on the bar. "Nobody'd listen."
    Rico nodded, took a sip of his cocktail and looked up and down the long, curved bar. There she was, the girl Ralph had mentioned. Long brown hair with dark eyes that flashed good humor, and a top cut so low he could almost see her nipples. “Barely even legal,” he mumbled.
    “What’s that?” Luis asked as he poured a beer.
    “Nothing,” Rico said with a shake of his head. “See that girl at the end of the bar?
    What’s she drinking?”
    Luis turned his head to look and then smiled. “Mojito,” he said. “She’s new here, or at least I’ve never seen her before. And believe me, something like that walks in, I’d remember.”
    “Send her a drink from me, will you?”
    “Sure,” Luis replied as Rico dropped cash on the bar. “I’ll be in the back.”
    Luis chuckled as he began mixing the drink. “You got it, Rico.”
    Rico picked up his drink and made his way to the back room, a members only area with a locked door and a bouncer who made sure only those who belonged in got in.
    “Dave, what’s up?” Rico offered his hand.
    “Not much, Rico.” He shook hands. “You alone tonight?”
    “Only for a few minutes,” he said with a grin. “See that little girl at the end of the bar? When she works up the balls, let her in and point her at me.”
    Dave chuckled. “No problem, dude.” He opened the locked door and Rico went inside.
    Furnished in expensive burgundy leather and teakwood tables, thick carpeting and crystal chandeliers, the room felt luxurious, with dark honeyed wood walls and a fireplace that crackled with faux flames. The wait staff back here dressed in crisp tuxedoes, as did the bartender. The atmosphere inside was completely the opposite of that in the club. A baby grand piano sat on a small stage at one end and the house musician played old Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tunes, interspersed with hits from
    the 80’s and 90’s. .
    Making himself at home, Rico sat back on a leather couch and placed his drink on the table next to him. He glanced at his watch once more and smiled. “Any moment now,” he said confidently. And as if on cue, the door opened and the girl walked inside.
    She looked embarrassed and expectant all at once, and Rico rose to his feet and smiled.
    “Hello,” he said as he walked toward her. He extended his hand and said, “I’m
    Rico Trevia.”
    “Angela Weston,” she said softly and shook his hand. “Thank you for the drink.”
    “You’re welcome, Angela. Would you care to sit?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    Rico took her gently by the arm and escorted her to the couch. “May I get you a fresh drink?” He sat next to her, but made sure there were several inches between them.
    “No, thank you. This one is fine.”
    “I’ve never seen you here before, Angela.”
    She sucked on the straw in her drink, and then set the glass on a coaster on the table in front of them. “No, this is my first time here. I came with friends.”
    “And where are your friends now?”
    “On the dance floor, I guess.”
    “You don’t dance?”
    She