“Okay, I’m on it. I’ll have somebody for you when you arrive. Can’t wait to see you and finally meet Audrey. I made reservations for dinner. We can—”

Daniel interrupted him. “Yeah, about Audrey—”

“What about her?” Tim’s voice was colored with more than just passing curiosity.

“She’s not coming. It’s over.” He didn’t even give his friend a chance to comment. “Which brings me to another issue. I have to attend that damn reception tomorrow night in anticipation of the acquisition. I was planning on having Audrey there to ward off those eligible bachelorettes they usually throw at me at those events, so I need a stand-in.”

He wasn’t interested in having to fend off advances of every woman under forty, who threw herself at him because he was rich and unmarried.

“A stand-in?” Tim’s incredulous voice echoed through the cell phone.

Daniel ran his hand through his hair again, messing it up as if he’d just gotten out of bed, which couldn’t be further from the truth. He’d been up since four in the morning to get in a workout in the gym before his busy day had started.

“Yes, some arm candy.”

“I can set you up with a blind date,” he suggested eagerly, obviously already having somebody in mind. “In fact, this is perfect timing. The roommate of a good friend of mine is—”

Daniel could virtually see Tim rub his hands together. “Forget it. I want a professional. No romantic entanglements, no blind dates.” Yeah, that’s what he needed like a hole in the head, a blind date.

“A professional?”

“Yes, what do they call them? Escorts.” It had just come to him. That was the solution. Instead of a girlfriend, he needed an escort, somebody to indicate to all other women that he wasn’t available. It would solve all his problems. And it would be way less hassle keeping an escort happy rather than a girlfriend or a date. Keeping an escort happy just meant paying her enough.

“Get me one of those. Not too pretty, just reasonable looking and with a bit of a brain so she doesn’t embarrass me at the reception.”

“You’re kidding!” Even though he couldn’t see Tim’s face, he could tell that his friend’s jaw had just dropped.

“I’m dead serious. So, make a booking for me. I assume they take credit cards?” If anything, Daniel was practical. That’s why he was an excellent businessman.

“How the hell should I know? Do I look like someone who hangs out with escorts?” Tim sounded less miffed and more and more amused. Daniel could even hear what sounded like a stifled laugh coming through the phone.

“Come on, do this for me and I’ll tell you why I broke up with Audrey.” He knew just how much Tim liked some good gossip. In that respect gay men were like women.

“Every dirty detail?” Tim negotiated quickly.

“Can’t get any dirtier than that.”

“You’re so on. Any preference? Brunette, blonde, redhead? Big boobs? Long legs?”

Daniel shook his head and grinned. It wasn’t like he wanted to sleep with the escort; he just wanted her to accompany him to that darn reception. He really didn’t care either way what she looked like, as long as she wasn’t ugly and could parade as his girlfriend.

“Why don’t you surprise me? See you soon.” He was about to disconnect, then thought otherwise of it. “And, thanks Tim, for everything.”

“Love you too.”

How he’d ever ended up being best friends with a gay man, he had no idea. When he’d first invited Tim to his parents’ house in the Hamptons during the summer holidays when they were attending college together, Daniel’s parents had been afraid Daniel was about to tell them he was gay.

Just thinking back and remembering the relief on their faces when he’d told them that he was as straight as the A’s he brought home from college, made him chuckle. Not that they wouldn’t have loved him the same, they had assured him and given Tim an apologetic look, but they did want grandchildren one day. No pressure, of course. And yes, Tim was always welcome at their house.

They’d practically adopted him after that summer and, politically correct as they were, they loved parading him around, telling everybody who did or didn’t want to know that Tim was gay and their straight son’s best friend.

Daniel settled into his comfortable first class seat and reviewed the last remaining issues of the deal. He would have his assistant send all current contracts electronically to his new attorneys, who could take over where Judd had left off. At worst, it would delay the deal for a week, but he didn’t care at this point.