“I’ll take you out.” Finn spoke in a low and lethal tone. “And then I’ll bring down the Mitchell Fund.”
“The hell you would. That’s your money too.”
“I’ve saved enough.” Finn offered a familiar grin, one Jared had seen him use to benefit their deals when they moved in for the kill. “But that’s not going to happen. You’re already all in. Leaving juice boxes at the princess lair.” His smile widened. “You should have come to me before you hit this point.”
“For your expert dating advice?”
“For my Lucy advice.”
“I could ask her girlfriends for that,” Jared pointed out. “I came to you so you’d hear it from me first. Not Minny or some other cook at The Taco Bar.”
Finn reached for his beer. “Minny knows you’re after her?”
Jared nodded. “I asked him to call whenever she goes on one of her blind dates. She still thinks the love of her life is waiting for her on Tinder.
”
Finn cocked his head. “Then get your ass on Tinder. Hell, join every dating site out there. Find her profile. Do your homework. Woo her.”
“Woo?” Jared choked back a laugh.
“I’m not the one who needs help convincing a smart, beautiful, single woman to settle down with me instead of some jerk cruising for his next lay online.” Finn pressed his palms together. “If you were acquiring a business, you’d get online and do your homework. You’d make your case until the company woke up to the fact that you’re their best bet. Same rules apply here. If you want to win her, you need to be prepared to do whatever it takes to make your case. You need an online dating profile.”
“No.” Jared pushed off the chair and headed for the condo’s kitchen. They needed more beer, a bag of chips, and a plan. “I’m not—”
“Yes, you are. Get a six-pack and your laptop.”
“You’re drunk,” Jared called over his shoulder. “Or lost your damn mind. I must have pushed you too hard on the sugar deal.”
“I’m closing the deal for you,” Finn shot back. “I’m not drunk yet, but you bet your ass I will be after creating the perfect hook to snag my sister. Hell, I should probably walk away.”
“Why aren’t you?” Jared opened the fridge and scanned the bottles lining the door. He selected two. If Finn was serious about this scheme . . . shit they needed to stay close to sober.
“She’s my family,” Finn said simply. “With Mom and Dad gone, I’m it. I’m all she has.”
Jared nodded. Finn’s dad had died their senior year from a heart attack while his mother battled breast cancer. Mrs. Linden had given up the fight after that. Finn’s mom had kept up the chemo treatments, but she’d lost her drive. She’d passed away a year later.
“She has the princesses,” Jared said.
“Yeah, I really want Belle and her man-hating friend giving Lucy advice.”
Jared walked back into the room and handed his friend a bottle. “Nicole hates men?”
“Like an ice queen.” Finn twisted off the top and set it on the table. “But Emma’s worse, always trying to play matchmaker and encouraging Lucy to keep looking for the perfect man.” Finn gave him a pointed look. “You’re the only guy I know worthy of my sister, and you’re sure as fuck not perfect.”
“I’m the only one you can threaten to beat the shit out of while tearing apart his company,” Jared said dryly.
“Nothing beats leverage.” Finn took a sip and then set his beer down. “Now get out your computer and find your best glamor shot.”
“You’re having too much fun with this.” But he pulled out his laptop.
“Setting up the deal is the exciting part,” Finn said. “It’s the day-to-day steering the ship that I hate. But that makes us a damn good team. Where do we start?”
“I need a picture with a girl I haven’t slept with.”
Finn raised his eyebrows. “What the hell?”
Jared handed over the laptop. “You can type while I explain the world of online dating according to Lucy. By the time I’m done, you’ll be jumping at the chance to work on financial models again.”