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personal question I normally avoided.
    Blayne nodded, the expression on his face glum. “Wanted me to marry this girl in a ‘business merger’.” He gestured toward his glass.
    It was against my better judgment, but I poured it.
    “My brothers both married the right girls,” he said. “Sisters did too.” He frowned, his expression muddled. “Right boys. Not girls.” He started to snicker. “Dad would've been pissed if the girls liked girls. Okay to look 'progressive', but bad in the family. Can't not be exactly what everyone else is.”
    I handed a regular his usual draft without moving very far from Blayne. He didn't seem to notice I'd stepped away because he was still talking when I came back. I got the impression he was talking more to himself than to me, but I didn't want him to think I was being rude.
    “I shouldn't care,” he said. “Shouldn't care what he thinks about me, right?”
    My heart twisted. He sounded so sad and I didn't think it was an act this time. I didn't know him, but no one should feel that way about their parents.
    He looked up at me and one side of his mouth quirked up in a half-smile. “Maybe I should pay you a hundred grand to elope with me to Vegas. My dad would love that. You look like a nice girl.”
    I shook my head indulgently. Leave it to a rich man to think that money could solve all of his problems. Blayne seemed nice enough, but I had no doubt he was just as irresponsible and spoiled as the rich kids who used to hang out around the models in Europe. I wouldn't have been surprised if he was into drugs as well.
    “Excuse me again,” I said as I heard the usual rabble entering. These were the men who only wanted a quick drink, so I wouldn't need to linger, but there were enough of the men that I had to spend a good half hour away from Blayne. When I finally got back to him, he was staring forlornly at his empty glass.
    “Another one?” He made it a question as he looked up at me.
    I glanced at my watch. “It is almost closing time. Do you want me to call you a cab?”
    He scowled, but it was directed at the glass rather than me. “I better settle up.” He managed to pull out his wallet, but it took him three attempts to do it. Another two tries to get a credit card out. “Here.”
    “I will ring this up,” I said as I took the card. “Do you wish for a taxi?”
    He blearily looked at me, but didn't say anything. I would call whether he wanted me to or not. I was not going to let him go stumbling out into the cold where he would either get into a car and risk both his and others' lives or he would end up freezing to death because he passed out somewhere. It really wasn't my problem, but what kind of person would I be if I let any of that happen?
    I rang up his charges and then went about cleaning up a few things before turning back to see Blayne with his head down on the bar. I swore silently. I really hoped he hadn't passed out.
    “Blayne?”
    No response.
    I reached toward him, hesitated and then put my hand on his shoulder and gave him a shake.
    “Nope,” he muttered. “Not gonna marry her.”
    I sighed. Dammit. Maybe if left him alone for a little bit, he'd wake up enough to get into a cab. I made a call and then went about getting things closed down. I saw the cab pull up in front of the bar just as I was finishing. I went back over to Blayne who was now snoring loudly.
    “Blayne.” I shook him again. “Wake up. You need to go home.”
    His hand relaxed and his wallet dropped onto the counter. I picked it up and put his credit card back into an empty slot. I started to put it back and then glanced out at the cab. No one else was in the bar, so all I had to do was get Blayne out of here and I could go home.
    I wondered if I could get him into the cab and just give the driver the address. I flipped over to Blayne's license. I didn't know the city completely, but even I knew that this address was an expensive place to live.
    And a penthouse, which meant Blayne