Ethan brought up his phone and tapped into his email.
“This one seems very strait-laced,” Dick continued. “High-powered and a little crusty around the edges, if you catch my drift.” He pounded on his keyboard with his pointer fingers, his version of typing. “Noah seems like a better fit for this, honestly, but he doesn’t meet the height requirement.”
“Six feet wasn’t tall enough?” Dave shifted. “Is she an Amazon?”
Ethan smiled. “That would be a good time. I love the strong, feisty ones.”
“Strong and feisty, sure. But able to pick you up and throw you over her shoulder?”
“That’d be hot,” Ethan said with a laugh. “I’m game for a little role reversal.”
Dick huffed. “She is five nine, but often wears four-inch heels. She mentioned she could wear an inch shorter heels if the service provider”—Dick curved his fingers into quotes—“lied about being six three on the website.”
A smile spread across Dave’s face and he leaned over the counter to get a better look at the computer. “She sounds like Madison.”
“Yes, she does,” Dick said with a scowl.
Dave backed off the counter and gave it another wipe. “Five nine isn’t so bad. With heels, you can still knock her down if she tries to beat you up.”
Ethan quirked an eyebrow at Dave, his smile still burning brightly. “You’ve got problems, bro.”
Dave hesitated, then started laughing. “It certainly does sound like that. If I got out of line, my short woman would wait until my back was turned before digging a knife in it. Still, women who could beat me up intimidate me.”
“You’re a moron.” Dick shook his head. His eyes came up to Ethan. “Do you have all the info? She’s paying extra to get to the top of the list.”
Ethan scanned the details on the small screen. “No funny business, no touching, just dinner and a chat?” He shrugged, reading over the dress code. It was standard nice restaurant attire. He had it all in his closet. “Yeah, I’m good.”
The hottie from within the gym sauntered out, all hip. She gave Ethan an inviting look and slowed, a smile curling her lips.
“Sorry, love. I have to work tonight. Another time.” Ethan slipped his phone into his gym bag and headed out.
Two
Kaylee smoothed a flyaway into place with the pad of her middle finger then straightened up and fastened the bottom button of her suit jacket. After touching up her makeup and putting on a simple strand of pearls, she walked briskly out of her house. Her three-inch stilettos tapped against the cement of her walkway.
The black Town Car waited by the curb. She slowed while the driver exited the vehicle and walked around before smoothly opening the rear passenger door.
She would’ve driven herself, but parking was a mess near the restaurant. The car service was relatively inexpensive for upper management in her company—why not take advantage of it?
“Thank you,” she said, then winced. Politeness was a habit she hadn’t been able to kick. None of the VPs in her company bothered with a thank you for anyone in the service industry. She had no idea why, other than them being assholes, but since she wanted the open VP position with every fiber of her being, she’d decided to emulate them. Maybe if they saw their likeness in her mannerisms, they’d forget how dissimilar she was in other aspects.
Far-fetched, maybe, but it was worth a shot.
Anything was worth a shot.
After the driver sat in, his eyes appeared in the rearview mirror. “Le Pierre, right, miss?”
“Yes, thank—” She pressed her lips together to stop the words.
He nodded like he hadn’t noticed—he probably hadn’t—and his eyes disappeared from the mirror as he steered away from the curb.
Kaylee took out her phone and pulled up the list of bookmarks she’d made on the man she was supposed to meet.
No, not a man. A male escort.
She snickered to herself. It was hilarious in an offbeat kind of way. People who knew her would never believe she’d do something like this.
She’d done some research on him in an effort to figure out what she was getting herself into. The man she’d hired had a huge social media presence with tons of engagement. In addition to the escort business, he seemed to be pushing some type of fitness powder. He’d posted YouTube videos of his workouts, taking time out to show the tub of powder and explain its effects. Further analysis revealed that he was a muscle mascot of the company selling the powder. That had to bring in some dollars.
Smiles seemed to come easily to him, and he had a loose, natural grace—coordinated despite his size. When he interacted with followers on his Facebook page, the comments were always friendly, often joking. If she had to make a split-second judgment based on his public image, it was that Ethan Taylor didn’t take life very seriously.
She brought up his picture on the escort website. He was wearing nothing but blue briefs, his body on full display. Wide shoulders and a muscular chest with perfectly sculpted pecs. A washboard stomach rippled between clear-cut obliques. His package was large, but she was sure they’d enhanced it to fit the ridiculous name of the organization. Big Dick Escort Service. Powerful thighs completed the very appealing picture. No chicken legs for this powerhouse.
She hoped they hadn’t dressed up his picture too much. She needed him to shine. Everyone in her company had to see him and nod in approval. It was an extremely tall order, she knew. But again, it was worth a shot.
The driver pulled into the valet area of the restaurant. An attendant stepped forward, but her driver waved him away as he got out. He opened her door a moment later.
“I’ll call the service when I’m ready,” she said as she exited the car.
“Very good, miss.” He waited for her to get clear before shutting the door and returning to the driver’s side.
She felt like a huge jerk for withholding the thank you.
A short red carpet led her to, and then through, the front door. The podium-type desk across from her was manned by a young girl wearing a white shirt and black skirt. She smiled as Kaylee stopped in front of her. “May I help you?” she asked.
“Clark, for two. I’m meeting someone.”
The woman’s eyes lit up and her gaze drifted to the side.
Confused, Kaylee turned to look.
A man rose from a blue velvet bench along the wall.
Kaylee’s stomach flipped. The picture on the website might’ve been worth a thousand words, but it had nothing on the real thing.
Heavily lidded green eyes surveyed her. The full smile that curled his lush lips brought sparkle to his brilliant green gaze. His shoulders were every bit as broad as they’d appeared in the website picture, and he was every bit as tall as he’d claimed to be. Wearing that tailored suit perfectly, he reminded her of Swiss chocolate, smooth and rich and decadent. Something women craved.
There had been no Photoshop applied to his various photos. Which meant…
Her gaze slid down to the bulge in his fitted slacks before she regained control and shifted it back to his face.
“Hello, gorgeous.” He stopped too close to her, showering her in his heat and dominating her with his size. Her impulse demanded she take a step backward. Her desire asked that she take a step forward.
She compromised, staying right where she was. “Mr. Taylor?” she asked. The unaffected tone took some work.
“Yes indeed.” His eyes roamed her face before sliding down her front, not hesitating even a moment on her breasts. Instead, his gaze shot down to her shoes. “Look at you, with your nautical-themed heels. Very fun.”
She frowned and looked down. Sure enough, yes, there was definitely a slight going boating vibe to the blue and white strips. Huh. She’d never noticed.
“You are extremely beautiful.” He stuck out his hand. “Call me Ethan.”
Heat infused her cheeks as he showered her in that mouthwatering smile. This man could certainly turn on the charm. Then again, h
e was paid to.
“Ethan, hi. I’m Kaylee.” She shook his large hand. “Would you like—”
“That is a very pretty name, Kaylee. Kay-lee. I like how it twists my tongue.”
She blinked at him for a moment, meeting his penetrating stare. It occurred to her that he was still standing much too close.
Her impulse to step away took on a different vibe. He now exuded a strong creep factor. So why the hell was she still battling with the urge to step forward until her body touched his?
What the heck was up with her reaction to him?
“Right. Yes. Shall we sit?” She turned to the hostess. “Clark for two. Both parties are here.”
The woman smiled up at Ethan. “Of course.” She blinked too many times, and it was impossible to tell which of Ethan’s vibes she was picking up on. “Follow me.”
“I’ve been here before.” Ethan followed her with a sort of slide. Just like in his workout videos, he was graceful and elegant while still exuding power and strength. The way he walked was so relaxed and easy that she could only think of the word slide. Weird. “Food is too expensive for what you get.”
“My company has an account here. I can get reservations at the last minute. Also, the event I am trying to find…placement for will be held here. I thought it fitting to meet the…potential candidate in these surroundings.”
The hostess paused by a table situated next to a window, waiting for Kaylee and Ethan to take their seats. Kaylee flinched when Ethan’s big arm came around her and grabbed the back of her chair.
“Allow me.” He entered her personal bubble again as he pulled out her chair. “Please.”
She hesitated. This was clearly a gentlemanly move, which gave Ethan a decided cool factor. However, would it make her look like a kept woman to her bosses? Would some of her strength appear to be sapped away if she allowed him to visibly pamper her?
“What’s the problem?” Ethan asked, the sparkle in his eyes not diminishing.
“I’ll explain later.” She took the seat and let him push her in. As he took his, she draped her napkin across her lap and took a menu from the hostess.
“Wine list?” Ethan asked the hostess as he freed his napkin from under the utensils. The two forks clinked together. He straightened them out.
“Oh! Of course.” The hostess squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “Sorry. I’ll just get that for you.”
“So,” Ethan said after the hostess left, resting his hands in his lap and looking at Kaylee with a steady gaze. “You are wearing your three-inch heels.”
Kaylee gaped for a moment; his comment had come out of left field. She recovered immediately. “Yes. I worried you wouldn’t be as tall as your profile suggested.”
He nodded and smiled. After a pause, which she might’ve filled with small talk had she not felt completely off her bearings, he continued. “And you don’t like shorter men?”
“No, that’s not it at all. Well—”
“Here you are.” The hostess smiled at Ethan with Bambi eyes. “The waitress will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.” Ethan smiled at her before handing the wine list to Kaylee.
Kaylee took it in confusion.
“You like to pick the wine, don’t you?” Ethan asked in a coaxing voice.
“Yes, but… How did you know that?”
He leaned back when a server arrived to fill their water glasses. “You’re a high-powered woman, seemingly smart though somewhat wound up, and there are pictures of wineries and vineyards on your Pinterest account. I guessed that you’d like to be in control, and that you’d know your wines. You’ll get used to me, don’t worry.”
She closed her mouth with a click of teeth. She wasn’t so sure of that. The man was like a circus putting on a variety show.
“Right.” She cleared her throat to get back on track, running her finger down the wine list. “As I was saying, I don’t have a problem with shorter men, no. In fact, a friend of mine that I see regularly is five ten. An inch taller than me.”
“Do you wear your heels with him?”
“Do you want red or white?” she asked. “Or something else?”
“Whatever you want is fine. I’m an equal-opportunity drinker.” His gaze hadn’t left her face. She could tell his focus hadn’t strayed either. He was listening to her every word, watching her every move.
It was strangely…disconcerting. In that moment, she realized that not too many people gave her their full attention. Certainly not at work, and, now that she thought about it, not even in her off hours.
“Do you wear heels with your friend?” he asked again.
“Oh…uh…” She tapped the wine she wanted and set the list aside before opening her menu. “I do. Or…I do at first, but often we’re at each other’s houses, so I take my heels off.”
“He’s your fuck buddy, then?”
She glanced up, startled.
His smile was disarming. “Don’t worry, fuck buddies are friends indeed. So what’s the issue with height, then? Why not take your friend to the company dinner?”
She sincerely wished her face would stop burning. She should’ve gone with the other male escort. The preppie one with dirty blond hair and a great-looking mug. “Look.” She tapped the entree she’d chosen before setting her menu to the side with the wine list. “Let me just explain what you’re doing here.”
“I’m all ears.” He shifted and threw his arm over the back of his chair in a way that couldn’t possibly be comfortable. Yet he looked utterly relaxed. Almost like he was sitting on the beach with his feet in the water.
“Right. Okay. Here’s the situation—” Kaylee paused as the waitress showed up. They ordered their food and wine. After she left, Kaylee continued. “I am up for a big promotion. I—”
“Wait, wait.” He held up a hand. “Start from the beginning. Why did you move to Sacramento from New York City?” He must’ve seen her dark look. “I did a little light stalking. Nothing serious. Facebook might be private, but you certainly don’t guard your Pinterest account with the same fervor. You can learn a lot about a woman on Pinterest, I find. I especially liked your lingerie pins. I’d love to see those modeled.”
Three
Ethan laughed as Kaylee’s face turned a deep shade of bright red. He loved her blush. Her embarrassment had loosened her tightly wound persona, revealing a glimpse of the woman underneath. The woman who wasn’t trying so hard to be something she clearly wasn’t.
He always did a quick social media glance at clients he’d be taking out to get an idea of their interests and lifestyle. It helped with talking points and conversation transitions. Usually he didn’t delve too heavily. But with Kaylee, something had struck a chord. An entire afternoon had slipped by without him realizing it. One post to the next showed various facets of her personality. A joke here, a serious comment about saving elephants there—she was offbeat yet in-line. Black and white, yet exploding with color. Basically, all over the place in a way that made perfect sense. Meeting her, he could see why. He could see the two personas warring with each other.
For example, right now he knew she was undoubtedly putting on an act. Her hair, her suit, her makeup—she was going for something specific, though he couldn’t quite tell what. Humorless? Dull?
So much work, being something you really weren’t. Why bother?
He loved enigmas. It had been fascinating online, but in person, it was fantastic. Exciting. Interesting. He had a sneaking suspicion that getting to know her would be a wild ride. He looked forward to it.
She smoothed back her shiny hair, which was pulled into such a tight, perfectly formed bun it looked glued to her scalp. “I moved from New York because of the job market. There, I was a tiny fish in an ocean. I figured it would improve my prospects to move to a smaller body of water. As soon as I have a few years at the top, I can move to a bigger company and keep climbing.”
Ethan leaned forward with interest. He loved ambitious women. “And how is
it working out?”
“It was going well until now.” The sparkle of determination in her eyes dulled, replaced by frustration. “I’m one of the candidates for an open VP spot, but I’m the only woman. There has never—not ever—been a female VP. Upper management, where I am currently—”
“Operations, right?”
She hesitated a moment, clearly caught off guard by his openness about social media stalking her. “Operations, correct. There are very few women in upper management. Only one person of color. The company is an older one, and old white guys are running things. I’ve always known that I’d have to work at least twice as hard as a man to get the same promotion, but this time it has nothing to do with what I can do. It has to do with what I am.”
“I’m not following.” He straightened in his seat as the wine showed up. The waitress showed it to Kaylee, waited for the nod, then got to work with the bottle opener.
“I’m the only single candidate vying for the position. I’m the youngest. And, like I said, I’m the only woman. The female thing is obviously the biggest hurdle, because I’d be breaking the mold, and old white guys love their power and tradition. Or so it seems.” She swirled the wine in her glass before sipping. Her nod had the waitress turning to Ethan to pour the first glass.
It was great when clients picked the wine. It allowed him to be lazy, and there was another upside: he got the first pour without seeming ungentlemanly. It was the little things.
“I don’t act like most women they know, though,” she went on. “I’m confident without being a bitch. I won’t allow someone to talk over me. I own my presence, and use my height to its full effect. I’m a power player. They’re on board with me as a person, but those differences I mentioned will tarnish my chances at the job.”
“So you want a man taller than you to represent the other half of a power couple?” he guessed. It sounded silly.
“I want a man that can handle a fine dinner, that can play alpha lap dog—” His confusion must have shown on his face, because her lips tweaked up into a smile. “I know. That sounds ridiculous. I don’t know what else to call it. I need an actor. Someone that will do what I say, when I say it, while also playing Mr. Big Shot Rich Alpha Guy. In essence, I need you to present the appearance of the man in charge, while also showing them that you’re happy with me being…me. I’m hoping…” She crossed her fingers. “I’m hoping it will help them understand me, and trust me, if they see me with someone like you, if they associate me with a powerful man. To put it bluntly, I want to hide behind your penis.”
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