by E. L. Todd
“Too many to count,” he said with a laugh. “But the crazies make it interesting.”
“What’s the worst you’ve had?”
He smirked then rubbed his chin. “Let me open the vault… Yes, I got one.” He balled up his napkin in one hand. “I went out with this girl, but when I met her I recognized her. I went to high school with her. She looked different and I couldn’t remember her name, but I knew her. She paid me to escort her so her family would stop pestering her about settling down. Anyway, when I walked her home everything was fine. We stopped in front of her door and said good night. Then out of nowhere she sprayed me with mace. I backed away and tried to get the solution out of my eyes. Then she smash a brick into my head until I passed out.”
My appetite was gone. I was holding a slice in midair but I didn’t take a bite. My jaw was unhinged and my breathing halted. “Oh my god…what the hell?”
“It gets better.” River didn’t seem to be disturbed like I was. He told the story with a smile on his face, like this event wasn’t traumatic. “When I woke up, I was tied to her bed. My hands and feet were bound so tight it cut into my skin. And of course, I was naked.”
I dropped the slice I was holding because I was so disgusted. “I don’t think I want to hear anymore of this…”
“She didn’t hurt me.”
I covered my face but separated my fingers so I could stare at him with one eye.
“She wanted to have sex with me and she knew she wouldn’t get any from me. So…long story short…she made it happen anyway.”
I took a deep breath and my lungs burned in pain. “That’s…there are no words.”
“She’s in jail now so everything is okay.”
“Everything is not okay.” I slammed my hands down on the table. “You were raped. You can’t just sweep that under the rug.”
“Rape isn’t as emotional for a guy as it is for a girl.”
“And that makes it okay?” I snapped.
“No, it doesn’t,” he said calmly. “But I don’t want you to feel bad for me. She let me go and I moved on with my life. It wasn’t the end of the world.”
I shook my head in disgust. “That’s just wrong…”
“I’m a lot more careful now.”
I stared at my pizza, no longer hungry.
River continued to stare at me. “I’m sorry. I meant for the story to be funny…”
My eyes didn’t move.
He leaned over the table and rested his hand on mine. “Beautiful, look at me.”
Hearing him call me that caught my attention. My eyes moved to his.
River had an apologetic look on his face, like he cared more about hurting me than what actually happened to him. His thumb moved across my knuckles, stroking me gently. “Everything is okay. Please don’t feel bad for me. I don’t want that. I’m fine, really.”
“Does that happen to the other guys?”
“Thankfully not.”
“I would never do that to you,” I blurted.
He gave me a small smile. “I picked up on that.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles. Then he returned it to the table. “Now, let’s move on.”
“You shouldn’t kiss me, even if you think it will help with Nathan.”
He leaned back in his chair and gave me a knowing look. “I know I shouldn’t kiss you. I know I don’t have to kiss you. I kiss you because I like kissing you. So, don’t worry about me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Hey, I get to kiss a beautiful woman and get paid for it. My life is awesome.” He pushed my plate closer to me. “Now stop overthinking it and just eat.”
I finally relaxed and picked up my slice.
“You’ve always wanted to be a secretary?”
“No. I went to school for graphic design but had a hard time finding a job. When I had to start paying back my loans, Nathan’s dad gave me a job working for his son.”
“You know him personally?”
“Our families are really close,” I said. “I can never get away from him—unfortunately.”
“So, this is temporary?”
“It was meant to be.”
He rested his arms on the table. “But seeing Nathan every day has made it difficult to live, I assume?”
“A little,” I admitted.
River didn’t give his usual argument. “What kind of designing do you do?”
“I make all kinds of things, predominantly websites. I’ve always been good with computers, but I’m also creative. It just worked for me.”
“That’s very cool,” he said.
“How did you become an escort?”
“Well, that’s a long story,” he said as he continued to eat.
“I have nothing else to do.”
“My friends and I graduated from college and worked in our fields. For the most part, we all hated it. My friend Rhett started getting a lot of requests for pretend dates. It happened so often that he decided to open Beautiful Entourage with us. And here we are.”
“You have a nice office,” I said. “It seems successful.”
“It’s a lot more popular than we thought it would be. It’s safe to say that almost every woman in Manhattan has boyfriend trouble.”
“And Super River comes to the rescue,” I teased.
“I got a cape and everything,” he said with a chuckle.
“So, do you kiss all your clients?” I asked. “Because Danielle said that wasn’t allowed.”
“Just the ones I like.” He winked at me.
“And how many do you usually like?” I wasn’t sure why I asked. I was just curious. Did he go around kissing everyone? That was pretty gross.
He finished chewing his slice before he swallowed it. “One.”
One? How was that possible?
River watched me work it out in my head. “Yes, sweetheart. You’re the only client I’ve ever kissed.”
Did that mean something? “Why is that?”
“I think you’re cute.” He shrugged. “What other reason do you need?”
“I can’t be the cutest client you’ve ever had.” That seemed impossible.
“Actually, you are,” he said. “Your eyes—they get me every time I look at them.”
“Mine?” I blurted.
He chuckled. “You know what I like about you most?”
I shrugged.
“You’re insanely beautiful but you don’t even realize it. Most girls know what they have and they’re bitchy and stuck-up about it. They are nice for a one-night stand but they’re worthless beyond that. It’s like they don’t have a soul.”
“Do you do one-night stands a lot?” I wasn’t sure what possessed me to ask that question but I did. River seemed open about his life. He already told me something incredibly tragic without blinking. And he told me I was beautiful. He seemed to think everything was fair game.
“Unfortunately.”
Unfortunately? Since River was drop-dead gorgeous I just assumed he wanted to play the field for as long as possible. He bedded supermodels and actresses. He had more girls than he could handle. But there was a tone of disappointment in his voice, like he didn’t love the perks of his classic good looks. “Why is an endless line of beautiful women unfortunate? It seems like that’s what every guy wants.”
“It’s not all its cracked up to be.” He finished his food then leaned back in his chair. His eyes moved to the window and he watched the streetwalkers pass.
Could I ask him more questions? “Then why do you do it?”
He turned back to me like he realized I was still there. “It gets pretty lonely when you don’t have someone to share a bed with. And frankly, I have needs. And I prefer the real thing over my hand.”
The idea of him jerking off aroused me. It came out of nowhere and I felt my cheeks redden. I quickly pushed the thought away before it could grow and become more intense. It was such an inappropriate thing to think about. “Then why don’t you have a serious relationship?
You could have anyone you wanted, I’m sure.”
A smirk formed on his mouth. “You think I’m hot, sweetheart?”
“I didn’t say that…” My cheeks blushed again.
“I can have whoever I want? Interesting choice of words…”
He had me cornered. “Fine. I think you’re hot. But that’s obvious.”
“That’s not obvious to me.”
“You wouldn’t be a professional escort if you weren’t attractive.”
“Sexiness is subjective,” he said simply. “One woman may find me attractive and another may not be interested at all. Everyone knows that. And I’m glad to know you have a thing for me.” He winked at me.
“I don’t have a thing for you.”
“I don’t know…you’re asking me a lot of personal questions.”
“I was just curious,” I said. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
He leaned over the table and lowered his voice. “Then why are your cheeks red?”
Damn, he noticed? “I’m just warm…”
“Yeah?” His fingers found my chin and held my face straight. Then he gave me a gentle kiss on the mouth. The kiss was brief but it was electrifying. He pulled away then looked at the dazed expression on my face. “You’re so into me.”
His words brought me back to reality. “I’m not into you.”
“It seemed like you enjoyed that kiss…”
“Well, you’re hot. What girl wouldn’t enjoy it?” I crossed my arms over my chest and try to act casual. My thighs were pressed together and I refused to let them relax.
He chuckled. “Hiring me probably wasn’t the best idea.”
“Why?” I asked. “Because you’ll keep kissing me?”
“No. Because you aren’t even going to want Nathan by the time he wants you.”
***
River and I got into the elevators. My heart accelerated while I waited for the doors to close. River was getting under my skin. It wasn’t a bad thing or a good thing. I didn’t know what it was.
He stood beside me with his hands in his pockets and he kept glancing at me. “Weak in the knees?”
“Excuse me?”
“Still thinking about that kiss, huh?”
I rolled my eyes and stared straight ahead.
“It’s okay. That’s what I was thinking about too.”
I watched the numbers light up as we ascended to the top floor. “I know you’re good-looking but you’re really full of yourself.”
“It’s because a lot of girls want to be full of me.”
I shook my head slightly.
He nudged me in the side. “You know I’m kidding, sweetheart.”
“But are you really?”
He shrugged and continued to stand beside me.
When the elevator slowed down and the doors were about to open, River grabbed me and pulled me into his chest. His lips found mine and he cupped my face as he kissed me, making it passionate and intense. The doors beeped when they opened and River continued the kiss for a moment. Then he pulled away slowly.
I saw stars and planets. “Uh…”
He chuckled. “Out of this world, right?”
I was too warm to react to what he said.
His hand snaked around my waist and he pulled me out of the elevator and toward my desk. When he reached it, he pulled me close to him and pressed his face close to mine. “Thanks for having lunch with me.”
“Uh…yeah.”
His grin stretched. “Taking you a little longer to bounce back, huh?”
“You just caught me off guard.”
“I’ve kissed you several times now. You should be prepared for it.”
I would never be prepared for it.
He lowered his voice. “Remember what we talked about. If he asks about me, act like you’re into me but not head-over-heels. You want to seem detached, like I’m the one obsessed over you and you’re pretty much indifferent to me.”
“Sexual politics is confusing…”
“Just take my advice.” He pulled me close to him again. “You ready? I’m going to lay another big smooch on you.”
“I’m never ready.”
His eyes lightened in a smile then he pressed his mouth against mine. This time he massaged my lips with his, keeping it sensual even though our mouths remained closed. Then he pulled away.
“Did you take a kissing class or something?”
“I’m good, huh?” He spanked my ass playfully. “Now get to work.”
“I will after I get some Chapstick.”
He chuckled then walked away. I stared at his ass in his slacks until he turned around in the elevator. He watched me the whole time until the doors closed.
I took a deep breath then sat at my desk, trying to recover from the panty-soaking kiss he just gave me. I was thinking about it in detail when my phone went off. It was from a number I didn’t recognize, but after reading the message I knew whom it was from.
You were staring at my ass, weren’t you?
I rolled my eyes and laughed at the same time. Do you ever get tired of being cocky?
Never.
I put my phone down and tried not to think about River, the flirtatious and affectionate escort I hired. He crossed the line then stepped back over and over, dancing around what was appropriate and what wasn’t appropriate. But his position on the line never bothered me. And I thought that was interesting.
“Meadow?”
Nathan’s voice came into my ear and I looked up at him. “Mr. Maxwell, what can I get you?” I pushed River from my mind and reminded myself I was at work.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “I said your name a few times but you didn’t react…”
My head was in the gutter. “I’m sorry, Mr. Maxwell. It’s been a long day.”
Nathan eyed me with intelligent eyes that saw right through my words. “So, you’re seeing someone?” His voice didn’t contain any excitement or joy. But it didn’t contain irritation either. I had no idea how he felt about it.
“Yeah, we’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks.” I kept my answers vague like River told me. I wasn’t sure how River knew Nathan would ask me about him. He was dead on about it. And it was surprising since River hadn’t even met Nathan.
Nathan nodded slowly. “It seems like you guys are pretty serious.” He stared at me like he was waiting for an answer to a question he never asked.
How did I answer that? I tried to remember everything River told me. “We’re just hanging out…taking it slow.”
Nathan watched me like a hawk.
He’d never stared at me like that before. I felt like I was the only person in the room. Actually, I felt like I was the only person in the building. He regarded me with a slightly cold look. There was something else to it but I wasn’t quite sure what it was.
“I see…”
This was getting weird. I’d never been in this situation with Nathan before. Was he jealous? Or was he just annoyed that I was making out with River while at work? I had no idea what he was thinking.
“Where’d you meet him?”
Why did he want to know? “At a bar.” I didn’t know what else to say. That I hired him to pretend to be my love interest? I’m sure that would go over well.
“It looks like he’s really into you.”
Seriously, this was weird. We’d never had a conversation like this. “Uh, I think he’s just affectionate. I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
He chuckled. “He’s head-over-heels for you and you don’t even see it.”
I shrugged. “I guess I don’t pay that much attention.” I felt like a bitch for saying that. I had to pretend I didn’t care about River’s feelings at all. That wasn’t something I would ever do. Why did it make me more desirable to not care about someone’s feelings? I would never understand sexual politics.
“Or maybe you’re just blind.”
There were no words on my tongue. What did I say to that? I tried not to get overly excited by Nat
han’s interest. Last time I read too deeply into his actions and I got ditched at a fancy charity event while he fucked some blonde all weekend. That was a mistake I wouldn’t make again. Nathan would have to give me a clear sign before I let my guard down. “Well, I should get back to work. Is there anything you need?”
“Actually, there is one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t call me Mr. Maxwell,” he said. “I prefer Nathan.”
“Of course,” I said with a nod.
“Thank you.”
He headed back to his office.
And I sat there, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
River
“How’s your new client?” Jett asked as he sat across from me. He was on his third beer.
“Not bad,” I said. I kept most of the details to myself.
“Is she weird? Annoying?”
“No,” I said. “She’s actually really cool. And she’s got beautiful eyes.”
“Blue?”
“Green.”
He nodded. “At least you got a good one.” Jett was being careful around me. He knew he pissed me off when he set me up with that horror named Theresa. It still irritated me when I thought about it. The brat slapped me around with a purse like I was her little bitch. If she were a dude, her face would have been slammed into the concrete.
“This girl is using me to get some guy’s attention. But he’s a total douche. Her stupidity irritates me sometimes.”
“Why is the guy a douche?”
“He’s your typical playboy billionaire. He took her as a date to a charity event then ditched her when he hooked up with some chick. He’s arrogant, pompous, and thinks he’s god. I have no idea what this girl sees in him.”
“Girls usually have terrible taste,” he said. “Look at Ophelia. She settled for me—not that I mind.”
“Yeah, still not sure how that happened.” I drank my beer and gave him a venomous look.
He ignored the jab. “You think this girl has any hope?”
“I do. She’ll snatch him soon.”
“If this guy hasn’t been interested why would he suddenly change his mind?”
“Because I taught her a few things,” I said. “She’s one of those natural beauties, the kind that doesn’t have to wear make up to be sexy. But I changed her wardrobe and made her wear heavy make up. As soon as the guy saw her he was hard.”