Undercover Escort: Madam Diary Mysteries

by Childs, Lisa

  She had the small black clutch clutched between her arm and side. And her arm seemed to tighten on it almost protectively as she asked, “Why?”

  “No cameras are allowed anywhere in the hotel this weekend,” he replied.

  She took the purse from beneath her arm but hesitated before opening it. “I don’t have a camera in it.”

  “What’s the hold up?” a deep voice asked as Roderick joined them near the door.

  “I’m checking everyone for cameras,” the bouncer said, “per the bride’s instructions.”

  If Courtney suddenly didn’t want to be photographed, she had picked the wrong brother – because Dominic knew his twin loved getting his picture taken.

  “I don’t have a camera,” Taylor said again. But then her purse began to vibrate.

  “You have a cell phone,” the bouncer said. “And they all have cameras on them. I will need to take that until you leave the bar area.” He held out his hand.

  Taylor nibbled on her bottom lip before she opened her purse and pulled out the phone. “It’s my boss calling,” she murmured.

  And peering over her bare shoulder, Dominic recognized the number on the screen. He had dialed it just a short time ago when he’d called FANTASY ENTERTAINMENT and spoken to the madam – her boss and his sister. His guts tightened with dread. What if she answered it? What if Roderick overheard Michelle’s voice?

  He would be pissed. And a pissed off Roderick was unpredictable and out of control. Dominic stepped closer to Taylor, concerned for her safety and determined to protect her.

  Taylor tapped the disconnect button on her phone and refused the call. Then she dropped the cell, albeit reluctantly, into the bouncer’s open palm.

  “Thank you, miss,” he told her as he stepped back to allow her and Dominic to enter the bar.

  “Sorry about that,” Roderick murmured as he moved to swing his arm around Taylor’s shoulders. But Dominic stepped forward, blocking his move, and he slid his arm around her. Roderick’s brow furrowed as he glanced at him. But he continued talking, “Courtney is overreacting about this whole photo business.”

  “I understand,” Taylor said as she snuggled against Dominic, sliding her arm around his waist. “She wants to keep your special day extra special.”

  He shrugged as if the wedding was nothing special to him. But then it probably wasn’t. He’d been married before, and he’d thought nothing of cheating on that wife numerous times before leaving her. He was definitely their father’s son.

  Dominic wanted to fight his DNA and be as different from them as he could. However, since his plus one was a professional call girl, it seemed like his DNA was winning. But he must have been winning something else because the look on Roderick’s face seemed full of envy as his gaze slid over Taylor’s long, lithe body. He tightened his arm around her and she glanced up at him and winked. And his pulse leaped in reaction as his body tensed. Damn, he wanted her.

  So did his brother. And it must have been obvious to the bride because Courtney rushed up to them. “You two made it,” she murmured. And she wasn’t exactly welcoming.

  “It was very sweet of you to include us,” Taylor told her. “Not that we would have minded spending the night in the room.” She winked at Dominic again while she emitted a naughty-sounding giggle.

  She was killing him. He was about to drag her back to the room now. But then he reminded himself this was all an act. His escort had gone undercover as his date in order to help him save face with the groom and bride. Her flirting wasn’t real – just part of the fantasy of FANTASY ENTERTAINMENT. Damn Michelle.

  Damn Michelle. If she hadn’t called when she had, Taylor might have been able to smuggle her phone into the bar. Then she could have used the wi-fi on it to instantly upload the photos she intended to take. The bouncer hadn’t noticed the camera in her purse, but then Taylor would have been surprised if he’d realized the make-up compact was a camera. Just like her, it was undercover.

  She reached for it as they walked toward the long table full of revelers. Many of the wedding party were famous – actors who’d starred with Roderick in some of his movies. Others were kids of famous actors with whom he’d probably grown up. But if she opened the compact, Dominic – standing as close as he was – might notice that the mirror didn’t reflect her image back. Instead it was the screen, showing the image she would snap if she took a picture – if she was able...

  “If you’d stayed in your room, you might have had to take that call from your boss,” Roderick pointed out. “Where do you work? Could you get called away?”

  She narrowed her eyes with his questions. What was he getting at? Did he want her to make up an excuse to leave and he would slip away with her? He was such a creep.

  She forced a smile over her revulsion and replied, “I’m in sales.” At least she hoped she’d be getting a story she could sell. Dominic tensed even more than he had over her laugh, and she realized he probably thought she was referring to selling her body or sex. “But I have this weekend off, so there’s no way my boss could call me back to the office.”

  And Dominic relaxed slightly. Had he been worried that Michelle had been calling her to another job – or rather – another john? She nearly laughed again.

  Michelle had probably been calling to see where she was since Dominic had told her he didn’t want an escort. He didn’t seem to mind so much now as he tightened his arm around her again and murmured, “Lucky for me...”

  Did he think he would get lucky later? The way he made Taylor’s skin heat and tingle, she was beginning to consider it. What would it feel like to have his hands – the hands of an artist – of a sculptor – running over her skin? Touching her? Caressing her?

  She shivered.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, his voice close to her ear, but his brother and future sister-in-law were listening too.

  So Taylor threw herself into her role and snuggled closer to his side. “Not with you touching me...”

  Dominic stared down at her, and his green eyes darkened as the pupils swallowed the irises. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Roderick took the opportunity to pull his twin away from her.

  “Come on, Dom, a lot of our old school pals are here,” he said. “They’ve been asking about you.” As Roderick pulled him toward the table, Dominic reached out for her hand.

  But Taylor hesitated before clasping it. She needed a moment – to remind herself why she was here and what she was really after. And it wasn’t Dominic Rowe, it was photos. While Courtney rushed after the brothers, Taylor stayed back and flipped open her compact. Under the guise of checking her make-up, she clicked photo after photo of the wedding party and Dominic. He dominated every picture – looking more handsome, more interesting, more exciting than any other person in the room despite their fame or notoriety.

  If he’d decided to try acting like their father, he would have skyrocketed to fame – unlike his brother who was more notorious than famous. Dominic was no actor, though. He’d told her that as well as already showing her that. As if appealing to her for help, he stared across the room at her. And she dropped the compact back in her purse and rushed to his side.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she murmured as she slid her arm around his waist. “I just needed a moment to check my make-up.”

  Roderick jumped in with a compliment, “It’s perfect. Just like you.”

  Courtney glared at her. And Taylor resisted the urge to glare back – at Roderick. How dare he hit on his twin’s new girlfriend after just stealing his last one? Had he no conscience? No soul? Not that Taylor was actually Dominic’s girlfriend.

  Dominic’s fingers brushed across her cheek. “You look best with no make-up at all,” he murmured.

  He’d never seen her that way, but the others didn’t know that. And for a moment Taylor forgot too as she smiled at him. Then she realized he was acting – far better than she’d thought he could. To reward him for his efforts, and his compliment, she ro
se on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his.

  The kiss jarred her, the attraction overwhelming her. His lips were like his sculptures – smooth and powerful – as he kissed her back. When they finally pulled apart, everyone was staring. And they were panting.

  “So who are the real lovebirds here?” one of the school pals asked. The guy was the son of a diplomat. He slapped Dominic’s shoulder. “Looks like you’re the one in love.”

  The kiss had already shaken Dominic to his core. He didn’t need Anton speaking his worst fear aloud. He never intended to fall in love. His father and brother’s history proved it couldn’t be trusted to last beyond infatuation. He never intended to trust love or his own judgment where women were concerned.

  “Yeah,” another friend chimed in. “Which one of you is the groom?”

  Dominic forced a laugh and reminded everyone, “Roderick’s the one getting married.”

  Anton leaned closer and whispered, “That doesn’t mean he’s in love.”

  Unfortunately with Roderick that was true. If Michelle was right, he wasn’t even capable of love. At the moment neither he nor Courtney even looked infatuated with each other. Instead they looked furious – with him and Taylor.

  Guilt struck a pang in his heart. He shouldn’t have taken any enjoyment in their jealousy. It was petty of him. And he was never petty. Hell, he didn’t need revenge or payback. He didn’t care that Roderick had stolen Courtney away. He certainly didn’t want her anymore.

  No. He wanted Taylor. Was that why he had agreed to Michelle’s crazy plan because he hadn’t wanted to let Taylor leave? He’d wanted to spend more time with her?

  Hell, he could have just hired her to come to his studio sometime – if he was that desperate to be with her. But then he would be soliciting her; he would be breaking a law. Right now he was a freebie – for this charade only, though. He doubted that included sex. Not that he wanted it.

  Hell, who was he kidding? Of course he wanted it. He wanted her. And that desire only increased as they continued to play the role of lovers. They kissed repeatedly throughout the night – far more than Roderick and Courtney did. He couldn’t be sure that he’d seen the betrothed pair kiss even once. Every time their heads bowed together, they seemed to argue instead. And he could imagine what they were arguing about – Roderick inviting Dominic and Taylor to the party.

  Not that the bride-to-be didn’t want him there. But she certainly didn’t want Taylor. She couldn’t stop glaring at the woman. Maybe she’d done it so much that she’d given Taylor a complex. She kept checking the mirror in her compact.

  “Your make-up really is perfect,” he assured her as he brought her the drink she’d requested. She’d asked him to get her a few of them over the course of the evening, but he didn’t know if he’d ever seen her take more than a few sips from the glass before she misplaced it.

  “It should be,” Taylor said. “Michelle did it.”

  Dominic loved his sister, but he knew she was a control freak – apparently to the extent that she even did the make up for her employees. But was she really a madam? He shook his head.

  And Taylor laughed. “You know her well.”

  “Not as well as I thought,” he said. He couldn’t believe she’d stoop to making money off sex. It seemed even worse that she wasn’t the one having it than if she was.

  Taylor gently squeezed his arm. “Yes, you do,” she assured him. “You know she’s fiercely loving and loyal and protective.”

  “How can you say that?” he asked. “She talked you into a dangerous job.”

  Her lips curved into a reassuring smile. “She makes sure I’m never at risk.”

  He glanced from her to his brother who was approaching again. Roderick couldn’t stay away from Dominic’s date – despite all the other people vying for his attention, most especially Courtney. “She had to know Roderick would relentlessly hit on you.”

  Taylor’s lips curved into a bigger smile. “She knows I can handle guys like Roderick no problem.”

  And just as his brother reached her side, she stumbled forward and into Dominic’s arms. “Oh,” she said with a giggle. “I think I’ve had a little too much, sweetheart.”

  He knew she’d only taken a few sips from each of her disappearing glasses, so he doubted she was affected at all. She was more talented at acting than his brother was.

  “You better bring me up to our room,” she said.

  “I – I can help,” Roderick said, and he reached for her arm.

  But Taylor shrugged off his hand and wound her arms around Dominic’s neck. As he lifted and carried her from the bar, applause broke out behind them.

  “They really should be the ones getting married,” a few people murmured.

  A tight knot formed low in his gut. He didn’t know if it was dread over the thought of getting married – something he’d vowed never to do - or if it was desire. Because desire for Taylor overwhelmed him.

  ***

  In the privacy of the bathroom in room #601, Taylor scrolled through the photos she’d taken with her compact . And she wished she could have gotten one of the bride and groom as Dominic had carried her from the bar. The looks on their faces had been priceless.

  Courtney had turned an unflattering shade of green with jealousy. And Roderick’s mouth had fallen open in shock that Dominic had swept her so easily away from him. Schmuck...

  What would it take for him to realize he had no chance of stealing Taylor away from Dominic? Not that Dominic really had her. But Roderick was lucky she was posing as his twin’s date. Otherwise she would have told him how big an asshole she thought he really was.

  No. Roderick had no chance in hell with her. But what about Courtney? Did she have a chance to get back with Dominic?

  He’d never answered her about whether or not he would take his ex back. Maybe he didn’t know. Taylor suspected he’d have to figure it out pretty soon – when Courtney threw herself at him and begged for him to take her back. The jealousy on her face hadn’t been because Taylor and Dominic had stolen the spotlight from her and Roderick.

  That jealousy had been over Taylor being the one in Dominic’s arms and not her. But his carrying her away had just been for show. She and Dominic were only acting. What Courtney had had with him had been real – until she’d left him for his twin. Taylor glanced into the mirror over the bathroom sink and she saw reflecting back at her that same jealousy she’d seen on Courtney’s face.

  What the hell was wrong with her? She wasn’t here for Dominic. She was here for a story. Just a story. As if to remind herself, she picked up the cell phone Dominic had retrieved from the bouncer as they’d left the bar. Now he was retrieving her suitcase from the trunk of her car.

  She’d offered to get it herself. But he’d refused. She didn’t know if he’d been being a gentleman or if he hadn’t wanted to risk Roderick getting her alone. She was no frail flower. She could defend herself against his brother.

  She was more worried about him. How could she defend herself from the things he was making her feel? Like jealousy. And desire.

  She punched in the number for Michelle’s FANTASY ENTERTAINMENT cell. Her friend answered immediately and with a throaty-sounding, “FANTASY ENTERTAINMENT. We make your every fantasy a reality.”

  “I’m not the detective,” Taylor assured her. Or actually probably disappointed her.

  “I thought maybe you’d lost your phone,” Michelle replied, “since you didn’t answer it earlier. Why aren’t you back here yet? Did you find another in to the wedding festivities?”

  “I didn’t need to,” Taylor said. “Dominic changed his mind.”

  “He’s keeping you!” Michelle exclaimed. And there was definitely no disappointment now. She sounded delighted.

  “He’s not keeping me,” Taylor said, as she bristled with offense. “I am not a stray he found on the street.” That was how everyone had treated her when her aunt had taken her in after her parents’ deaths. Like she was a stray her aunt h
ad agreed to keep. At least Aunt Mattie and Taylor’s close friends had never made her feel that way.

  Until now...

  “I’m sorry,” Michelle said contritely. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I just thought he was determined to not have an escort as a date.”

  “Roderick and Courtney showed up at the door as he was trying to show me out,” she said. “So now he’s playing along.”

  A clap echoed through the cell. “I’m so glad,” Michelle said. “Are they green with envy?”

  “Yes.” Unfortunately they weren’t the only ones. Even now she was wondering where he was and why it was taking him so long to retrieve her suitcase. Had Courtney caught him? Was she already pleading her case for him to take her back?

  That would be awkward if he returned with the bride-to-be instead of the expensive suitcase Michelle had packed for Taylor. Dominic wouldn’t do that – would he? He wouldn’t forgive cranky Courtney for betraying him with his brother?