Into The Fire (Gorgeous Entourage #1)

by E. L. Todd

  “They’re lucky to have you.”

  “I don’t know about that…I was a handful. They deserve a medal for raising me.”

  I chuckled. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”

  “I wish I were.” He crossed his arms over his large chest. “So, anything else you want to know?”

  “I assume you didn’t go to college?”

  He just stared at me.

  “That’s a no…”

  “I’m not college material.”

  “I’m sure you could do anything you put your mind to.” I made a few notes in my notebook.

  “What’s your story?” he asked. “Why are you an escort?”

  I spun the pen in my fingers. “We’re here to talk about you, not me.”

  “We can’t be friends?” he asked. “Don’t I have to know something about you before I bring you home to my parents?”

  “Well, I need to create an alias. What do you think your parents would like?”

  “A goodie goodie. Someone well mannered and educated. Something boring.”

  “Okay,” I said. “How about I say I attended NYU for literature and then started running a flower shop in Brooklyn? Where do your parents live?”

  “Connecticut.”

  “So, they probably don’t know all the flower shops in New York?”

  “Doubtful. That works. You look like you’d work in a flower shop anyway.”

  “Thanks…or are you calling me boring?”

  “No.” He gave me a smile. “Actually, that’d be really cute. I’d totally make a pass at you if I saw you priming roses in the window of a shop.”

  My cheeks felt warm again. “Thanks…I guess I’ll have to research different flowers and what not.”

  “My parents aren’t going to interrogate you that much.”

  “I’d rather be prepared,” I said. “It’s what you’re paying me for.”

  “I feel like all my money was spent on your beauty.” He said it with a straight face. “Are you a model and just do this on the side for money?”

  It was the biggest compliment I’d ever gotten. “Uh, no. This is my only job.”

  “Really?” he asked in surprise. “You fooled me.”

  “It’s good money and I have control over my hours.”

  “Do what you like and don’t give a shit what anyone else says,” he said bluntly. “I’m just surprised you don’t get tired of men gawking at you all the time.”

  “They don’t,” I said. “Some do but not all.”

  “Maybe I should get into this business.” He winked at me.

  “You would get fired so fast.”

  “Why?” he asked defensively.

  “Because you’d sleep with all the clients.”

  “So?” he asked. “What’s wrong with that?”

  I rolled my eyes. “The second you sleep with them, you’re breaking the law.”

  “How so?” He was totally clueless.

  “Because it’s prostitution.”

  “Oh…” His eyebrows furrowed. “I didn’t think about it that way.”

  “So, you’d never be able to work here.”

  “That’s a shame,” he said. “I’d bring you a lot of business.”

  “We bought the company from a group of guys a few years ago. Now we’re just a group of women running it.”

  “This seems like a good gig. Why give it up?”

  “They settled down. They didn’t want to moonlight as other people’s boyfriends anymore.”

  “I guess that would be a conflict. If I ever had a wife, I wouldn’t let anyone touch her.”

  “You think about getting married?” Earlier he said he didn’t do the girlfriend thing so I was a little confused.

  “No. That’s why I said if and not when. Relationships aren’t for me. I get what I need and then move on. And I’m happy that way.”

  “Sounds lonely to me.”

  He gave me a dark look. “I didn’t ask for your opinion and you have no right to judge me.”

  “I wasn’t judging you.”

  “It seemed like it.”

  “I would just feel empty going from person to person forever. It would be nice for a while but one day I’d want a single person to share my life with. I’d want kids and stuff…”

  “I don’t want kids.” He said it bluntly. “I’m not meant to be a father.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You haven’t figured it out in the hour you’ve been talking to me?” he asked incredulously. “I’m an ex-military tattoo artist that can’t even open his own shop. I’m not exactly a role model.”

  “I don’t see what the problem is with any of those things. All a parent needs to do is love their child unconditionally. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living.”

  He stared at me with his lips pressed tightly together.

  I looked down at my notes because his stare was becoming too intense. “Is there anything else I should know? Like an ex-girlfriend or something?”

  “You’re the only one.”

  Even though he meant that in a specific context, I felt my heart skip a beat. “Well, it looks like I have everything I need…”

  “Good. I’ve got to get to Guitar Center. There’s this beauty…in the window. I must have her.”

  I tried not to laugh. “I hope you get her.”

  He stood up and looked down at me. “You know what I’m going to name her?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Alessandra.”

  Ash

  “Yo, Mom. It’s me.” I held the phone to my ear.

  “Hello, Ash.” The disapproval in her voice told me she wasn’t a fan of how I greeted her.

  “You want to go out to dinner on Saturday?”

  “Me?” Surprise was in her voice.

  “Well, I thought about what you said and I was getting coffee the other day when I saw this smoking hot brunette in the corner. I decided to ask her out, and after a few dates, I realized she was pretty damn cool. I want you to meet her.”

  She didn’t scold me for cussing because she seemed so excited. “That’s lovely, honey. What’s her name?”

  Every time I said her name it excited me. “Alessandra.”

  “Wow, that’s beautiful. Of course your father and I would love to meet her.” She paused for a second. “She doesn’t have any tattoos or any of that nonsense, right?”

  “No.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Then we’re so excited. Should we eat in the city?”

  “Sure.” I didn’t give a damn. Let’s just get this ball rolling so I can get my cash.

  “I’ll talk to your father. We’ll see you then.”

  “Okay, Mom. See ya.”

  “Bye.”

  I hung up then tossed the phone into the air. It’d been three weeks since I met Alessandra and I was finally getting this stupid plan underway. Hopefully, in a few months, I’d have the money to open that shop.

  ***

  I used the number Alessandra gave me. “Yo, sweetheart. It’s me.”

  “Uh…who is this?” It wasn’t Alessandra. It was some other woman.

  “I’m looking for Alessandra. Is this the wrong number?”

  “This is Beautiful Entourage. It’s Shelly.”

  “Oh, hey.” Maybe I called the wrong number? “Is she there?”

  “Yeah, hold on.” I was put on hold until Alessandra answered the phone.

  “Ash?”

  “Hey, I meant to call your cell but I called your office on accident.”

  “No, that’s the number I gave you.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t you just give me your cell?”

  “I don’t share personal information with clients.”

  “Oh…why?” Was I missing something?

  “Just to protect my privacy.”

  “Sometimes I wonder if you’re really a spy with all your secrecy.”

  “Maybe I am,” she said playfully. “So, what’s up?”

  �
�I need you for date night with my parents. It’s Saturday. Are you free?”

  “I am,” she said. “You think three weeks is long enough?”

  “Yeah, Mom totally bought it. We’re good.”

  “Glad to hear that.”

  “So, I’ll pick you up? Or what?”

  “You can either pick me up at the office or I can swing by your apartment.”

  “What?” I blurted. “You won’t even tell me where you live? You think I’m a crazy stalker or something?”

  “No. But I like to be safe.”

  I guess that was the smart thing to do. “Want to swing by my place? That way you’ll know where it’s at just in case it comes up.”

  “That’s fine with me.”

  “Cool. 6:30?” It was weird to be picked up by a chick. The only time a girl came to my apartment was when she wanted me to stick it to her good.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Alright, see you then.”

  “Bye, Ash.”

  “Wait.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m excited for you to see my guitar—Alessandra.”

  She chuckled into the phone. “She better be as beautiful as you say.”

  “Not nearly as beautiful as you. But nothing is.”

  ***

  She arrived at my door wearing sultry eye shadow and red lipstick. Her skin was fairer than a porcelain doll, and the tight dress she wore highlighted every beautiful curve she possessed. The heels on her feet just made her look even sexier.

  I looked her up and down and whistled. “Day-um.”

  Her cheeks reddened instantly and she tried to cover it up with a smile.

  “You clean up good.” She didn’t look bad before, completely to the contrary, but she didn’t dress up and make herself look like a supermodel either. “You’re lucky that contract is in place otherwise you’d be another one of my victims.”

  “I doubt that.” She entered my apartment and took a look around. “It’s nice…”

  The place was pretty messy but I didn’t have time to clean up. “It’s usually worse than this so be thankful.”

  “Lucky me.”

  “Come here.” I walked further into the living room then grabbed the guitar. “This is her…and I love her.” I extended the guitar to her. “Want to hold her?”

  “You really trust me?” she asked sarcastically.

  “Just don’t drop her. Otherwise, I’m going to break one of your heels so we’ll be even.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.” She took it from my arms then pulled the strap over her neck. She lightly strummed one chord.

  “Wow…you look hot.”

  “Thanks. I could be a rock star.”

  “Looking like that you could. You want to learn how to play? I could teach you.”

  She chuckled and took the guitar off. “I don’t have time to learn an instrument.”

  “Come on, I’m an awesome teacher.”

  “Who have you taught?”

  I shrugged. “Myself.”

  “And that’s the only reference you have?”

  “Hey, I’m awesome. You should hear me play.”

  She eyed the time on the TV. “We should probably go so we aren’t late.”

  “Ugh, I’d rather stay here and watch you hold my guitar.”

  “Maybe later.”

  I set it down on the stand then grabbed my wallet. “If it comes up, we met in a coffee shop, I wooed you, and now you’re totally smitten with me.”

  “Got it.”

  We walked out of my apartment then headed up the sidewalk.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Some Italian place my parents like. I want them to be in a good mood so I let them pick whatever they wanted.” I kept my hands in my pockets as I walked beside her. Even in tall heels, she was much shorter than me. It was surprising since her legs looked so long.

  “How’ve your three weeks been?”

  “Okay,” I said. “Just been working and playing my guitar. What about you?”

  “Just been working.”

  “See, you do have time to learn an instrument.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have the patience.”

  “You have the patience to put up with me.”

  “True,” she said with a chuckle.

  We arrived at the restaurant and I took a deep breath. “Try not to punch them in the face.”

  “When have I ever given you the impression I was violent?”

  “All girls are crazy. They just show their true colors at different times.” My parents were already there. They had a table near the window, and their glasses of wine were already in front of them. “Let’s get this shit over with.”

  “Aren’t you going to put your arm around my waist or something?”

  “Why?”

  “So it looks like we’re together.” She rolled her eyes. “You really weren’t kidding about the girlfriend thing.”

  I put my arm around her waist. “Okay. Does it look like we’re in love?”

  “Whatever. This is the best we can do.”

  We approached the table where my parents sat. “Yo, what’s up?”

  Mom ignored my greeting. Usually she had something smart ass to say about my choice of words but tonight she didn’t. “Hey, honey. Did you not have time to change after work?” She eyed my t-shirt.

  “No, I did.” What was wrong with what I was wearing?

  “Oh…this is a nice place, Ash.” Mom lowered her voice to a whisper.

  She didn’t waste any time, did she? “Mom, meet my girlfriend, Alessandra.”

  Mom took her in, and judging the smile on her lips and the way her eyes shined like the sun, she loved her. “Oh my goodness, you’re so beautiful.”

  “I know how to pick em’, huh?” I said with a grin.

  Mom shook her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

  “You too,” Alessandra said. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

  “Oh, you’re so polite.” Mom hugged her like she’d known her for years.

  I guess my mom was expecting me to bring Marilyn Manson.

  I gave Dad a quick hug. “Hey, old man. What’s up?”

  His eyes were glued to Alessandra. “Nice job, Son.”

  “Yeah, I know,” I said with a shrug. “Supermodels have always been my thing.” I walked around the table then pulled out a chair for Alessandra. I was never a gentleman like this but the night was going well and I was in a good mood.

  Alessandra gave me a quick smile before she sat down.

  I took the place beside her. “Do you want wine or anything?”

  “I’ll have whatever you’re having,” she said.

  I flipped the menu over. “Do they have beer?”

  “No,” Mom said in an annoyed voice. “This is an Italian place.”

  “Do Italians not drink beer?” I blurted.

  Alessandra leaned toward me and looked at the wine list. Her smell came into my nose, and her soft hair slightly tickled my forearm. “Let’s do the merlot. It’s bitter, but not too bitter.”

  “I don’t drink wine.”

  “I know,” she said. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart.” I set the wine menu down. I remembered that I was supposed to be affectionate with Alessandra. I wasn’t totally clueless when it came to women, but I was only touchy behind closed doors. I never went out to dinner or took a stroll around the park. I put my arm over the back of her chair and tried to act natural.

  Mom looked thrilled. “So, you two met in a coffee shop?”

  “Yep,” I said. “I saw her across the room and knew I had to have her. The rest is history.”

  “He was very charming,” Alessandra said. “He knows how to make me laugh.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Mom said. “What do you do, Alessandra?”

  Now that the boring part of the conversation came, I moved to the breadbasket and ate all the slices inside. My pa
rents didn’t seem to notice because they were so absorbed with my date.

  “I run a flower shop in Manhattan,” she said. “Gardening has always been a hobby and I really enjoy it.”

  “That’s great,” Dad said.

  “Adorable,” Mom said.

  “I like to take flowers home and put them in my apartment. The place always smells like summer.”

  I discreetly eyed the front of her dress. Her cleavage line could be seen from this angle, and I couldn’t stop myself from taking a peek. Damn, her tits were nice.

  “How long has this been going on for, Ash?” Mom asked.

  “Uh…” I pulled my eyes away from the beautiful sight. “Three weeks now. I was reluctant for a relationship but Alessandra is special.” My fingers gently rubbed her shoulder. “I didn’t want to let her go.”

  “Awe…” Mom leaned toward Dad and grabbed his arm.

  I couldn’t believe they were buying this crap.

  “Your son is a wonderful man,” Alessandra said. “He’s so sweet and thoughtful. You raised him well.”

  “Well…we did our best.” Dad sipped his wine.

  Could we go now? How long did I have to keep up this act for? I just wanted my money and I felt like a dog jumping through hoops to get what was rightfully mine. At least Alessandra was cool.

  We spent the rest of the evening making small talk. My parents were far more interested in Alessandra than they were in me. They hardly spoke to me. If I weren’t there, they wouldn’t have even noticed. I didn’t mind because I didn’t like talking to them anyway, but I’d rather be at home or anywhere but there.

  At the end of the night, I paid our tab then released a sigh of relief now that the evening was over. I could probably go two weeks without seeing them again. And I’m sure Alessandra was already sick of them.

  “Thank you so much for having dinner with us.” Mom hugged her before she said goodbye. “You’re such a sweet girl. You’re perfect for my son.”

  “Well, thank you,” Alessandra said. “I’m a very lucky girl to have him.”

  She should consider acting because she was damn good at it.

  “Come over for dinner next week,” Dad said. “We’d love to have you over.”

  Next week? As in seven days? That was way too soon. “We’ll see if we’re free.”