AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Interesting, I think to myself.
Sage lets out a big sigh as she stands from the table. “Well, anyway, I’m glad it’s working out over there, and I’m glad your dad is doing well. Let me know if you need anything here at the club, but if not, I’m gonna head out for the night. Sadie’s got it from here.”
“Yeah, I think I’m clocking out too,” I say as I stretch my arms over my head. “It’s been a long couple of days.”
“Of course,” she replies. “Take care of yourself, Dean. And again, let me know if you need anything at all.”
“Thanks, Sage,” I reply.
During the entire drive back to the house, I can’t stop thinking about Briar. After such a short period of time, it’s like she’s chiseled her way into my brain. For somebody that I thought was so predictable, the idea that there’s more to her than meets the eye is incredibly intriguing.
After parking my car in the driveway, I climb out and walk toward the back of the garage when I spot movement on the back porch of the house.
I freeze when I spot Briar sitting on the patio chair, holding a glass of wine in her hand and staring at her phone in the other. It’s half past one in the morning, and I did not expect her to still be up.
When she hears me approaching, she lifts her gaze and finds me in the dim light from the moon.
“Hey,” I say. “Can’t sleep again?”
“You caught me,” she replies groggily.
I make my way over to the back porch. She’s curled up on one of the patio chairs around the table with a throw blanket draped over her legs. She’s already taken off all of her makeup. And she has her hair piled on her head in a messy bun.
“How was work?” she asks.
“Work was work,” I say.
She presses her lips together and gives a slight nod. Judging by the look in her eyes, talking about my job makes her slightly uncomfortable but curious enough to want to know more. I know she’s afraid to ask.
“You want a glass?” she asks, holding up her wine.
I should say no, but I don’t.
“Sure, what the hell.”
As I take the seat across from her, she goes inside to get another glass. After filling it from the bottle on the table, she hands it to me.
“I hope you like merlot.”
“More of a malbec guy myself,” I reply, swirling the glass and taking a sip.
“How sophisticated,” she says, looking impressed. “I’m more of a…whatever catches my eye at the grocery store type of woman.”
“Fair enough.” Giving her a subtle smirk over my glass, I notice how easy it is to be around her. She’s far more comfortable now than she was after that pool rescue fiasco. Maybe it’s the wine.
I assume the wine also gives her the courage to ask what’s on her mind because she leans forward and looks deep into my eyes. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course,” I reply bluntly.
“What made you become a…” She stumbles on the word, her fingers touching her lips as she starts to blush. “I don’t know the right word to use.”
“Escort,” I say to finish her sentence. “Or sex worker, I guess. But hooker is just offensive.”
She lets out a short laugh, clearly from embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t,” I say to ease her nerves.
“But I’m just curious. What do you do? I mean…is it just sex? Or is there…more that you provide?”
