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“My flight isn’t until tonight,” he continued. “And since my business here in Chicago got canceled, my day is open. How about we spend it together? Maybe you can show me around. I haven’t played a tourist here in years.”
Kassy pulled the corner of her lip into her mouth and seemed to be biting down on it hard. It made him want to reach over and kiss her silly.
“We talked about boundaries remember? This was just a one-night thing. You’re from out of town, and I’m sure you’re not going to be here for business again anytime soon. And I have a life, you know, commitments and so on.”
Heath was surprised by her reaction. It made him concerned that he had completely misjudged the situation. “I come to Chicago on business quite a bit. You’d be surprised. C’mon, Kassy. You know you want to spend the day with me.” Heath pulled out his most charming smile.
Kassy looked hesitant again. Then it seemed as if her back straightened. She had made up her mind about something, and Heath sensed that regardless of whether he wanted to know her decision or not, Kassy was the kind of girl who would tell it to him straight.
“Look, I had a really great time last night. I did,” she said. “But whatever else you’re thinking could happen between us just wouldn’t work because we’re from two different worlds. I’m an escort, and you’re a rich guy. This isn’t Pretty Woman, you know. This is real life.”
Heath wasn’t about to take that for an answer. It made no sense to him. If he liked her and she liked him, there was a way to make it work.
Heath used his best negotiating tone of voice, patient, metered, rich, and understanding. “I know this whole thing has pushed you outside of your comfort zone, Kassy, and it’s probably because you’re afraid you’ll get in trouble with your employer because of last night. Honestly, I hate the idea of a woman like you having to do work like this at all. I’ll give you the funds to help you pay for school or whatever else you need the money for so you don’t have to do this kind of work anymore. I want to help you, truly.”
She didn’t seem impressed at all with his negotiating skills. “So even though I told you I’m not a whore and that I don’t take money for sex, you’re going to treat me like one anyway?” Kassy’s hands settled on her generous, delectable hips. Standoff.
This discussion was going downhill quickly.
“That’s not what I meant at all. I’m sorry. This is coming out all wrong. I want to be your benefactor,” he said in a rush.
He picked up a stack of hundred dollar bills that he’d had the hotel manager deliver with breakfast. He held the gold-clipped bundle out to Kassy. “Here. Take this. I just want to help you get ahead any way I can.”
Heath moved toward her, but she stepped backward, eyeing the money like it had fangs. Heath paused and put up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “It’s just some money. It won’t bite you. Use it to get a new apartment. Clothes. Whatever you want. It doesn’t have to be school, if that’s not your thing. What is your thing, anyway?”
“Ohhhh, I get it,” she said, giving Heath a short-lived glimmer of hope.
It was a very short-lived glimmer.
“So you want to be my sugar daddy,” she said, her fine brows bunching. “And what would that make me? Not a whore. I’d be a gold digger now. That’s just great. Not much of a step up. How about a kept woman? Maybe I could be a kept woman? Is that what you’re thinking?”
Heath ran his hand through his hair. Everything had gone from bad to worse. He dropped the cash on the table. “You’re misunderstanding me, dammit. I’m trying to do a nice thing here.”
She stared at him, her sweet lips slightly open, her eyes wide. “You don’t have any idea what’s wrong with any of this, do you?”
“I guess not.”
She looked like she was going to say more, but then she took a deep breath and let it out in a lengthy, long-suffering sigh. “I don’t know how a man gets to be in your position in the world and be so … so … unaware.”
Heath was shocked. He wasn’t unaware. He was trying to be a nice guy. What was unaware about that? “Can we just start over, maybe? You could go back in the bathroom and do some more of whatever it was you were doing. Then you can come out and I won’t offer you money this time. How’s that?”
He could see she didn’t want to, but she smiled all the same. His gut clenched. Every time that woman smiled the world became a better place.
“Fine,” she said. “But I’m not going back into the bathroom. I really do need to leave.”
“Okay, if that’s how it is. I’m almost afraid to ask, but could I, at least, have your phone number?”
“You already have my number, silly,” Kassy said.
She used a cool tone that made him suspect she was avoiding the topic. Then he realized what she meant. Of course, he had the number for the escort agency. Cold.
He had wanted her personal number, despite the fact that they had said all along that there was not going to be anything personal about this transaction. The Private Yet Public game. That was coming back to bite him in the ass in a big way.
“Okay, I’m getting the hint,” he said. “I’m coming on too strong, and you’re uncomfortable. You probably have something already planned for today that I’m interfering with, and you don’t want to tell me what it is because it would give something away about you. I get it, and it’s okay. At least, let me walk you out.”
He didn’t want to let her go yet, but he couldn’t hold her in the suite. He was starting to get concerned that he wasn’t going to be able to see her again.
Kassy finally looked at him with an open expression. “Okay, you can walk me downstairs if you want.”
He felt his heart beating hard against his rib cage. At least, he’d have a few more minutes to convince her to tell him how he could contact her again, outside of the escort service. This was all … disconcerting.
Heath wasn’t used to losing something he wanted. He had built his company through a series of mergers and acquisitions that were far more complex than the situation in front of him. And yet, he hadn’t had a moment’s control of the current conversation since Kassy had left their warm bed.
He’d turn it around, though. He’d tackled harder, tougher foes in business. Of course, he was going to be able to work this out. He just had to find the right lever for the negotiation.
“Great,” he said. “Hang on just a second, I’ll be right back.” He gestured at his robe. “I just need to put some clothes on.”
He probably set a new world record for getting dressed. All he could think about was what he was going to say to Kassy to convince her to see things his way. This wasn’t a one-night thing for him. Not anymore. Maybe it never had been and he’d just been too stupid to realize it.
Fully clothed, he re-entered the living room and immediately discovered he’d made a fatal miscalculation.
The room was empty.
Chapter Seven
HEATH MADE HIS WAY OVER to the door and caught sight of a handwritten note sitting on the table beside it. The bundle of money rested beside it.
I figured out what you do.
You show girls a good time.
I have to admit —
you are quite the expert.
Thanks. Kassy
Heath would have laughed at her witty implication if he weren’t so shocked. She’d slipped out on him. What did it mean?
Surely she wasn’t going to turn her back on what happened between them last night. There had been a real connection between them, something she couldn’t possibly ignore.
He was ready to chase after her when his phone rang. Heath recognized the number on the screen. It was the escort agency. His heart did a little flip.
He answered the call. “Hello?”
“Mr. Collins, this is Maggie from Expert Escorts. We’re so sorry about what happened last night. We will, of course, give you a full refund for the error.”
He scowled. “What are you talking about? A refund for what e
rror?”
Was it possible they knew that Kassy had slept with him? That was definitely against the rules. He hadn’t intended to get her in trouble.
“Kassy was in an accident last night,” Maggie said. “It was completely unavoidable. We didn’t find out until this morning that she had been admitted to the hospital. That’s the reason that we didn’t contact you sooner. We’re so sorry for this oversight, Mr. Collins.”
“Is she okay?” he asked, stupidly responding while he tried to get his head around what Maggie was saying.
“Oh, the doctors believe she’ll make a full recovery. You’re so kind for asking.”
“Yes, uh … well …?”
“Mr. Collins, you are absolutely one of our most respected customers. I apologize profusely for any inconvenience that this may have caused you. If you’ll give us another chance, your companion during your next trip to Chicago is on us.”
