“So basically Magic Mike but shorter,” I said, grinning.
“Watch it, newbie,” Carter warned, but there was no heat behind it.
The thought of serious, no-nonsense Carter shimmying on a platform was so absurd that I couldn't help but laugh. Carter joined in, his deep chuckle a pleasant rumble, while Kaiden showed what he called Carter's “signature move”—a body roll that looked ridiculous coming from someone his size.
For a moment, we were just three friends sharing a meal and giving each other shit, the unusual nature of our employment briefly forgotten. These guys were nothing like the friends I'd had back home, but maybe that was a good thing. “What about you, Kaiden?” I asked. “What’s your assignment today?”
“I’m working the afternoon pool shift, then I’ve got a private client at eight.” Kaiden checked his watch. “Speaking of which, I should probably take a nap before I head out.” He added with a wink, “I’ll see you boys later. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
As Kaiden sashayed away, Carter turned to me. “I was thinking of hitting the gym before our shift. Want to join?”
A workout would help clear my head, and let’s be honest, I could use the endorphins after the emotional roller coaster I’d been on. “Sure. Sounds good.”
We finished our meals and headed to the staff gym. As we passed the pool area, my eyes landed on a familiar figure reclining on a lounger. The Duke, sitting shirtless on a lounger and talking to an older silver-haired man.
My stomach did this weird flippy thing, like when you miss a step going downstairs. Part of me wanted to duck behind a potted plant like some ridiculous cartoon character.
What caught my attention wasn't just his presence but the whole vibe. While the older gentleman gestured like he was directing an opera, the duke stood there with tension in his shoulders, responses measured. He looked like a coiled spring, ready to snap at any moment. This was a different dude than the commanding man who'd ordered me to my knees yesterday.
Our eyes met through his dark sunglasses, and my mouth went dry. My heart started hammering so loud I was sure Carter could hear it. I gave an awkward nod, because what else do you do when you lock eyes with someone who's had their dick in your mouth?
He returned the gesture before turning back to his companion, but not before I caught a subtle tightening of his jaw. Was he embarrassed to see me? Annoyed? Turned on? His aristocratic poker face gave nothing away.
“You know him?” Carter asked as we continued toward the gym, giving me a side-eye.
“He was my client yesterday,” I admitted, keeping my voice low while trying to sound chill about it. Like, yeah, I casually hook up with European royalty all the time, no biggie.
The memory of kneeling before him flashed through my mind, sending heat crawling up my neck. Shit. I was supposed to be processing this professionally, not getting all weird every time I saw the guy.
Carter raised an eyebrow. “Impressive first assignment.” He studied my face. “You know, nobility like that—they’re raised differently. Taught to compartmentalize everything and keep their emotions tight.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that sometimes what looks like coldness is actually careful control.” He shrugged. “Hard to tell without getting to know someone.”
I mulled this over. Was there more to the man than the dismissive client I’d encountered?
The gym provided a welcome distraction from my thoughts. I lost myself in the rhythm of my workout, focusing on the burn in my muscles rather than the confusion in my mind. Carter proved to be a good training partner, offering spots and form corrections without being overbearing.
By the time we finished, I was exhausted. We headed to the locker room to shower.
I closed my eyes, letting my mind drift. Despite the strangeness of my situation—like, holy shit, I'm working as a sex worker at a fancy resort?—I felt okay about it all. My roommates seemed to care about me. I had access to real medical care and psychological support for the first time in forever. The food was amazing, the facilities were stupid nice, and the pay would help Casey get the care he deserved.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, and moved to my locker to grab my clothes. My wristlet blinked red. I found the nearest computer screen and entered my password. Swiping the screen, I saw a message from The Ranch's scheduling system.
Assignment Update: Private Client Request - Villa 6 - 7:00 PM.
Villa 6. The Duke's villa.
Wow.
He’d requested me again.
A jumble of feelings hit me all at once. Shock, nervousness, and a tiny bit of pride that I hadn't screwed up as badly as I thought. And underneath all that, I couldn't deny I was curious about who this duke guy really was. What was that thing I'd seen by the pool? Was Carter onto something about all that self-control hiding something deeper?
I closed the notification and finished getting dressed, feeling weirdly determined. This time, I wouldn't go in there all wide-eyed and clueless. I wouldn't take his cold shoulder personally. I was just doing my job, one he specifically asked for me to do.
