the doorman
. . .
Ellie Darling
Ellie’s Guide to Professional Cuddling, Tip #1: Safety first. There are a lot of weirdos out there.
A doorman was trying to sabotage me doing my job.
Again.
When I first dipped my toes into the professional cuddling industry, no one warned me my biggest hurdle would be the gatekeepers of posh downtown high-rises refusing to let me in.
I thought I’d be more concerned about my grandma’s disapproving stares over Thanksgiving dinner. Or getting murdered by a client.
But Hughes was one tough cookie.
The polished doorman stood between me and my client’s building like an impenetrable wall, but his tailored red jacket and fancy leather gloves didn’t fool me. He’d snap to attention whenever someone more worthy needed to get through the tall glass doors—while conveniently blocking me from darting around him with a graceful arm or well-timed step into my path.
He’d done this dance before.
The building was a massive luxury high-rise in the heart of downtown Westport. Easily the nicest place I’d ever had an appointment. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed inside.
Usually, clients gave me a room number for a hotel or added me as an approved guest for their apartment. For the clients with nosy front desks, they added me to an approved vendors list under a profession likepersonal stylistorwellness consultant.
Hughes had already insisted multiple times that I was on no such list for this building. He also eyed my blue hair with the same tight-lipped disapproval old ladies at the cat café often did. The wind hadn’t done it any favors either—pulling more than a few strands loose from my French braid.
But even when clients forgot to approve my arrivalandweren’t answering their phone, I’d never met a doorman I couldn’t sweet-talk into letting me up to a client’s room.
Until this one.
Which was really unfortunate, because I didn’t get paid if I couldn’t make it to the appointment. The vet had already told me twice that they couldn’t authorize another surgery for my cat until I had the money up front.
That did nothing to help my growing desperation.
“You seem like a good guy, Hughes,” I said after my seventh direct message to the client got no response. With a soft huff, I closed the Sunshine Cuddle Services app and stuffed my phone into my duffle bag. “I even respect your dedication to keeping out unsavory individuals, but it’s not necessary in this case. I’m allowed to be here.”
His bushy dark mustache twitched, and I got the impression he was laughing at me. “I’ve heard that before, yet you aren’t on the list of residents or approved visitors. Have a nice day, miss.”
“How am I supposed to have a nice day when you’re stopping me from doing my job?” I grumbled before clearing my throat and pasting on a hopeful smile. “I’m probably not on the listbecause this was a very last-minute booking. Any chance you could add me now? My name is Ellie Darling, and I’m here to see a client.”
“If you’re here for business, then you should be using the vendor entrance.” He gestured to the pristine glass beside him. “This door is for residents and their guests.”
I glanced along the front of the huge building but didn’t spot any other doors. “Where’s the vendor entrance?”
“Around the back.” Hughes stared down his hooked nose at me. “But it has security guards who will tell you the same thing I did—you’re not on the list.”
I winced. I’d rather take my chances here with Hughes than security.
“Well, surely we can fix that tiny list issue, right?” Desperation made me a little reckless, and I blurted out the first thing I could think of. “Do you accept bribes?”
Not that I had any money, but it was worth a shot.
Hughes didn’t seem to agree, and he scowled like I’d gravely insulted him. “I donot.”
“Okay, well, how about…” I racked my brain for a good trade, but each idea was worse than the one before it. “Um, I could provide entertainment for you after my appointment finishes?”
He cocked a doubtful eyebrow. “…Entertainment?”
