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A totally ignorant comment, and so far from the truth it was laughable.
I thought about our girls. Iris had two sons she put though private school. Arlene worked from home as a financial planner and had three certificates in money management and investment. Michelle, like Everly, was studying to be a lawyer. Abby, the newest addition to my stable, was pre-med.
These women weren’t into drugs or needing women’s shelters to start new lives. I won’t lie, the lifestyle was taxing and sometimes people slipped. But the majority of my employees had full, functioning lives. They liked sex, and needed money, so they used one to supply the other.
But there was always someone who had to ruin it. Always someone who couldn’t see past my occupation and notice the man underneath the veneer of porn that surrounded me 24/7. I had no idea how my father had done it for thirty years.
Martin drew my attention away from the ignorant comments.
“Ellie used to work this room every year, getting even more money out of the people who’d already given thousands.”
I liked Martin. He had been kind to my mother and a good friend. He’d even been to our house a few times for dinner parties.
“Sounds like a determined woman,” Everly said.
>
“She was.” I looked up. “And I have no idea why. Just that these ladies needed our help and we were fortunate enough to be able to give it to them.”
I knew it had nothing to do with my mother’s upbringing. She came from money, hence my trust fund. She’d had every opportunity in the world, but she chose porn. I’d heard my grandparents weren’t accepting of it at first, but eventually they came around. Coincidentally about the time I was born.
“Ellie was a strong and confident woman—the strongest woman I’ve ever met—and it killed her to see other women in trouble. Ones who didn’t know who to talk to, where to go, didn’t know their own capabilities. She just wanted to help.”
After Martin took the next ten minutes to spout kind remarks about my family, he left us to mingle with the other guests. I didn’t much feel like mingling.
I led us away from the crowd into the dining room and settled us by the window. The lake was beautiful at night. So calm and magical.
It was cooler away from the guests and Everly wrapped her arms around her torso, her small hands rubbing her biceps to keep warm. I shrugged out of my jacket and placed it over her shoulders.
She thanked me with a smile. “You could have told me, you know.”
“About?”
“About your mom, this charity, your donations.” She stepped closer, letting her finger trace along my jaw then over my lips. I nipped at it. It only took one simple gesture for me to want to devour her. “It doesn’t change my opinion of you. I’d still think you’re a selfish, silver-spoon-fed ass.”
I laughed. “Noted.”
“Am I only here to check an item off the list?” She looked up at me like she already knew the answer—like the only reason she was asking was for confirmation.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to answer. Either way, I was a pussy. I could lie, and risk never letting anyone see the real me, but wasn’t that what this whole plan was about? The redemption of my tainted soul? Or I could tell her the truth and risk rejection. I didn’t like either option.
What I did like was the sight of Everly in that dress. The way she looked when we walked into the room. The way she owned her entrance once she’d figured out my intentions. It was sexy as hell and I wanted to thrust her up against this window and have my way with her right then and there. But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to ruin this…whatever this was…between us. There was something more at stake than just sticking my penis into a waiting receptacle.
I wouldn’t force her, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to push her to experience new things. That’s what her bucket list was all about. And although good old Gram probably wouldn’t be the person to add sexual things to that list, why couldn’t I? My brain was already there when it came to Everly.
I sidled closer, maneuvering our bodies so that she was in front of me. There was only one other couple in the dining room, at the opposite end, and they were deep in conversation.
“You look incredibly beautiful tonight.” I placed a chaste kiss on her lips and she moaned when I pulled away so quickly.
I nuzzled her neck, citrus infusing my nose, causing a swelling in my pants. Every damn time.
I slipped my hands between our bodies, careful to conceal what I was about to do next.
“It’s the dress. I’m only beautiful because of the dress.” She let her eyes fall to the floor and I changed course, bringing one hand up, tipping her chin so she’d look at me.
“Clothes are only as beautiful as the people who wear them. Don’t ever forget that.”
She gave me a half-smile. Everything about her was so modest, so unassuming and innocent. It never failed to suck me in, to take me to a place where I wanted to rip apart that sweetness and carry her over to the dark side with me. And right now I was feeling pretty dark.
