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“I’ve run into a bit of an emergency and I’m having to clear my schedule for the next few weeks. I hate to do it, but I need to reschedule with Joe. Or I can see if Nina is available to travel.”
“He really only responds to you, Zara.” June sounds disappointed. I hate disappointing her. People are surprised when they find out I’m sometimes booked by family members. But her brother is a lonely soul with severe injuries from a stint overseas during the war in Afghanistan. I bring him much needed companionship and comfort. The most we ever do is cuddle, but it’s kept him from going off the edge into a dark depression several times.
They live in Los Angeles. It’s only a few hours from Vegas.
“Would he be up for a trip? My situation has landed me just a few hours from you.”
June hesitates. “I don’t know. Perhaps if he knew he was coming to see you. I’ll talk to him. Can you text him?”
I don’t normally communicate with clients outside of dates unless they pay for it, but like I said, he’s a special client. “Sure, June. I’ll talk to him. If you think you might be interested in coming to Vegas, I can help with the arrangements.”
“Thanks, Zara. You’re the best. Is everything OK with your sister?”
I grimace. June and I have grown close in the two years since I took her brother on as a client, and once over a glass of wine I let it slip that I have a sister in Vegas who I don’t speak to. She’s the main reason I avoid this city.
“Everything is fine. It’s… complicated.”
June laughs. “Your life is so much more interesting than mine. I could come to Vegas with him, and we can chat over a drink.”
My smile is big and genuine although she can’t see me. “I would love that.” Girlfriends are not something I’ve ever had a lot of. Especially not ones who know what I do for a living. So even though it’s frowned on, I treasure our friendship. We don’t see each other often. No one would accuse us of being best friends, but I treasure it just the same.
“Hang up the phone.”
I jump at the sound of Luke’s voice and whirl to find him glaring at me with his hand out.
“I’ve gotta run, June. But I’ll touch base in a few days.”
Ending the call, I tuck it into the pocket of my dress and stand. “What’s crawled up your ass?” I ask as he stalks toward me. I’m doing my best not to let it show that he intimidates me and turns me on at the same time, but I don’t know how great of a job I’m doing.
“In case you haven’t forgotten, I’m paying for your time for the next week at least.” He reaches me and is brazen enough to slip a hand in my pocket to retrieve my phone.
I grab his wrist. “Drop it. That’s my property and contrary to what you may think, I am not yours.”
The corners of his mouth lift almost imperceptibly under his full beard but I don’t miss the twinkle in his eye.
“You’ll be fun to break, Flower.”
Now why did he have to say a stupid thing like that? I’m pissed the fuck off when I swing with the hand that isn’t holding his wrist, intent on slapping him. But he drops the phone and captures my hand before I can make contact.
“Let’s get one thing straight, you and me,” he snarls. “You don’t hit me, and you don’t schedule dates while I’m paying for your time.”
His eyes are dark, and passionate, and he’s practically panting with rage. What the fuck does he care if I double book? He’s planning to keep me hostage in this damn penthouse for the next two weeks.
“I’ve already told you, Mr. Bowden, you don’t own me. You may have paid for my time, but not twenty-four-seven. And I see no reason I can’t accommodate a client or two who are coming to Vegas anyway, so that I don’t completely tank my business.”
He lets go of my wrist but doesn’t back out of my personal space. “I don’t share. Period.”
I let out a laugh—nearly a cackle—and shake my head. “Then you shouldn’t have booked an escort, honey. You’re not paying me enough to pretend you’re the only one. And you’re not naive enough to fall for that anyway.”
“I’m serious, Zara. No other clients. That was the arrangement.”
Joe’s first appointment isn’t for another week. This doesn’t have to be settled now. But I want to. For the last twenty-four hours, I’ve felt completely out of control. That’s not a feeling I’ve had to deal with in a very long time, and I don’t like it at all.
“This is a unique client. I already canceled all my other clients, but this one needs me. His sister is worried about him and thinks some time with me will help.”
Luke frowns. “His… sister?”
I shake my head. “Don’t be a judgmental ass. Sometimes my services can be therapeutic for people who can’t get affection by more traditional means.”
