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FOUR
Tamsin
I watch as Erserro transfers the staggering amount of money into my account and turns his screen toward me so I can see the receipt. Gives me a little warm glow looking at all those zeros. Until I remember where most of it will be going.
When I named my price for a night, he only grinned as if he’d have been prepared to go even higher. Makes me almost regret not asking for more.
“I will send a car for you tomorrow evening. If you prefer not to give me your address, then you may name a pickup location of your choice.”
I tip my head to the side. “Are you telling me you haven’t already got one of your staff to somehow find out where I live?”
The grin widens. “Not yet, but I might do, if you tempt me. Or perhaps I’ll simply follow you home tonight.”
He makes me laugh so much, this cocky monster. There’s something so delightful about the arrogant way he takes exactly what he wants from life. I’m envious. Perhaps that’s it.
“Are you always like this?” I ask him.
“Like what?”
“So... self-assured.”
He shrugs. “I expect so. I don’t pretend to be anything other than what I am. And I have many reasons to be confident.”
In the end, I leave him at the corner with my number and a promise to meet his driver the next day. I’m not one hundred percent sure he doesn’t carry through with his threat to follow me home, but if he does, I don’t see him.
A mew comes from the living room as I let myself into my flat. “Hi, puss. It’s only me.”
My ancient Persian cat, Missy, is completely blind, and sometimes she freaks out if I don’t call out to her when I come in. She spends most of her time sleeping, and she is easily startled these days.
I kick off my boots and hang up my keys and bag, making my way to the sofa to sit beside her.
She purrs while I gently scratch beneath her chin.
“Hi, Missy. I had the strangest meeting.”
Missy lifts her chin a little higher. I dutifully rub more.
“He’s so... so...” I pause, trying to think of the word. Missy opens her mouth and rests her teeth against my hand just to show me she will bite if I don’t keep petting her. She’s a real princess, my cat, but I love her.
“...so hot.” I giggle to myself. “And he’s already paid for tomorrow. I have a good feeling about him, and I really hope I’m not wrong.”
Missy lifts to her feet, arching her back and fluffing her fur. Then she crawls into my lap and curls into a ball.
I was just about to get myself something to eat, but she looks so comfortable. I guess I can wait.
Instead, I stretch to reach the TV remote on the other cushion and flick on the screen. I pat her fur and listen to the low rumble of her purr. If she’s noticed Erserro’s scent on me, she hasn’t reacted to it. It’s possible her sense of smell is going, too. But I like to think that’s a good sign.
I sure hope Maurice is wrong that I’m putting myself in danger.
Erserro’s car is a fancy sports car. When we stop at the gated entry to the driveway, I get a tingle of excitement low in my belly. The black metal gate steadily slides to one side and we move slowly up the drive between manicured hedges and beautiful flowers to park in front of an enormous white mansion complete with an actual fountain in the front yard. I stare. It hadn’t really occurred to me how rich this guy was until I saw the fountain. Is that silly?
Instead of a member of staff, Erserro himself meets me by the front door and dismisses the driver. He’s wearing a white buttoned shirt, rolled up at the arms and unbuttoned to expose a little of his smooth chest. He has on gray chinos and casual shoes, like he’s just been hanging out for an expensive photo shoot on a Sunday afternoon. “I’m so glad you came.”
I smile and present my cheek for him to kiss. “How could I refuse?”
“Exactly.” His breath is warm and fresh-smelling against my cheek. His kiss the lightest brush of lips. A polite and friendly greeting. It’s only the firm way his hand slides over my lower back that gives me a real clue how he might handle me later. The tingle of awareness I’ve been feeling all afternoon grows until a sweet ache starts in my core.
I’m constantly surprised just how attracted to him I am. It’s not usually like this with clients, and it’s been a long time since I went on an actual date or saw a man I really wanted to see.
