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“He left?” Eden couldn’t keep the hurt and anger from her voice. “Without even saying goodbye?”
Jeremy held up his hands. “Geez, don’t shoot the messenger. Besides, I don’t know what you expect. You’re a hooker. You should be glad he ordered you breakfast.” He took the covers off the plates to display a breakfast that would feed a family of five. “And not just any breakfast, but the works.”
Since she had been too nervous about seducing Nash to eat the night before, Eden’s stomach growled at the sight of the fluffy vegetable omelet, pancakes, sausage links, bacon, toast, and orange juice. But her brain wasn’t as interested in the food as it was about finding out why Nash had left without a word. After last night, she thought things had changed between them. She no longer thought of him as a story, and she’d assumed that he no longer thought of her as an escort.
Obviously, she was wrong.
Instead of paying her off with money, he was paying her off with food. Her spine stiffened. If that was the case, then she had a few things to say to Nash Beaumont. She strode over to the dresser and grabbed her phone out of her purse. But before she could call him, she noticed the text message.
Good morning, beautiful. Problem at work, but should be back before you finish your breakfast. DON’T GET DRESSED. I plan to spend the rest of the day in the Garden of Eden.
All the anger drained right out of her, and she released a giddy giggle.
“Hookers sure have major mood swings,” Jeremy said. “Is it the drugs?”
She ignored the comment and texted Nash back.I thought we took care of the control issue last night. Obviously not… STOP WITH THE ORDERS!She had barely pushed send when she got a reply. What she had meant as a joke, Nash had taken seriously.
Please don’t leave, Eden.
The plea made her heart ache. She quickly texted back.
I’m not going anywhere. Naked and waiting.
Only seconds later, she got a reply.Screw work! Be there in a minute.
Eden laughed as she texted.Go to work. I have a huge breakfast to keep me busy.
Fine, but save room for me.
She smiled, but her smile dropped when she glanced up and saw Jeremy sitting at the table eating her breakfast. When he noticed her glare, he shrugged.
“What? You can’t eat this entire breakfast by yourself. And after working all night, I’m starving.”
She walked over and took the chair across from him. “Don’t touch my pancakes. And no more hooker talk.”
“Okay,” Jeremy said as he cut off a piece of omelet, “but you can’t blame a hormonal teen for being interested—even though there’s no way I would ever pay two thousand for a lay. I guess that’s how you could afford the new Porsche. That is a righteous car.”
“That’s not mine. It’s a loaner.” She poured syrup on her pancakes. “And how did you find out how much escorts make?”
“Your pimp told Joey. He’s the other night valet.”
Eden paused with the fork of pancake inches from her mouth. “My pimp?”
Jeremy stopped devouring the omelet. “The guy’s not your pimp? I thought that’s why he pays Joey to call him when you show up.”
A chill ran down Eden’s spine. “What does this guy look like that pays Joey?”
Jeremy shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you. He never gets out of his black SUV.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The last thing Nash wanted to do that morning was go into work. He wanted to be back in the hotel suite tucked around Eden, watching her sleep. She snored. Not loudly. More like the nasally purr of a contented kitten. It was almost as cute as her hand talking and duck run. Or maybe what was so cute was the way she snuggled in his arms like she trusted him completely. It had been a long time since a woman had completely trusted him. It had also been a long time since he had completely trusted a woman.
And he did trust Eden. Her brutal honesty had given him a glimmer of hope that he could someday forgive himself for the role he played in Melissa’s suicide. Even more than that, Eden had made him realize that happiness was still within his grasp and that it was time to stop living in the shadows and start living in the light. The majority of that light surrounded Eden.
He wasn’t ready to dissect his feelings toward her yet. For now, he just wanted to enjoy her… and his desire. Unfortunately, that desire would have to wait. With Deacon and Olivia in Paris and Grayson not answering the phone, Nash was the only one left to handle the crisis at the office.
Once he arrived at French Kiss, he wasted no time heading up to the executive floor to get the details of the situation from Kelly. Unfortunately, Kelly wasn’t at her desk. Rather than hunt her down, he called her cell phone. The ringing that came from his receiver seemed to coincide with the ringtone that came from under the desk. It stopped when Kelly answered in a hushed voice.
