Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Through clenched teeth, I try to sound sincere without letting the contempt I feel slip through.
“I’ll try to do better, Shannon.”
“Good,” my boss retorts in an arrogant manner before hanging up the phone.
I wipe my tears away and then video call Lucy to tell her about my night. Hopefully she can help me think of a way to get the capital I need to start my business. But I start to tear up again when my best friend’s face pops up on my phone screen.
“Rosie? What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Was it another bad date?” Lucy answers sympathetically. This time, thankfully, she doesn’t have a baby at her breast, so I let it all out.
“No, it’s not that. Well, it is,” I sob. “But it’s even worse.” Then I tell her everything, including my awful phone call with Shannon.
Without flinching, my friend responds with an immediate idea.
“Ask my dad,” she says.
“What?!” I respond, totally caught off guard. “What do you mean, ask your dad?”
My friend merely shrugs and smiles.
“For the money, of course. My dad has lots of it. I’m sure he’d be happy to invest in your business.”
I stop.
“That’s crazy Lucy, I can’t just go ask your dad for money.”
“Why not?” she asks with a smile. “Damon has the funds, so that’s a good start. Plus, you’re my best friend. He isn’t going to turn you away.”
I blink at her. “Yes, but it’s for an escorting agency. Won’t he be totally weirded out?”
Lucy shrugs, unconcerned.
“No, my dad already knows that you work as an escort. Remember? He knows I met my husband because I took over one of your escorting shifts, so the cat was out of the bag a long time ago. But don’t worry because Damon’s not squeamish or anything. If anything, he’ll respect the fact that you are taking the initiative to get your own gig going.”
I pause because there’s some truth to my friend’s words. It’s not like the fact that I escort is new. Again, Damon found out about what I do when he first caught Lucy and Shane together. After all, I was the one who was supposed to go out with the older man. But it worked out, and in time, Damon accepted Lucy and Shane’s union, proving that deep down, he’s not a judgmental person.
“I guess I could try asking him, if you really think he’d go for it,” I say, still feeling rather reluctant.
Lucy perks up. “Yes! Definitely ask Daddy, Rose. Tell him it was my idea. The worst that can happen is that he says no.” She has a point.
“Okay. I’ll call his office tomorrow.”
“Yay! I’ll text you his secretary’s direct line. I’m so excited for you!” she squeals. “I hear some banging sounds outside, so I’ve got to go and investigate what those blasted children are up to, but we’ll talk soon, okay?”
I chuckle my goodbyes as we hang up, and then set my phone down before settling back into my couch. Unbidden, my mind drifts to Damon Pratt, Lucy’s dad.
He’s a gorgeous older man with thick chestnut hair, brown eyes, and a sculpted body. I’ve always noticed him because what woman wouldn’t? Plus, if I’m being honest with myself, I’ve had a crush on him for years. But nothing’s ever happened because he’s my best friend’s father. Damon’s way older than me, more mature, with an incredible job, and godawful rich too. Come to think of it, there are probably women throwing themselves at him night and day. What are the chances he would notice me, a girl whom he probably considers “tainted” because of what I do?
Then again, I haven’t seen Damon in a while now. I wonder what he’s up to? But Lucy says that her dad could be interested, and she’s right. The worst that could happen is that he says no. I take a deep breath and decide to do it. Yes, I’ll ask Damon to invest in my business. I’ll give it a shot.
Then my mind wanders back to the alpha male. I can picture him clear as day in my mind’s eye. I see his sleek chestnut hair, and I think about what it would feel like to run my hands through those wavy strands. I imagine his intense gaze roving over my aroused curves. I see his bronzed skin and can’t help but wonder what it would feel like gently rubbing against my own, the ripples of his muscles pressing into the soft lines of my body.
I notice my nipples have grown hard just thinking about him, and gently, I undo my blouse before popping my tits from my bra cups. But instead of touching them, just for a moment, I stroke my collar bone, pretending it’s Damon touching me. Then I begin lightly gliding my fingers up the side of neck. Running one hand through my hair, I brush my opposite thumb over my bottom lip, and then slip two fingers into my mouth, gently sucking them.