Of course he did. Because why would an ex-prostitute have a problem sleeping with someone for money? It was literally my job. The joke was on me. I wasn’t an ex-prostitute. I was doing the same thing I’d done before. I’d just exchanged a pimp for one who gave me a choice and the potential to earn more.
Just business. Sully had tried to tell me that so many times, and I’d chosen not to listen.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. Don’t worry. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to ensure that this Bernard guy is entertained until Sully shows up.”
“Atta boy. I don’t doubt you one bit.” He grinned. “If Sully hadn’t warned me to stay away from you, I might have tried my luck too.”
“Wait, what? Sully warned you to stay away from me?”
“Yeah, he doesn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to rebut that what we’d done on this couch two weeks ago had definitely not been business. Sully’s hand had been on my dick, and it hadn’t gotten there by accident. Not with all the stroking he’d done. He’d even allowed me to lick myself off his hand.
I jumped to my feet, clutching the dress to my chest. “What time will you pick me up?”
“At nine. It’s a late-night affair. They usually are.”
Of course.
“I’ll be ready. I’ll just hang this beauty up.” If only Sully had bought it for me for our date. The irony. He’d bought it for me to seduce and have sex with another man.
This is what you signed up for.
“Kit.”
I turned back to Liam. “Yes?”
“You know you can back out of this anytime, right? You just say the word.”
“Why would I do that?” I shrugged. “It’s just a job.”
One I never minded too much until Sully came along and showed me a glimpse of how it felt to be treated with care and respect. Even when he’d turned me down. He’d never treated me as if I were less than human for what I did. From that first night he’d opened the car door for me, I’d known there was something different about him.
Liam picked me up at nine, just like he said he would. I was ready and waiting for him. When he’d left earlier, I’d spent the rest of the day alone, reminding myself what my job was. Not to screw around with Sully but to do whatever they wanted and, in the process, to make more money than I’d ever had in my life.
Money was a close second to love, right?
With my purpose reaffirmed, I walked out of the house to Liam’s wolf whistle. The last time, Sully had been with me, but it was just Liam and me tonight until he showed up.
“Goddamn, Kit, you’re going to be wasted on Bernard.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it. “What’d you say we ditch Bernard and Sully and run off into the sunset together? I promise to take good care of ya!”
I laughed, was there some truth to his words? I saw the way he watched me.
“Of course I’m not serious,” he snapped, and I startled.
“What?”
“Sorry.” He pointed to the earpiece he had in. “Sully’s listening on the other end.”
My heart skipped a beat. He was so close and yet so far. Why hadn’t he driven with us? The stink of his avoidance was heavy in the air.
“How about we make it a surprise when we do it?” I said to Liam. “We just disappear somewhere no one will find us.”
He went silent as he opened the car door for me. “Sully said he’d be able to find you.”
Not us but me. Huh? I climbed in, my mind spinning. Why all these mixed signals?
Thinking about Sully only served to give me a headache, which I couldn’t afford tonight. I had no intention of sleeping with this Leo Bernard guy unless I absolutely had to. If Sully didn’t show up on time.