“And three more to go?” I joked, remembering they were making a bet on who would be the next to get married.
Brad laughed. “That’s what they think, but I don’t see any of the three of us getting tied down anytime soon.”
My heart sank into my stomach, and I didn’t know why. “Why is that?”
He leaned closer and lowered his voice as I stuck a chip into my mouth. “Because we’re male escorts.”
I choked and grabbed my water to wash it down. “Really?” He nodded. “But what about that woman you were buying a ring for?”
Brad chuckled. “That was a paid date. There wouldn’t have been a ring purchased.”
“Oh. She was a client?”
“Yeah. A one-time-you-put-me-in-danger client.”
“Geez. That must have been really scary for her.”
“Yeah. I actually haven’t seen or talked to her since. She called my boss when I was taken to the hospital and told him what happened, but when I try to call her, she doesn’t answer.”
“That’s shitty of her.”
He shrugged. “To be fair, she didn’t get the date she paid for.”
“What do you mean?”
Brad smirked. “Come on, princess, I know you know what I mean.”
“You mean sex?” I whispered.
“Well, the whole date in general. We started off good, but then I decided to take her off The Strip to get the full boyfriend experience and ended up getting shot.”
“She can’t blame you for that.”
“No, but most of my clients hire me one time because they need something they aren’t getting. She clearly didn’t get what she needed from me either.”
I was jealous when I saw him with her, but knowing it was fake and she’d paid to be with him made it a little better for me. “Well, I’d say she had a once in a lifetime date, even if it wasn’t what she paid for.”
“True.” He nodded.
We finished our lunches and then got back into his truck. He drove the few miles back to my work. “Thank you for lunch. This was nice.”
“I’m glad you’re doing okay after everything.”
“Thank you, and I’m glad you are too.” I reached for the door handle, but he stopped me by grabbing my wrist lightly.
“Let me get your number. That way, I can call to check on you instead of showing up at your work.” He handed me his cell phone.
I smiled as I took it. I didn’t mind him showing up at my work at all, but I wouldn’t mind him calling me either. I handed him back his phone after I put my number in it. “Here you go.”
“Would you …” He hesitated and rubbed the back of his neck. “I was wondering if you’d like to go to Vinny’s wedding with me on Saturday?”
I blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, you said you’ve never been to one, and I liked getting to know you better today, so why not? Be my date.”
“A free date?” I teased.
Brad chuckled. “Yeah, a free date.”
I smiled. “Well, I actually have a secret to tell you then.”
He grinned back. “What’s that?”
“Saturday’s my birthday.”
“No shit?”
“Yeah.”
“So, you already have plans?”
I snorted. “Well, I didn’t say that.”
“No plans for your birthday? You have to come now. It’s meant to be or something.” His grin was huge, and it made my insides tingle.
I shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.” Steve had already given me the day off, and I really had no plans except to eat cake alone in my room and finish watching the new season of Veronica Mars. Not being at home locked in my bedroom on my birthday sounded like just what I needed.
“I’m in the wedding, but I can pick you up beforehand. My friends’ wives will take you in and make you one of their own. I promise you’ll be in good hands.”
I opened the truck and slid out. With a huge grin on my face, I teased, “Maybe I should have picked you as the next to get married.”
I shut the door to his truck before he could respond.
After a physical therapy appointment, I found myself driving down West Sahara, and without thinking twice, I pulled into the parking lot of The Velvet Box. I saw Cassie through the window and decided I was going to check on her, and then I found myself taking her to lunch. Before I realized it, I was asking her to be my date for Vinny’s wedding. I was going to get so much shit from the guys at the wedding, I just knew it.
I liked Cassie. There was something pure and innocent about her that drew me to her. I found her radiant, and her smile made me feel good. It also felt good to not have to put on a show in front of her. I was honest about my job and didn’t feel as though I needed to woo her.
I did find it weird that she had no plans for her birthday. We lived in Vegas, and there were clubs upon clubs to party at. What about her friends? Her family? A boyfriend? There had to be something planned.
Me: Hey, it’s Brad. Now you have my number.
I rolled my eyes after I sent the text. Now you have my number? I had better game than that.
Cassie: And so I do.
Me: What are you doing Friday night?
Cassie: Working until 7.
Me: After?
Cassie: Nothing. Why?
Me: Ever been to the drive-in?
Cassie: I haven’t.
I smiled as I texted back: Want to go? We can stay out past midnight to ring in your birthday. Sleeping through it would be boring.
Cassie: Sleeping was my plan …
I chuckled as I texted back: Then change it.
The dots on my screen started and stopped, then started and stopped again. Finally, her reply came in: Is this another free date?
Shit, it was a date. A free date.
Me: Yeah, another free date. I don’t give them away to just anyone now. I couldn’t stop smiling as I flirted with her.
Cassie: Then I won’t say no. Just tell me when to be ready.
Me: Depends on what kind of movies you like.
Cassie: Anything.
I looked up the times for the scariest movie and texted her back. She replied with her address, and I was left stunned because I was going on a date. A real date.
Holy shit.
I walked into Herbs & Rye, a dark, rustic bar not far from The Strip, feeling as though I had a huge secret to tell. I did, but I didn’t want to share it with the guys. Whatever I was feeling for Cassie wasn’t real. I was convinced of that.
Since I’d been shot, my boss, Mark, had put me on leave for a few weeks. Even though I didn’t need my arm to fuck, he wanted me to take time off and heal, despite the fact I’d argued that I could still take a client out for a good time.
The guys were in one of the leather crescent moon-shaped booths with drinks in front of them. I was the last to arrive because I had been on the phone with my mother about my next visit, which would be in a little more than two weeks. I’d had to postpone next week’s visit because of physical therapy, which she thought was due to me hurting my shoulder while playing basketball with the guys. Thankfully, I would have my last appointment before I headed to Tennessee.
“Looking good for a man who was just shot,” Paul greeted as he stuck out his hand for me to shake. My arm was still in a sling, but only because I’d worked it good at physical therapy, and it was always sore afterward. Nothing a little gin couldn’t fix.
“Yeah, well, at least one of us is a hero,” I teased. I shook his hand before shaking hands with the rest of the guys. They had all visited me in the hospital while I was there for two days, and they knew everything. Well, besides my recent trip back to The Velvet Box.
Before I took a seat at the booth, I went to the bar and got a Negroni. When I returned, the guys were in full wedding mode like a bunch of chicks. “Here are your ties and pocket squares,” Vinny stated, passing out blue bowties and orange pocket squares. Most people would think those colors were because t
hey liked the Denver Broncos or even the Houston Astros, but not Vinny and Tessa. The colors were for two rival baseball teams.
Because we were all escorts—except Seth—we each owned a tux in case we needed it for a fancy date, so the guys and I were wearing our own tuxedos for the wedding.
“And,” Vinny continued, “I got you guys a little something.” He pulled small square boxes out of his bag and handed each of us one.
“What’s this?” Nick asked.
“Groomsman gifts.”
I furrowed my brows. “Groomsman gifts?”
“Just open it,” he ordered. Inside was a silver flask with our names engraved on them. “Tessa said I had to get you guys something, so this is what I settled on.”
“Nice. Thanks, man,” Paul said as we all thanked Vinny.
I took a sip of my drink and rubbed the back of my neck nervously. I had to tell Vinny I was bringing Cassie to his wedding because of seating and shit, and the guys would find out eventually. I cleared my throat. “So, um, I’m bringing someone to the wedding.”
All eyes turned to me, and then Seth of all people shouted, “I knew it! I fucking knew it!”
“You knew what?” I asked.
“You’re next.”
I shook my head. “I’m not next.”
“Who are you bringing then?” Paul asked. “Your mom?”
I rolled my eyes. “Not my mom.”
“Then who?” Nick questioned.
“Does it matter?” I retorted.
“It’s not a client, is it?” Galen inquired.
I chuckled slightly. “No, it’s not a client.”
I looked over at Gabe, and he nodded a slight approval. “Leave the guy alone. We’ll all see who it is at the wedding on Saturday.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, “but I’m not next. I’m only taking her to the wedding.”
Seth and Vinny looked at each other. “A lot could happen at a wedding,” Vinny said.
“Or right after,” Seth stated.
Why the fuck was I so nervous? I dated for a living, and while this date with Cassie was only a movie and I didn’t think it would lead to sex, I felt as though it was going to be more than a date. I wanted to find out more about Cassie and be the first to wish her a happy birthday, but I was chalking all of this up to friendship. Cassie was nothing more than a friend.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
I pulled up to Cassie’s house. It looked as though they were having a small party because there were at least five cars parked in front and in the driveway. I didn’t know who she lived with or if she had forgotten we had plans, but I went up to the door to ring the bell. I didn’t hear music as I approached, and before I could ring the doorbell, it swung open, and Cassie walked out.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Hey,” I replied.
“No more sling?” she asked.
I grinned. “Nope.”
“That makes me happy.”
“Me too. Are you ready?”
“Yep,” she beamed.
We walked to my truck, and I opened the passenger door for her to climb in. I rounded the hood and got into the driver’s seat before starting the engine. “I hope you like scary movies.”
She grinned. “I like all movies.”
“So I don’t need to protect you then?”
“Is that why you picked a scary movie?” Cassie chuckled.
I pulled away from the curb and headed toward the drive-in. “Honestly, no. I think the best movies to see at a drive-in are scary ones because it’s different. You’re out in the open, and anything can jump out and scare you.”
“Well, maybe I will get scared then and need to cling to you.”
Cassie didn’t know, but I had put blankets and two lawn chairs in the back of my truck, so we could watch the movie in comfort. We would be under the stars with no cover to protect us while we watched a movie about a demon doll.
“Go for it.” I smiled and we were silent for a few moments. “Are you sure you didn’t have plans tonight?” I asked.
“No, why?”
“It looked like you had a full house.”
“Oh,” she breathed. “That was just my brother and his roommates.”
“His roommates? You don’t live there?”
“No, I do, but he invited them to live with us, so they’re his roommates, not mine.”
“Ah. So you live with your brother?”
She was silent a moment. “Yeah. Our parents died when I was fifteen, and that was the house they left us. It’s cheaper than finding my own place.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents.” I couldn’t imagine losing my mom—her battle with breast cancer was enough of a scare for me.
“Thank you. That was six years ago.”
I quickly did the math and looked over at her briefly. “So, that means you’re turning twenty-two tomorrow?”
“I am.”
“And you have no plans to go clubbing with your friends or anything?”
“I’d have to have friends to do that.”
I furrowed my brows. “You don’t have friends?”
Cassie was silent again, and I looked over at her. I felt as though everything we were talking about was heavy, and that wasn’t my intention. I just assumed everyone had friends.
The streetlights went in and out of the cab as she took a deep breath. “When my parents died, everything changed. I got really depressed and pushed everyone away. Now, I don’t really open up to people to let them in, and I’m what people would call a homebody, I guess.”
“But you’re telling me things and going to the movies with me, plus the wedding tomorrow.”
“I know.” She took another breath. “For some reason, I feel like I should be doing all of these things and telling you my life story.”
“Hey.” I squeezed her knee. “That’s okay. I feel the same way, and why I told you right off the bat about my job. I’ve been a sounding board for a lot of women, and I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything.”
“How many women?”
I looked at her, and she had a smile on her lips again. “Let’s say more than five but less than one hundred.”
“My number is zero.”
The entire rest of the way to the drive-in, I couldn’t believe I’d told this guy I was a virgin.
The entire time we stood at the concession stand, I couldn’t believe I’d told this guy I was a virgin.
And the entire time we sat in the back of his truck waiting for the movie to start, I couldn’t believe I’d told this guy I was a virgin.
And he wasn’t just any guy. Brad was an escort, and from what I’d heard about escorts, they left the woman satisfied before the date was over. What did he think of me? He didn’t seem to feel awkward because he was still talking to me the entire time, but I didn’t expect that he would want to pursue anything further than a friendship, though a part of me had hoped for more.
So much for that.
“Want anything else before the movie starts?” Brad asked as he sat next to me in the chairs he’d packed. There were also blankets, but it wasn’t cold enough for them. Apparently, he’d thought of everything.
“I’m good.” I smiled and stuck popcorn into my mouth. Being under the stars with a giant screen in the distance was cool and exciting.
“Just let me know if you want anything else. I don’t mind going to get it.”
“You’re a good guy, Brad.”
He grinned. “You’re not so bad yourself, Cass.”
My face flushed, and I took a sip of my Coke Zero to avoid his gaze. “Since you know my age, how old are you?”
“Thirty-one.” He took a sip of his water.
“Oh, wow,” I breathed.
“Hey! I’m not old.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Brad chuckled. “No, but it’s implied in your tone.”
“I mean, you’re ten years older than me.”
“Not quit
e.” He stole some of my popcorn and stuck the handful into his mouth.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re twenty-two in a few hours. I’ll still be thirty-one for a few more months.”
I threw back my head, laughing. “All right. Nine years and a few months isn’t that much of an age gap.”
“See, told you I wasn’t old.” He winked.
A plane flew over the drive-in, and I looked up, wondering if one day I would have enough money to finally travel in an airplane somewhere. Before my parents died, I thought I would go off to college and need to fly home for the holidays. It’s crazy to think in just a few years I’d sheltered myself so much because of money.
“What are you thinking about?” Brad took more of my popcorn.
“Just that I’ve never been on an airplane.”
“Really?”
I shrugged. “Never had the chance.”
“Maybe we can change that one day.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I’m always down for a vacation.”
“Never had one of those either,” I mumbled.
He frowned. “Is this because of your parents’ deaths?”
I sighed. “Yeah, and I just haven’t had the money.”
“Then we definitely need to change that.”
“I’m not sure I could ever get in one,” I admitted.
“You’re scared of flying?”
“Flying. Driving. Really anything that could crash.”
Brad furrowed his brows. “Driving? You don’t drive?”
“Yeah, my parents went out for a date night two weeks before I turned sixteen, and my dad had a heart attack while driving. He hit the median on the freeway, and they died on the way to the hospital. I haven’t been able to get behind the wheel of a car since, so I never got my license.”
“Cassie”—he turned his chair to face me and grabbed my hand—“you can’t live your life in fear. That’s no way to live, and the chances of you dying the same way are slim to none.”
I turned my head so I wasn’t looking into his eyes. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t know what it’s like.”
He reached up and turned my face so I had to look at him. “I was in the Marines, princess. I used to face death daily. I know better than you think.”
Gin & Jewels Page 6
