Thunder (Big D Escort Service Book 1)

by Summers, Willow

  “That comment tells me something about your past boyfriends. And as far as being the marrying kind…” He shrugged. “Marriage would be fine, but I don’t want a wedding. I don’t want all these people standing around for my benefit, uncomfortable in their attire, buying time until they can get free food. The expense is enormous for one day of irritation.”

  He straightened up again as the drinks came, the color of hers matching her dress. He extracted a wad of cash held together in a money clip, old-school style.

  “Can you take a hundred?” Colton asked as though that were a normal question.

  “Yes, sir,” the bartender answered. “But something smaller would be preferred.”

  Eyes turned their way as Colton fanned through the bills. They widened as hundreds fluttered by, displayed for everyone to see. Almost as if he were holding it up for their inspection. Fifties followed, and finally he found twenties tucked in the middle. No ones or fives.

  He could’ve just thrown out a twenty in the beginning. Held the wad low until he found what he needed. He was intentionally trying to make others feel inferior monetarily. He’d had that in mind when he put that wad together. When he refused her offer to pay.

  This was part of the job. She was a job. And for the first time, that made her sick to her stomach.

  She glanced around, recognizing the longing glances of those without means. Janie wore that expression when she thought no one was looking. When she was at her low points, sad and frustrated that she didn’t know how to make money off her gifts like normal people did. Wishing life didn’t come so hard.

  A solid weight settled on Madison’s chest. Was this what she’d been reduced to? Paying someone to hang out with her so she looked like a catch? Making others feel bad about themselves so she could feel better?

  That wasn’t her. None of this was her.

  She took the drink and stepped back, logging the drink total, plus the healthy tip, in her mind. She’d pay that back. She’d pay all of it back. She was stupid for even going through with it.

  In fact, maybe she should just cut her losses right now. What was the point? She was an imposter. The only thing she had with Colton was a one-sided sexual attraction—like every other warm-bodied woman in the room—and she didn’t feel up to confronting the ghosts of her past. Certainly not like this.

  “You okay?” he asked quietly, hesitating in his lean toward her.

  “Let’s go outside.”

  Furrowing his brow, he straightened and started forward, his outstretched hand catching her on the lower back but not applying pressure. Letting her lead this time.

  Through a side door and around a dry fountain, Madison stopped at the edge of a deck covered in peeling paint, looking out over the grass behind them. The establishment wasn’t great, but the grounds at least were pretty. Anger fired within her, paired with uncertainty—an almost constant companion tonight.

  “What happened?” he asked, leaning his hip against the banister so he could look at her face. He wisely didn’t try to reel her in this time.

  “I am really happy you’re trying to help me, Colton,” she started. “And so far, you’ve been great. But you need to rein it in. These people clearly don’t have a lot of money. Neither the bride and groom nor the people in attendance. It’s rude to flash all your bills. There’s no need for it. You’re not a baller, whatever your ego may lead you to believe. You’re just a guy getting paid to escort a girl. And despite all the stuff I have going for me in life, I’m just a girl who had to pay someone to take her to a wedding. Money doesn’t mean anything when the person who’s flashing it is shallow. If you fight me on this one, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Right now.”

  Six

  Alarm ran through Colton when he registered the firm set to Madison’s jaw. This was the woman he’d expected to meet earlier—the tough, in-charge sort of woman who gave orders and expected those orders to be obeyed.

  His cock hardened, the urge to rip off her clothes so intense he almost didn’t trust himself to stand so close. He took a step back to regain control.

  “That’s it, then?” she said, tracking his movements with her flat stare. “You’re going to head out?”

  “No.” He put his hands up, his cock throbbing. “No. Listen, Madison, I’m sorry. You’re right. Completely. I was on autopilot. Usually my role does involve flashing wealth. It is selling glamour. This suit, designer and tailored, the money clip instead of a wallet—they’re part of the show. I do it without thinking. Had I been, I never would’ve done it that way. I know that’s not your speed. I’m not used to women like you.”

  “Frumpy and incapable of walking on stilts, you mean?” She went back to looking out at the overly landscaped grounds.

  He couldn’t tell if she was joking, so he didn’t dare laugh. “Real and down to earth. I’m sorry.”

  She sighed, the tension going out of her shoulders. “Okay. Forgiven. Look, this is going to sound ridiculous, but can you do me a favor and lean against me? It’s freezing. It seems I’m completely incapable of planning ahead lately. For the last three weeks, actually.”

  Real, down to earth, and quick to forgive. Not to mention nobody’s doormat when a line was crossed. Part of him wanted to leave right then, before he discovered her inevitable flaws. He wanted to keep her in his memory as the perfect woman.

  “How about we down these drinks, get a couple more, and wander back to the main event.” He raised his hand a little, inviting her to go first, hoping she’d get close.

  She pushed away from the banister and bumped her shoulder against his side. He released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and rested his hand on the small of her back.

  “I agree with you about weddings, by the way,” she said as they reached the door. She paused so he could open it, clearly expecting that he would, but her body language didn’t demand it. Body language was something he always noticed now, a side effect of doing these gigs. If he motioned for her to grab the handle, he had no doubt she would it without raising a fuss.

  Another positive attribute. It was like she was going down his dream girl checklist and ticking all the boxes. The situation was surreal. And totally fucked up. The fact that she was paying him was a big shadow over the whole evening.

  “I don’t see the point of spending all this money so everyone else can have fun,” she said. “A college friend spent her whole wedding worrying about the event. She didn’t get to enjoy herself. Thirty grand for exhaustion and subpar food. She didn’t even make love with the groom that night!”

  “I hear a lot of couples don’t because they’re too tired.”

  “See what I mean? Half the people at the wedding you hardly see in real life, but suddenly you need them to witness an event that has a high probability of failure.”

  “Wow. So you’re taking it a step farther and want to do away with marriage entirely.”

  They reached the bar and resumed their previous positions. He let his hand slip down low on her hip, feeling the pull of her. The sizzle of electricity.

  She shrugged and sipped her drink. “Marriage is a contract. I think a lot of people stop trying as hard once the paper is signed. It becomes easier to stay together than it does to separate, and that’s dangerous for a relationship. Without a contract, when you can leave at any moment, you know that you are there because you want to be. And you know the other person is there because they want to be. In my jaded opinion, it’s sweeter. It’s real love. I want that.”

  “And with Frank?”

  She shrugged again. “I’m glad I didn’t say yes.”

  “He asked you to marry him?”

  “He did. But I didn’t see the point. We were living together—why add more paperwork?”

  “Ouch. That probably hurt his pride a bit.”

  “After the huge fight we had about me keeping my apartment, I think he knew I wouldn’t bend no matter how much crap he threw at me. And he threw quite a lot.”

  “Th
e apartment you’re living in now, you mean?” he asked, another piece of the puzzle clicking into place. She nodded. “Why not give it up?”

  “Janie. She’s…one of a kind. A bit wild, really. She has a learning disability that makes things hard for her. Don’t get me wrong; she’s wicked smart. I asked her SAT questions and her score was always better than mine. But have her sit and read it herself…she can’t. It breaks my heart. And she had no help for her learning problems when she was younger. Her mom wasn’t really the mothering type. But ask her to break a bat over the face of a man who hurt you? Or pull out the hair of a chick who stole your lunch money?”

  “Stole your lunch money? When was that, last week?”

  Madison laughed. “Might as well have been. She’s my rock. She’s awesome. She’d lie down in traffic for me. Help me bury a body, no questions asked. Which is ironic, because she won’t accept any help. It hurts her pride. Makes her admit she has it harder than someone like me. She hates that.” Madison shook her head. “If you could only see her paintings. Even her doodles. She’s magic with a paint brush—magic—but she won’t let me set up a gallery for her. She has all this beautiful work that just lies around.”

  “Meaning…no income.”

  “Very little. There are a few people who come to her every once in a while asking for work, but other than that, she’s floating facedown half the time. Hating it, but unable to see a way out.”

  “But she doesn’t stay at your place all the time?”

  “No. She stays with her long-term lover off and on.” Madison rolled her eyes. “He’s another artist with a quarter of the talent. Also an asshole. He kicks her out constantly. She has a key to my place and comes and goes as she pleases. She thinks it’s because I need someone to watch the place when I’m not there. If not for me, she’d have to go to her mom’s house, and they don’t get along now any better than they did when Janie was a kid. So…”

  “Did you explain all that to Frank?” Colton gestured at the bartender and waved his finger above their drinks. The bartender nodded and got to it, clearly remembering the order.

  “No. I couldn’t. He was spiteful, and I couldn’t risk him giving Janie a guilt trip for taking my handouts, as he called it. She would never have set foot in that apartment again. I wouldn’t do that to her. I made up something about my contract. So yeah, my relationship with Frank suffered, but he has never stuck up for me the way Janie always does. He wouldn’t march into the trenches with me, saw off my gangrene-ridden arm, and then carry me back out if I needed it.”

  “And you stayed with him why?”

  “At first because I thought we needed more time to feel the passion. Then because it was comfortable. Then because I needed a date to this wedding.”

  “Wow.” Colton threw a twenty on the bar as the drinks showed up. A cheer went up, and a harassed-looking bride entered the bar area, her smile fake and eyes tight, probably because the reception was behind schedule.

  The groom sauntered in a moment later, a large smile on his face and a beer in his hand. A stocky guy patted the groom on the back, laughing loudly. The rest of the wedding party trailed in behind them, the guys having a good time, the girls smiling and shooting glances at the bride marching ahead.

  “Things aren’t going well in paradise,” Colton murmured, pulling Madison closer.

  “Should we head to our seats?” Madison stared at the groom, a chubby dude, about five foot ten, with a broad face, eyes pinched together, and a large nose. Madison was so out of his league that Colton wanted to break down laughing and look for the hidden camera.

  “Let’s give it a minute.” As he said that, the stocky man pulled the groom toward the bar.

  “You guys, we’re supposed to go to the reception hall,” one of the bridesmaids said, slowing.

  “My man needs a shot.” The stocky guy, with a bullet head and a buzzcut, pounded the groom on the shoulder. “You don’t want him to take off, do ya?”

  “That’s Tim,” Madison whispered, shrinking back. “He used to harass me in gym. Said girls should stick to the kitchen because sports were a man’s thing. He tried to grab my boob junior year and I kicked him in the balls. He told on me, and the principal didn’t believe my side of the story. I got suspended for two days.”

  A flash of unexpected rage boiled Colton’s blood. His muscles tensed and his breathing sped up, his body amping up to walk over there right now and beat the man senseless.

  He looked away and clenched his jaw, struggling for control. For sanity.

  “Whoa, whoa, what happened?” Madison put her hands on his chest. “Your whole body is flexing—crap. James saw me. Oh no, he recognizes me. Here he comes. Oh my God, I’m freaking out. Help me, Colton. What do I do? Should I run? Let’s run, quick!”

  Colton laid his hand on her jaw and gently stroked his thumb across her bottom lip. “Shhh,” he cooed. “Trust in me.”

  Her eyes snapped to Colton’s and her pupils dilated. She leaned toward him, an unconscious sway. “The snake says that to Mowgli in The Jungle Book, and it didn’t work out very well for Mowgli.”

  Colton couldn’t help his laughter as James stopped beside them, Tim in tow.

  “Hell no! Is that Nerd-i-son? Holy shit!” Tim bumped James as he stepped up even with him, staring at Madison. “Where’d she come from?”

  “Maddie, you came,” James said, lust written plainly in his smile. He stepped forward to give her a hug.

  Madison stuck out her hand, like she had with Colton earlier in the day. “Hi, James.” She shook his hand. “Hi, Tim.” She nodded in Tim’s direction.

  “You didn’t tell me you invited Nerdison.” Tim guffawed. A couple girls down the bar snickered.

  “Colton.” Colton leaned toward James, using his size to his advantage. He stuck out his hand to shake, giving the guy a flat and confident stare. He let the aggression he felt color his gaze. These guys would know that if they stepped out of line, Colton would fix the situation. Hard and fast.

  They were very close to stepping out of line where Madison was concerned.

  “Hey, man,” James said, offering a weak grip.

  “Hey, bro.” Tim tried a little harder. Colton squeezed until the other man’s eyes tightened.

  “I’m being rude.” Madison waited until he leaned back against the bar before slipping her arm around his waist. “This is my boyfriend, Colton.” She rubbed her other hand on his chest. “Hon, this is James and Tim. I went to high school with them. James is the groom. Which you probably figured out.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Colton said smoothly, unaffected.

  “Reunions are fun and all, but I’m going to get us that shot, bro,” Tim said, slapping James on the back.

  “Let me get that. What are you having?” Colton pointed at James.

  “Oh, ah—” James hesitated.

  “Jack Daniel’s,” Tim said. “Two shots. And a beer. Bud.”

  “Maddie?” Colton slid his hand down her back, stopping at the top of her butt.

  She jolted and her eyes widened—probably from the nickname. He leaned closer and kissed the edge of her lips. A jolt of electricity zipped through him and desire pooled in his gut. His arm tightened around her of its own accord, squeezing her into his body. Everything in him begged to deepen the kiss. To slide his tongue along her bottom lip before opening her mouth with his and tasting her.

  Mine, something inside of him screamed, his hand now splaying on her back, her breath coming quick against his lingering lips.

  “Dude, any time,” Tim said. “This is getting awkward.”

  Heart pounding and cock throbbing, Colton struggled to lean away. He was making a show of them—the kiss not even square on her lips and his control completely gone. It wasn’t like him to lose his cool like that.

  “Sorry about that,” he said in a rough voice, straightening up stiffly. He smiled as he looked down at her flushed face, her eyes sparkling with desire. Clearly she’d gotten used to his touch. “She
’s too beautiful for her own good.”

  James dug his hands into his pockets, frowning.

  “You should’ve seen her in high school, bro,” Tim said. “She was a real dog. No offense, Nerdison. But you were a total geek, remember that?”

  “You didn’t tell me you were a nerd in high school,” Colton said, laughing. “Hard to believe.”

  She flushed again, this time her expression falling.

  “You’re like a butterfly.” Colton squeezed her. “But then, nerds always grow up to run the world. Look at me. I was a little pork chop in high school. Now I’m a sought-after fitness model.”

  “You’re a model?” Tim laughed as the bartender showed up.

  Colton ordered their drinks and leaned back, pulling Madison with him. “Yes.”

  “What a girl.” Tim rolled his eyes and looked around, completely oblivious to the fact that everyone present thought he was a douche. It was a little surprising. Clearly he hadn’t gotten beaten up as much as he should’ve.

  Colton really wanted to rectify that situation.

  Seven

  Madison felt Colton’s heartbeat escalate under her palm as James asked, “Everyone calls you Maddie now, huh?”

  For the last few moments, all her nervousness had completely slipped away. Her worry that James would make a fool of her, or that she’d somehow get her heart broken again, had disappeared. All she could focus on was the feel of the man pressed against her body. His touch.

  That kiss.

  It hadn’t even been a real one. It could’ve almost been described as a friendly peck on the cheek. That was surely how he’d meant it. But passion and lust such as she’d never known had seared through her body and tingled her skin. Fire still licked up her spine in anticipation of another kiss. She’d wanted more. So, so much more.

  “Maddie?”

  The wrongness of that name in James’s voice brought her back to the surface. Once it had been so intimate, but now, after hearing it said in Colton’s deep and velvety tone, she couldn’t imagine that nickname being used by anyone else. It belonged to Colton now, for better or worse.