Cora has been very clear about seeing Inamorata clients. Every date must be authorized by her. Break the rule even once and you’re out. “I’m happy to go out with you if Cora approves.”
“No worries. She’ll agree.”
I hope. I’d like to discuss in more detail what the girlfriend experience means to him.
When I’m home and in bed for the night, Maxwell Hutcheson is the only thing on my mind, making it difficult to drift off to sleep. But I finally do. I’m dreaming of him when the bed shifts beside me and I jolt awake. The instant that the adrenaline surges through my veins, my heart takes off like a helicopter. Boom, boom, boom, it beats against the inside of my chest.
“Rachel!”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
I’m relieved to hear her voice, but I’m annoyed as fuck when I look at the clock on the nightstand: 2:54 in the morning. “You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing climbing into my bed at this hour of the morning?”
“I’m dying to hear what happened with the client you met tonight.”
She’s not going to believe this. “He’d like to book me for three months, which is fine by me except that he also wants the girlfriend experience. All of it.”
“Did you tell him that you don’t have sex with clients?”
“Yes, but he wants to move forward anyway with the hope that sex will fall into place after we get to know each other. I told him that I needed to think about it.”
“You’re actually considering it?”
I know. I know. I know. I said that I’d never have sex with a client, but that was when I thought they were all trolls. “I guess that I’m not not considering it.”
“You’d really have sex with this guy?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, if we got to know each other and if the chemistry was right.”
“He’s fit. You should totally have sex with him.”
“He is sooo good-looking, right?” I would have never dreamed in a million years that I’d land a client like him on my first night. How lucky am I?
“Cora’s onboard?”
“She told me that it was going to cost him big time. So yeah, if the money is right then she’s all for it.”
“Will you see him again before making a decision?”
“He’s taking me out tomorrow night. Well, technically, I guess tonight. He’s sending his driver to pick me up because he has an early evening meeting with a client.”
“He must make some serious money if he has a driver. What does he do for work?”
“Investment fund manager.”
“I bet that he’s really smart. And ultra-rich.”
“Those are my thoughts exactly.”
“If you do this, you have to be careful.”
“Cora told me that she’d run an in-depth background check since the duration is so long.”
“Not what I mean. I’m talking about spending three months with this guy. That kind of time together would make it so much easier to fall in love with him.”
“I would never fall in love with a client.” He’s hot but I’m not stupid.
“It happens, Cait. It happens more easily than you think.”
“That’s not me. I have plans for my life, and they don’t include falling for a man who would pay a woman to be with him.”
“Three months is a long time. You’ll become close even if you don’t mean to.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that.”
Rachel is wrong. To become close to a man, you must be able to let him into your heart. And that’s something that I never learned how to do.
The truth is that I like the wall that I’ve built around myself. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel safe. It makes me feel strong. I don’t think that I could let it down if I tried.
4
Maxwell Hutcheson
Calvin sends a text to my mobile after he and Lou arrive at the entrance of the Waldorf Astoria. I’m instantly on my feet, taking a final look at myself in the mirror. Tie straight. Vest smooth. Sleeves loosely rolled up so this will feel more casual and less business.
I wish that I could go down and properly receive Lou. I consider doing so but I know how unwise that would be. I can’t take the chance of being seen with a woman in a hotel by anyone who knows me.
Looking through the peephole, I watch her approach the suite. I decide that I’ll let her ring the bell and then wait a few seconds before opening the door.
Damn, she looks gorgeous. Maybe even more beautiful than last night.
Hair hanging in loose curls. Mile-high heels stretching her legs. A one-shouldered black dress belted at the waist. I ache to reach out my hand and touch the exposed skin on her shoulder.
“Hello.”
Her weight shifts to one leg and she puts her hand on her hip. “Seriously? You had your driver bring me to a hotel with instructions to meet you in a room?”
Okay. I clearly didn’t consider how this might look to her. “My business meeting was in this hotel and since I can’t take you to a restaurant, I thought it would be nice to have in-room dining so we could talk over dinner.”
Her cheeks pinken and she reaches up, cupping her hand over her forehead. “Oh my God. I’m so embarrassed.”
“It’s all right. I can see why you would have jumped to that conclusion.” I open the door wide. “Will you come in?”
She follows me into the open living-kitchen-dining area. “I wasn’t sure what you might want to eat, so I took the liberty of ordering several of the best items from the menu. And I hope that sauvignon blanc is all right. It seemed like a safe choice.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
I pull out her chair and slide it under her as she sits. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“I am.” Her dimples make a return, and I find myself wanting to know all of the secrets that she hides behind that angelic smile. “I should probably warn you that I’m a foodie, not one of those silly girls who acts as though she doesn’t have to eat to survive.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Mina was forever on some kind of diet and exercise plan. She inventoried every bite that she consumed.
I remove the lid over our starter. “Cured foie gras. Have you had it before?”
“No, but it looks good. How is it served?”
“Spread it on the brioche and enjoy. It’s that simple.”
She does as I instruct and takes a bite. “It’s rich and buttery, but I can’t put my finger on what I think it might be.”
“Do you want me to tell you?”
No hesitation. “Yes.”
“Duck liver.”
“That’s some fancy duck liver. I would have never guessed that.”
“The thought of eating liver bothers some people.”
She laughs. “I’m from New Orleans. We eat frog legs and alligator and suck out the insides of crawfish heads. I’m not squeamish about a little duck liver.”
“You’re a NOLA girl? I’ve never been to New Orleans. I hope that I get the opportunity to learn more about it from you.”