thought they were really dating.’
‘They were having a nice time out together.’ Nina tilted her head, and her ash-blonde hair swung to the side. ‘So were Veronica Waters and Michael.’
Sienna stiffened. She’d seen the touching and brushed kisses there. ‘You said no physical contact is allowed.’
‘Was there really any inappropriate touching?’
She’d seen whispers in each other’s ears. She’d seen bodies pressed up close. She’d seen a glamorous yet ageing Hollywood beauty cosying up to a young stud who …
Oh.
‘Was that all for show?’ Had it all been an act to make producers and anyone else who might be watching aware that Veronica Waters was still an attractive and vibrant woman? A worthwhile commodity in the entertainment industry?
Nina gestured again to the blue chair, and Sienna sat. She still wasn’t comfortable, but she was listening.
‘We provide whatever the client wants – up to a point. If they want to show off for a former girlfriend, my girls will make sure the ex is seeing green before the appetisers are served. If they want someone who can talk art at a showing, we make sure we match them up with someone with similar interests. If a science savant wants a hunk on her arm for an awards banquet, we’ll make sure he looks like he belongs there.’
‘So my background is what appeals to you,’ Sienna said, trying to justify all this in her mind.
‘Your background, your looks and your carriage.’
It sounded … easy. An easy solution to her current problems, but she shook her head. ‘I appreciate you considering me, but I really need to look for a job in my field.’
She couldn’t get pulled down this very narrow, dark and winding side road. She didn’t know where it might lead, despite all the promises, and it could never go on her résumé.
Never. Ever.
‘The hours would be less than what you’re putting in at the Apple Tree Grille. It’s usually three or four evenings a week. For some of our more popular escorts, possibly more.’
Well, that settled it right there. She’d never be able to pay her rent if she only worked three nights a week. ‘The pay?’
‘Better than what you’re making serving salmon puffs, and we provide benefits.’
Benefits? Sienna blinked in surprise. ‘Healthcare?’
‘Along with dental and vision coverage. Some of our longer-term employees participate in our 401-K.’
Sienna stared at the woman. Simply stared.
Nina shrugged. ‘Sometimes our clients also bestow gifts on our escorts. Little things like watches or dresses. We don’t stand in the way of that.’
The gig sounded too good to be true. She’d be paid to go on platonic dates? To events she enjoyed? Excitement started to tug at her.
‘What’s the catch?’
‘You must keep Luxxor’s and its clients’ confidentiality, and you need to follow the rules of your contract.’
Sienna worried the inside of her lip with her teeth. Was she insane to actually be considering the offer? She could never tell anyone what she was doing. Although Nina seemed to keep the highest of standards and had a justification for everything, there was a stigma to being an escort. A huge one. Nobody could ever know.
She shook her head. ‘It’s not possible. I know too many people. Just look at what happened last night with Mr Stahl – and I was only waitressing.’
‘I’ve considered that. We’d have you make a list of people you couldn’t be paired with, but it’s already your social scene. Nobody would question your attendance at something like a wine-tasting event. They’d assume you’d started dating again.’
That was true.
‘Why me?’ she finally asked, point-blank. There’d been a lot of pretty waitresses at the Aquamarine event last night, and even more competent ones. She might have dealt OK with Howard Stahl, but acting as an escort was another thing entirely. ‘How could you possibly know what kind of date I am?’
‘Because I saw how you dealt with people when nobody was looking.’
Sienna drummed her fingernails against her purse. She was friendly and kind. It was hardly a secret potion.
‘Know what I saw?’ Nina pressed.
‘A well-mannered blonde?’
‘A chameleon.’
Sienna frowned. ‘A what?’
‘You adapt. You want to please people and put them at ease. You naturally interpret what they want you to be, and you become that person.’
‘I do?’ Somehow the observation didn’t sound complimentary.
The look in Nina’s eyes was serious. ‘I can’t train that.’
Sienna was confused. Her roommate Margo called her spineless when she deferred to others, but could being compliant and polite really be opening job doors for her?
Was she really considering doing this?
Did she want a roof over her head after next week?
‘Can we do a trial run?’ she asked.
‘We will do a trial run,’ Nina said firmly. She pushed away from the desk, rounded it and returned to her big leather chair. ‘You haven’t got the job yet, sweetie, but I will extend an offer for a six-week paid internship. We have significant training before anyone goes out in the field. Many subjects will be old hat to you, such as table manners and music appreciation, but you’ll be expected to complete a self-defence segment, as well as a powers of observation test.’
Self-defence? Apparently things weren’t always as cordial as Nina would suggest. Then again, she would be out there on her own with strangers.
If she ever went out with someone, which she wasn’t going to do.
‘And then?’ Sienna pressed.
‘And then, we shall see.’
She took a steadying breath. Six weeks of paid training. She could do that much. Nobody would ever know. Anything beyond that was questionable.
An escort.
Was that really where life was leading her?
She pressed her lips together as she thought of Erin, who was so happy moving forward with married life. And of Tabby, her backstabbing classmate who was touring Europe before settling into a job her daddy had found for her in downtown Boston. And finally she thought of Kyle, who’d used his looks and good-old-boy network to land a job he’d never studied for.
None of them had worked hard for their goals. They’d all had opportunities fall into their laps. They’d simply used what assets they could to make the falling possible.
She’d be an idiot not to do the same. She leaned forward and held out her hand. ‘We shall see.’
* * *
The need for space was what awakened Jason.
Bed space and personal space.
Someone was plastered to his side, lying half atop him. Bare skin clung to bare skin. A hot leg was thrown over his waist, giving the illusion of trapping him, while a hand was spread wide over his chest.
Oh, hell, no. He didn’t think so.
He was right against the edge of the bed. Hell, his right arm had fallen off of it. He’d barely come to, but instinct had him pushing the woman off him.
The brunette grumbled and tried to shift back into position. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he forcibly