“I’ll give you the five grand for tonight. Go and grab your stuff, put your clothes on and meet me outside in ten minutes.”
“Uhm, I’m confused.”
“I’ll explain more later.” He squeezed my hand. “Now do as you’re told and go and get your stuff.”
“Okay.” I nodded and sighed. “I guess I can–”
“Peaches.” He placed a finger to my lip. “Be quiet. Go and get your stuff and meet me outside. You now have seven minutes.”
“Okay, by the way, what’s your name?” I changed the subject to hide my irritation.
“I’ll tell you when I meet you outside.” He grinned and I felt his fingers on my stomach tracing a trail around my bellybutton. “I’ll tell you everything when we meet again. Don’t be late. You won’t like it if you’re late.”
***
I hurried away from him, not sure how I was feeling. I was attracted to him. I was excited by him, but his attitude also annoyed me. I had seven minutes? Really? Says who? He wasn’t my boss. I didn’t even know him. A part of me wanted to just tell him thanks, but no thanks, but I didn’t know what I was saying ‘no thanks’ to. I knew that I was about to make the second stupidest mistake of the day. The first had been agreeing to come here to work for Hailey. The second would be going outside to meet the handsome stranger. I felt like I was in a movie as I pulled on my clothes. I wasn’t really sure I was making the right decision, but I couldn’t stop myself from doing it. I grabbed my bag, put on my glasses and hurried outside.
“You’re late.” He pursed his lips as he stared at me.
“Late for what?” I rolled my eyes, feeling much more comfortable with my clothes on.
“I told you that you had seven minutes.” His eyes never left mine and I started to feel like a naughty school kid.
“So? It’s not like—” I started, but the look he gave me made me pause. “What’s the big deal? I’m here now.”
“Two minutes late.”
“Really dude? You’re going to complain about two minutes?”
“Two minutes is—” He started.
“Get over it.” I interrupted him this time and I could see the surprise in his eyes. “What’s your offer and where’s the money?”
“The money?”
“The five grand?” I said, feeling very much like a gold-digger. It almost made me laugh. I wasn’t sure where the bravado had come from.
“The five grand?” He cocked his head to the side. “You seem to be into the money more than me.”
“More than you?” I laughed out loud. “What are you talking about?”
“Peaches, why did you come outside?” He flicked his fingers in the air and I watched as a limo pulled up to the curb.
“I don’t really know.” I mumbled as I watched a tall muscular man step out from the drivers seat and open the door to the back.
“Thanks, Tyler. You can wait inside the car.” He nodded at the chauffeur and then looked back at me. “Are you ready to go?”
“Go where?”
“You’re a bit mouthy aren’t you?” He frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You seemed more reserved in the bar.”
“Maybe because I was scared out of my mind.” I made a face. “I don’t normally spend my days in a too small bikini, being ogled by a bunch of dirty old men.”
“Do you consider me a dirty old man?”
“No.”
“Do you consider me your savior?” He asked with a small smile.
“No.” I laughed at the disappointment on his face. “You didn’t save me from anything. I mean you’re still pretty sketchy. You still asked me to dance for you. And now you asked me to come outside so you can give me money for who knows what.”
“You still came.”
“I want to know what you wanted.” I shrugged.
“And you want your five grand.” He laughed. “Let’s go for a drive. Tyler will start to get worried.”
“Worried about what?” I frowned and looked him up and down. “From what I can tell you’re old enough to look after yourself.” I took a step forward and looked at his dark hair. “In fact, I’m pretty sure I see a grey hair.”
“It’s not polite to insult your savior, Peaches.”
“You can call me Evie now and like I said before, you’re not my savior.”
“Get in the car, Evie.”
“Hell no.” I took a step back. “I watch Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU. Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Evie. I don’t have patience for this.” He sighed and I watched a nerve in his throat as he stared at me angrily. I stared at his face. He was even more handsome with my glasses on and in the light. His hair was darker than I’d thought. Almost black and his eyes were a bright blue.
“Then give me my money and we can both peace out.”
“Peace out?” He stared at my face for a few seconds and then started laughing. “You’re different.”
“Different from what?”
“From what I thought.” He stepped closer to me and lifted my glasses off of my face and stared at me for a few seconds before putting them back on the bridge of my nose. “I guess the glasses give you spunk.”
“Nah, the clothes give me my spunk.” I smiled at him, as my body shivered being so close to him.
“Hold on.” He leaned forward and kissed me hard for a second. I felt my body still at the touch of his warm lips against mine. I could still feel their imprint as he walked over to the limo. I watched as he leaned down and whispered something to Tyler. He stepped back and the limo pulled away and he walked back to me. “Okay, where were we?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head feeling dazed. “Where did your friend go?”
“Home.” He nodded. “He wasn’t happy, but he does what I say.”
“Why wasn’t he happy?”
“Because he doesn’t like to leave me with strange women.”
“What strange women?” I said stupidly. “Me?”
“Yes you. He doesn’t know what plans you have for me.”
“He doesn’t know what plans I have for you?” My jaw dropped. “Say what?”
“Well, it’s not every day that a bachelor gets dropped off at his bachelor party and is then seen leaving early with one of the strippers.” He grinned. “Or maybe it is.”