answer. The fact that she enjoyed what she did didn’t soften his view of it. His mother and sister liked it, too, all that male attention, but at the end of the day these women used their bodies for gain, just like his mother and sister had all his life, and he had a problem with that on a basic level.
The thought of subjecting himself to another human being, and allowing them to touch him because they purchased the right to do it, made him feel like he needed a shower. He could think of a lot of other ways to earn an income than getting paid to be groped, or, as he suspected of these women, for straight-up sex.
“When did you become a prude, Jase?”
He shook his head. “I’m not a prude.”
She smiled and tossed the rest of her drink down. “Okay, poor choice of words. How about, don’t judge me until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes?”
He focused on her and nodded. “Did you see Townsend leave with anyone?”
“I don’t know if he left with anyone. I can ask around.”
Jase sipped his coffee and frowned. Cold. “I’d really appreciate that, Shannon.”
“Can I see you later?”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “When this case is wrapped up, we’ll talk about it.”
She pouted prettily and called to his retreating back. “I want to do more than talk.”
Jase smiled, then walked out of the room, glad for fresher air, when he collided with something warm and soft. He reached out to catch the body he nearly flattened, and looked down into two flashing green eyes. Instead of taunting her by keeping his hands on her, Jase righted Jade and released her. “Are you all right?” he asked, wanting to touch her again.
Her brief perplexed expression puzzled him. “Did you get what you wanted out of Dominique?”
Jase grinned. “And then some.”
In a smooth, effortless gesture, Jade brushed her long hair over her shoulders. “Then she is up to her usual stellar work ethic.”
Jase moved in closer, careful not to touch. “I thought you said this place wasn’t a brothel.”
“Did you offer Dominique money for sex?”
“No.”
“Did she offer you sex for money?”
“No.”
“Then why ask me that question? I told you, Detective: What my employees do after hours in the privacy of their own homes is none of my concern.”
“Maybe there is an unspoken perk that comes with the inflated membership fee you charge?”
“Prove it.”
“I intend to.”
“I’m sure you will try, Detective. Now, while you’re busy at your job, please allow me to do mine.”
C HAPTER
5
A calm commotion caught their attention. Jade’s eyes looked over Jase’s shoulder and a smile flashed across her face. He thought it looked artificial, but to the average eye it looked genuine enough. He turned and followed her gaze. Jade swept past him, her perfume wafting around his senses. As if a string attached him to her, he followed.
“Mr. Hiro,” Jade said, her voice light and airy. She bowed deeply, showing her respect and no doubt giving her guest a nice shot of her tits.
Jase focused on the man. He looked familiar. When Jade spoke again, this time in animated Japanese, Hiro grinned. Returning the banter, the man took Jade’s hand and kissed it. Jase could almost feel her body stiffen. Her features tightened. Politely, Jade withdrew her hand.
Jase wasn’t sure which action he was more surprised by: Hiro’s public display of affection to a woman or the fact that Jade allowed him to take her hand and kiss it.
Hiro looked perplexed. “Have…I offended you, Jade?”
Her smile could have melted snow in the arctic. And so the show continued.
“Your girl is just full of surprises, isn’t she?” Ricco asked from behind Jase.
“I think I’m in lust,” Jase answered and watched, fascinated, as Jade morphed from the cool package she had been with him to a smooth, sultry siren with the other man. Touching his shoulder with her fingertips, Jade walked the businessman over to an intimate grouping of
The thought of subjecting himself to another human being, and allowing them to touch him because they purchased the right to do it, made him feel like he needed a shower. He could think of a lot of other ways to earn an income than getting paid to be groped, or, as he suspected of these women, for straight-up sex.
“When did you become a prude, Jase?”
He shook his head. “I’m not a prude.”
She smiled and tossed the rest of her drink down. “Okay, poor choice of words. How about, don’t judge me until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes?”
He focused on her and nodded. “Did you see Townsend leave with anyone?”
“I don’t know if he left with anyone. I can ask around.”
Jase sipped his coffee and frowned. Cold. “I’d really appreciate that, Shannon.”
“Can I see you later?”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “When this case is wrapped up, we’ll talk about it.”
She pouted prettily and called to his retreating back. “I want to do more than talk.”
Jase smiled, then walked out of the room, glad for fresher air, when he collided with something warm and soft. He reached out to catch the body he nearly flattened, and looked down into two flashing green eyes. Instead of taunting her by keeping his hands on her, Jase righted Jade and released her. “Are you all right?” he asked, wanting to touch her again.
Her brief perplexed expression puzzled him. “Did you get what you wanted out of Dominique?”
Jase grinned. “And then some.”
In a smooth, effortless gesture, Jade brushed her long hair over her shoulders. “Then she is up to her usual stellar work ethic.”
Jase moved in closer, careful not to touch. “I thought you said this place wasn’t a brothel.”
“Did you offer Dominique money for sex?”
“No.”
“Did she offer you sex for money?”
“No.”
“Then why ask me that question? I told you, Detective: What my employees do after hours in the privacy of their own homes is none of my concern.”
“Maybe there is an unspoken perk that comes with the inflated membership fee you charge?”
“Prove it.”
“I intend to.”
“I’m sure you will try, Detective. Now, while you’re busy at your job, please allow me to do mine.”
C HAPTER
5
A calm commotion caught their attention. Jade’s eyes looked over Jase’s shoulder and a smile flashed across her face. He thought it looked artificial, but to the average eye it looked genuine enough. He turned and followed her gaze. Jade swept past him, her perfume wafting around his senses. As if a string attached him to her, he followed.
“Mr. Hiro,” Jade said, her voice light and airy. She bowed deeply, showing her respect and no doubt giving her guest a nice shot of her tits.
Jase focused on the man. He looked familiar. When Jade spoke again, this time in animated Japanese, Hiro grinned. Returning the banter, the man took Jade’s hand and kissed it. Jase could almost feel her body stiffen. Her features tightened. Politely, Jade withdrew her hand.
Jase wasn’t sure which action he was more surprised by: Hiro’s public display of affection to a woman or the fact that Jade allowed him to take her hand and kiss it.
Hiro looked perplexed. “Have…I offended you, Jade?”
Her smile could have melted snow in the arctic. And so the show continued.
“Your girl is just full of surprises, isn’t she?” Ricco asked from behind Jase.
“I think I’m in lust,” Jase answered and watched, fascinated, as Jade morphed from the cool package she had been with him to a smooth, sultry siren with the other man. Touching his shoulder with her fingertips, Jade walked the businessman over to an intimate grouping of
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