Read Online Jingle of Coins by C D Ledbetter - Free Book Online Page B

stared at him for a few moments. “Sure.”
    He matched her lap for lap, and when they completed ten, Emily called it quits. “I’ve had enough exercise for one morning,” she announced when she reached the shallow end. “Ten is my limit.” She glanced at the empty chaise lounges and tables. “It sure is quiet this time of the day. It’s as if we’re the only ones up.”
    “We probably are. A lot of people work nights and don’t get up until eleven or twelve. I’m on days, so I try to jog or swim before I go in.” He kept silent for a few moments, then cleared his throat. “Have you met any of the other tenants?”
    “Yeah. I met some last night.”
    “Good. Most of the folks in here are…nice.”
    She noted the slight change in tone, as if he was being careful to choose his words. “What are you trying to tell me?” she asked, suddenly wary. She waited for him to respond, and when he didn’t, a pregnant silence grew between them. “Well?” she demanded. “If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise I’m leaving.”
    “There is one thing I ought to caution you about.” He glanced around the pool, then lowered his voice. “I saw you come out of Kate’s apartment last night.”
    “So? What were you doing—spying on me? Get a life,” she stated bluntly, moving toward the ladder.
    Glen grabbed her arm and tugged her back. “I wasn’t spying on you,” he lied. “I’ve known Kate for several years. I only wanted to ask if you knew what she did for a living.”
    “I don’t care what she does. It’s none of my business.”
    Glen held up one hand. “Humor me, please. What did Kate say she did?”
    “Don’t you have anything better to do than gossip?”
    He raised one eyebrow. “Well?”
    This guy was unbelievable! “Geez. If you must know, she told me she owns a small business and trades stocks and bonds. Satisfied?”
    His dimple flashed in and out as his lips curved into a crooked smile. “Close, but no banana. It’s more like she does the stockbrokers, not the bonds. Kate’s an ultra-exclusive call girl. In fact, she’s the most expensive call girl in Vegas. I’ve seen her in action at the casinos.”
    “I find that hard to believe. She doesn’t look or act like a hooker. She has excellent taste in her clothes and her apartment.”
    “I’m not lying. She really is an exclusive prostitute. I figured she’d hedge about telling you what she really does for a living. Kate’s not your typical call girl. That’s why she’s so exclusive. She tends to be closed mouthed, especially around strangers. I don’t even think the apartment manager knows. I just thought you ought to know, since you live next door.”
    Emily rubbed her chin to cover her surprise. “Wait a minute.” She glanced up sharply, remembering Kate’s visitor. “She wouldn’t entertain clients here, would she?”
    “No. Call girls as exclusive as Kate keep a separate apartment to entertain clients and do everything they can to make sure their private lives stay private.”
    Emily walked over to the chaise lounge where she’d stashed her towel. She wrapped it around her waist, then stuck her feet into flimsy sandals. “Thanks. I appreciate the heads up.”
    Glen matched her step for step. “I normally wouldn’t say anything, but I figured you ought to know, in case somebody comes to your apartment by mistake.”
    Remembering the absence of sex in her life and her recent desire to remedy that deficit, Emily smiled. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if one of Kate’s clients did come to her door. Especially if he was good looking—and rich.
    “What’s so funny?” Glen asked, puzzled by her grin.
    “Nothing,” she said, still grinning. “You wouldn’t understand, even if I tried to explain.” She struggled to curb her laughter, but couldn’t. “I appreciate the info. Thanks.”
    Glen watched Emily saunter back to her apartment. She certainly hadn’t reacted to his news the way he’d