Read Online The Escort by Harmony Raines - Free Book Online Page B

this evening to end.” He tilted her chin up so she had to look him squarely in the eyes when he said, “Tell me to walk away, and you’ll never see me again. But that’s not what I want.”
    “I don’t know you. Not even your real name.”
    “Yes you do. The real me is the man who took you dancing. And my real name is Dan. I realised I didn’t want to lie to you when we first met, and I plan to ever.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    He leaned forward, and very softly kissed her on the lips. “Come home with me. Make love with me, then I’ll try to explain all of this to you.”
    The cab driver blasted his horn, looking up at them, annoyed at the delay. This was it, now or never, go home with Dan, or go home alone, and always wonder what if.
    She opened the cab door, and slid in. Dan stood watching her, a look of pure disappointment on his face. Pausing, she looked up at him. “Coming?” she asked, and then slid across the seat to make room for him.
    Very slowly, not taking his eyes off hers, he folded himself into the car. He looked as if at any moment someone would pinch him and he would wake up, realising this was all a dream. Damn him. He was either a very good actor, or not the man he was supposed to be at all. The question was, did she care?
     

Chapter Nine
    Max wondered if her expensive dinner was going to make a repeat performance. Her stomach gurgled dangerously, and she swallowed hard, and then breathed deeply, in through her nose and out through her mouth. Slowly her nerves steadied, but she couldn’t look at him, her emotions too confused while her brain argued the pro’s and con’s of what she was doing.
    When he placed his hand on her thigh, and squeezed it lightly, she nearly jumped out of her skin. Her first thought was that he intended to make out with her in the back of the cab, in full view of the driver. A swift glance at his face showed her that was not his plan. The touch was one of reassurance, no more. She relaxed slightly.
    “If you change your mind, Max, that’s fine. No pressure.”
    She nodded to acknowledge his promise, but couldn’t open her mouth to speak. Her head was too busy screaming at her.
    What kind of fool was she to go home with a stranger?
    Anything could happen. Then her mind wandered into the dangerous zone of what could happen, but not in a threatening way. No, instead all the things she had dreamed of him doing to her came back to her. Fear slowly dissipated, to be replaced by a calm expectation, which slowly grew to desire.
    She was a grown woman, and grown women slept with men on their first date.
    Anyway, this wasn't her first date with him, it was their second.
    She didn't watch the route the cab took, even though her gaze was fixed squarely out of the window. Dan shifted nervously beside her, if she didn't say something soon he would probably bottle out and stop the cab. Wouldn't that be easier, she could go back to her old life, the life that was easy.
    Easy yes, but it was also unfulfilled and boring. Robin was her only real friend, the only person she was close to. It wasn't healthy. For a successful business woman, she was acting like a coward. Grasp this opportunity with both hands, let him explain things, and see what happens after that.
    Her mind made up, she was about to turn to him when the cab stopped.
    "Here we are, Max. Say the word and I'll get out and the driver will take you home."
    "That's not what I want, Dan."
    "Good," he said, smiling that wonderful smile which left her warm inside.
    Opening the door he slid out, leaning down to offer her his hand. As though shaking hands on an unspoken deal, she took it, and allowed him to help her out of the cab. Although her legs trembled, she managed to stand steady, and reached into her purse for the cab fare.
    "No. This is on me. Like I said, business is over. This is the real me, and I like to pay my way."
    A small frown creased her forehead. "OK. If that's what you want." It wasn't that she wanted