and semiclosed doors and enclaves with curtains. A black-and-tan patchwork cowhide runner cushioned their footsteps.
As they walked, Kirby reviewed the details of her heartbreaking script. Her persona’s husband had been an emotional abuser, a withholder of affection. Her persona hadn’t had sex since her engagement. Not even on her wedding night.
If that didn’t bring out the so-called friend in a man, nothing would.
She never thought her own life story could be used for something good. Never thought she’d have the nerve to talk about the unspeakable situation she’d found herself in. Being untouched, unloved and disrespected by the person who had stood in front of God and everyone and promised otherwise.
Kirby swallowed back the unscripted tears, along with the shame they carried. This wasn’t the time or place to fall apart for real.
“You’ll find Ride to be a caring individual. And I can vouch for his integrity,” Fabian said as they entered a cozy room at the end of the hallway.
The room didn’t have a door. Only an extrawide gas fireplace on the far wall and a solitary tan Le Corbusier sofa facing it. An exit sign midway down the hall had caught her eye as they walked by. She didn’t plan on needing to make a quick exit, but the knowledge felt comforting nonetheless.
Fabian did a three-sixty. Confusion twisted the near-perfect features of his gorgeous face. “Ride is usually here. This is his territory.”
“You make him sound like some sort of animal.”
“I guess that would be a fair description. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll find him and let him know you’re ready.”
Fabian exited the room, leaving her alone. And uneasy. The positioning of the sofa, with its back to the door, made her feel like fresh meat in a lion’s den. But this particular assignment required bait, so she sat.
She placed her purse on the near edge of the coffee table, adjusted the camera bauble, then leaned back and waited.
The fireplace felt warm. Too warm. She slipped the elastic band from her wrist and wrangled her long strands into a messy bun on top of her head. It wasn’t as if she were trying to impress the guy. For what she was paying, he’d act impressed anyway.
The air-conditioning mercifully kicked on and soothed the back of her neck. In fact, the room started to feel a little too cool.
As she was about to release her hair from the elastic’s grip once again, a pair of warm hands slid onto her shoulders, and adept fingers slipped beneath the neck of her cashmere sweater and proceeded to massage her muscles.
Panic comingled with pleasure. The conflicting sensations swirled in her stomach before descending straight to her sex. She never knew a shoulder massage could be so erotic.
The man pressed his lips close to her ear and whispered, “I couldn’t find him.”
From the corner of her eye, she noticed the rolled-up sleeve of his white unbuttoned shirt.
Fabian.
He smelled exceptionally good. Like vanilla and pine. He must have splashed on some aftershave or cologne, just for her. Maybe since her scheduled friend was nowhere to be found, the host felt obligated to step in.
Awesome. She hadn’t even met Easy Ride, and he’d already rejected her.
Not that she was complaining. In fact, she might have to reconsider her choice. For now, she’d play along.
“Who were you looking for? Refresh my memory,” she said.
“Anyone who can satisfy you the way I can.”
Kirby’s breath hitched. She hadn’t expected that kind of talk. At least, not so soon.
His touch deepened, his thumbs working the knotted muscles of her upper back. She didn’t dare move. Still, she had questions. Lots of them.
“How do you know what will satisfy me?” she said nervously. “Maybe I have exotic tastes.”
He leaned in again. “Give me an example, and I’ll tell you exactly how I could satisfy you. In great detail.”
The jagged lump that had settled in her throat dissolved as sweetly and easily as cotton candy. His rich voice alone satisfied her hungry soul. No details required.
With this guy, straight missionary would be enough.
Forget Easy Ride. Fabian was definitely her man tonight. Besides, he was probably the gatekeeper of all the secrets, and would make a great friend. And an even better canary.
But that was secondary. She finally understood what it meant to mix business with pleasure, to live in the moment. To be touched this way again. No wonder ladies came here in droves after a heartbreak. When reality ripped a person to shreds, there was no better medicine than a three-dimensional and utterly willing fantasy.
A paid-for fantasy, she reminded herself.
She leaned into the shoulder rub completely, which now included an upper-arm massage.
“I can’t get over how good you smell tonight. What kind of perfume are you wearing?” he asked.
Now there was a line if she’d ever heard one. She wasn’t wearing perfume. It almost jolted her out of the fantasy. Almost.
“It’s called soap and water.”
“No, that’s not it. It must be you that I smell.”
A flush of warmth spread through her entire body. He didn’t clarify what he meant. She was more than willing to fill in the blanks.
He delved even deeper into her tense shoulder muscles.
“That feels so good,” she said, although certain syllables came out as an embarrassing moan.
“And you feel good. Those extra pounds are definitely your friend.”
Huh?
She tried to peel away from his touch as she struggled to rationalize the backhanded compliment, but he reeled her back in with those amazing hands.
Still, such a comment couldn’t go unaddressed. Not for what she was paying.
“Are you insinuating I’m fat?”
“Not at all. But I love the extra meat on your bones. Brings out the animal in me.”
Kirby’s mind swirled, and not in a good way this time. In fact, it didn’t swirl. It shook rather violently. Even though the guy was sexy as hell, there was definitely something wrong here. As in, mentally.
She was halfway tempted to deliver a strong elbow to the groin and get the hell out of there.
No sooner had the impulsive thought crossed her mind, than the tip of his finger traced an invisible line along the base of her neck and stopped at the most sensitive point on the side, as if marking the spot. He planted the softest, warmest kiss right at the destination, causing an unbearable stimulation. How could
