Rent-A-Stud Page 3

  Breanna sighed. How romantic.

  When neither of them moved for a full fifteen seconds, Breanna clasped their arms and ushered them toward the door. “You two have a good time. Mom, I’ll lock up and put the rose in water. Zach, nice to meet you. Bye.”

  She plucked the rose from Jade’s fingers and practically slammed the door in their faces. Grinning, she headed back down the hall to Jade’s bedroom. She had a few more items hidden in her bookstore bag that she planned to leave for her mother to find…items to make the evening even hotter.

  Chapter Four

  Zach had forgotten to breathe when he saw Jade walk down the hall toward him. He’d seen hundreds of beautiful women. He’d been intimate with dozens. Why one woman would affect him so strongly, he didn’t know.

  He had to find out.

  Placing his hand lightly on Jade’s lower back, he steered her toward the passenger side of his car. “You look beautiful, Jade.”

  “Thank you.”

  That voice. Soft, sensual, made to stir a man’s desires with nothing more than a whisper.

  He imagined that voice begging him to fuck her as he pounded his cock into her tight, wet pussy.

  Opening the door, he held her hand as she slid onto the seat. The slit in her dress blessed him with a glimpse of her right leg to just above her knee before she quickly closed it. He saw a shapely leg covered by a silky stocking. Somehow, he knew she wasn’t wearing pantyhose. Perhaps a garter belt, or those lace-topped, thigh-high stockings that stayed up by themselves.

  Wondering would keep his cock half hard all evening.

  He meant what he’d told Breanna earlier today on the phone—it was not Coopers’ Companions’ policy to come on to their dates. Zach had always lived by that rule and had never been tempted to break it.

  Jade tempted him.

  Why? What is it about this woman that affects me so much?

  Zach shut Jade’s door and walked around the front of the car to the driver’s side. Once behind the wheel, he looked at her. She glanced at him, but her gaze quickly skittered away again.

  His heart did a funny jog in his chest.

  Silently, Zach backed out of the driveway. He drove two blocks before he pushed a CD into the player. Soft saxophone music filled the car.

  “Music okay?” he asked.

  “It’s nice.”

  “You like the sax?”

  “Very much.”

  He glanced her way as he slowed at a yield sign. “Do you like to dance?”

  “I do, but I’m not very good.”

  “I have trouble believing that.”

  “You’d believe it in about five seconds. That’s how long it would take me to step on your foot.”

  Zach chuckled. He liked her sense of humor, and her honesty. “Will there be dancing tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked at her again, longer this time. He could hardly wait to hold her in his arms. “I’ll take my chances.”

  Jade shifted in her seat so she could see him better. The dim glow from the dash gave her enough light to easily make out his features. Bre hadn’t been exaggerating when she called him gorgeous. His medium brown hair brushed his shoulders. She’d never been partial to long hair on a man, but she had to admit Zach’s hair was very sexy. She wondered if it felt as soft as it looked. Straight nose, strong chin with a hint of cleft, square jaw, full lips…they all combined to make him positively yummy.

  Jade had always had a weakness for blue eyes. Zach’s were the color of a cloudless sky an hour before sunset. One look from those intense blue eyes would make a woman vow to do his every bidding.

  Her gaze slowly traveled over his body. He wore a tuxedo as if he were born for it. His jacket hung open, giving her an unobstructed view of his body. She admired the wide chest and flat stomach. She especially admired the healthy bulge between his thighs that not even the perfect cut of his trousers could hide.

  Jade couldn’t help the small sigh that escaped her lips. Such masculine beauty. Too bad she could enjoy it for only a few hours.

  But for those few hours, she would enjoy it.

  She’d made the decision as soon as she slid into his car. Knowing a man ten years her junior would be her escort for the evening had made her feel…wicked. She’d immediately worried what her coworkers at the hospital would think when she walked into the gala on Zach’s arm. Then she decided she didn’t care. He was a handsome, sexy man who’d been hired to be her companion for the evening. She had every right to enjoy herself…and him.

  That didn’t mean sex, of course. She had no intention of being intimate with a man who’d had sex with who knew how many women.

  Even though it would be so nice to feel a man’s hands touching her again, his lips on hers, his tongue darting into her mouth, his hard cock sliding into her wet pussy…

  A jolt zinged through her clit. Two years of celibacy was a long time. She missed that closeness, that intimacy, with a man.

  He turned down the volume on the CD player. “Is this the first time you’ve hired an escort?”

  “I didn’t hire you, my daughter did.”

  “So it is the first time?”

  “Yes. My brother usually escorts me, but he’s in Florida on a deep-sea fishing trip.”

  “Are you uncomfortable having me for your escort?”

  “I was, at first.”

  “No more?”

  Jade had always believed honesty to be important. Although she barely knew Zach, she saw no reason to change that belief. “You’re a very handsome, sexy man, Zach. I’m going to enjoy being with you tonight.”

  He glanced her way and smiled. “Good.”

  Realizing how that could have sounded, Jade quickly continued. “I didn’t mean I’m going to be with you. I meant at the gala. I’m going to enjoy your company at the gala.”

  “I knew what you meant, Jade.”

  “Oh.” Heat filled her cheeks. Of course he knew what she’d meant. Just because she felt attracted to him didn’t mean he felt the same way. Why should he? She was ten years his senior. The women he usually dated were probably his age or younger—women who had firm bodies with smaller breasts that hadn’t been affected by gravity yet.

  He expertly handled the luxury car over the side streets heading toward downtown Fort Worth. The car, the tuxedo, his mannerisms, screamed money. Apparently he made a very good income as an escort. Jade couldn’t help but wonder how he’d gotten into this type of business in the first place. “Have you done this for a long time?”

  “Done what?”

  “Escorted women.”

  “About ten years.”

  It surprised her to hear he’d started as a rent-a-stud so young. “You were twenty?”

  “Twenty-one.” He stopped at a red light before looking at her. “How do you know my age?”

  “Breanna told me.”

  Zach didn’t say anything for several moments. “Does my age bother you? It shouldn’t. Age is a number. It’s no indication of who you are as a person.”

  “That’s easy for a thirty-year-old to say. It’s a bit different for a woman pushing forty.”

  His gaze passed over her hair, her face, her breasts, before he looked into her eyes again. “You’re a lovely woman, Jade. You’ll be lovely no matter your age.”

  A warm glow filled her at his compliment. He certainly knew all the right words to say. But he should know all the right words after ten years of practice.

  Realizing he’d probably used those same words on countless other women deflated her attraction a bit.

  Face it, Jade. Whatever he says to you is memorized. He’s the same as an actor, and has been for ten years. He’ll say whatever he thinks a woman wants to hear.

  The light turned green and Zach passed through the intersection. He’d paid compliments to other women, even when they weren’t true. It was his job to make his date feel special, and sometimes that included some exaggeration. He’d never felt guilty about “fudging” a l
ittle. As long as he made his date feel good about herself, that’s all that mattered to him.

  He meant every word he said to Jade. Somehow, he had to convince her of his sincerity.

  Another red light gave him the opportunity to face her again. “All women are beautiful, Jade. Some are more physically appealing than others, but each woman is special in her own way. She becomes even more special as she ages. I truly meant what I said about age being a number. Yes, it’s a cliché, but it’s true.” He draped his left wrist over the steering wheel. “You’ll be forty soon?”

  Jade nodded. “On May 13.”

  “Does turning forty bother you?”

  “No. Getting older is better than the alternative.”

  “That’s true.”

  “There’s another cliché about life beginning at forty. I guess I’ll find out in a couple of weeks.”

  “Are you where you want to be? Job, home, family, that kind of thing.”

  “In some things, yes. In others, no.”

  “What’s missing in your life?”

  A sharp beep from the car behind him startled Zach. He’d been so focused on Jade, he hadn’t noticed when the light changed to green. Pressing on the gas pedal, he drove through the intersection.

  He noticed she didn’t answer his question.

  The hotel where the gala would be held sat on the next block, so Zach didn’t have the chance to question Jade further. He assumed her marriage was one of those things that hadn’t worked out the way she wanted. No one got married with plans of getting a divorce.

  He wondered if she still loved her ex-husband.

  He followed Jade’s directions to the parking garage. After traveling up three levels, he found a parking space within ten yards of the elevator.

  “How often do you get a parking place so close to the entrance?” he said after putting the gearshift into Park. “My luck is good tonight.”

  “You haven’t danced with me yet.”

  “You’re still determined you’re going to step on my foot?”

  Jade raised one hand, palm toward him. “I so solemnly swear.”

  Zach chuckled. The more time he spent with Jade, the more he liked her. He couldn’t remember ever feeling such a strong connection with a woman. “I’m still willing to take my chances. After all, dancing will give me the chance to hold you in my arms.”

  He watched her gaze roam over his face as she bit her bottom lip. He waited for her to speak. When she remained silent for several moments, Zach spoke. “Is something wrong?”

  “No. I was just…thinking.”

  “About what?” he asked softly.

  “Nothing important.”

  Reaching over, he lightly touched the back of her left hand. “You can talk to me, Jade. I’m a great listener.”

  Jade looked down at their hands—his tan, hers much lighter. It seemed…natural for him to touch her. She didn’t like that. She didn’t like feeling this attraction for a man who paid compliments to women for money. He could call himself an escort, a companion. No matter what name he used, he was still a rent-a-stud.

  “We’d better go in,” she said, sliding her hand from beneath his.

  By the time Jade had gathered up her purse and wrap, Zach had rounded the car and opened her door. He held out his hand to her. It would be rude of her not to accept it. Placing her hand in his, she let him help her from the car.

  Once standing, she was trapped between the car’s door frame and Zach’s body. A zing sizzled through her clit again when she looked up into his eyes. She wanted to be in his arms, and not just on the dance floor.

  That would not happen. She wouldn’t be the next in a long line of his conquests.

  “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?” he asked. “You…pulled away from me.”

  “You’re my escort, Zach, that’s all. I won’t fall for your practiced lines of seduction.”

  He frowned. “‘Practiced lines of seduction’? Where did that come from?”

  “After ten years, I’m sure you know all the words to say to make a woman melt at your feet. Well, I won’t. I want that clear from the start. You’re my escort to a business function. That’s all.”

  His eyes narrowed and anger flared through them. He lowered his gaze for a moment. When he looked at her again, the anger had disappeared. Now she saw no emotion at all.

  Zach held out his arm to her. “Shall we go in, Ms. Talmage?”

  Chin high, Jade cupped her hand around the bend of his elbow. Silently, he directed her toward the elevator.

  Chapter Five

  Zach behaved like the perfect gentleman. Jade couldn’t find fault in anything he did. He took her wrap to check when they entered the ballroom. He asked her if she wanted a drink, and headed to the bar to get the glass of red wine she requested. He smiled often, said all the right phrases, made small talk with the people who came up to speak to her.

  She hated every moment of it.

  The Zach in the car had been funny, charming, flirtatious. He’d made her feel comfortable and eager to spend more time with him. This man was a rent-a-stud.

  Jade endured it for twenty minutes before she couldn’t stand being near the mannequin Zach had become. Unfortunately, the head of surgery and his wife had cornered them and Jade didn’t know how to gracefully get away from them. Doctor Douglas Lassiter loved to talk, and his wife, Marianne, loved to talk even more.

  “You should see it, Jade,” Marianne gushed. “Doug designed it himself and had it built while we were on our cruise. It’s huge. Crystal water, live plants, rock formations.” She shuddered and sighed. Jade wondered if she’d had an orgasm. “It’s almost a shame to swim in it.”

  “It sounds lovely,” Jade said politely. I don’t care about your new swimming pool, or your remodeled master bedroom, or the 1,968 pairs of shoes you probably own.

  “Oh, and the gazebo!” Marianne gripped Jade’s wrist. Jade had to catch herself before she winced from those long, manicured fingernails. “Doug had it enlarged. It’s gorgeous.”

  Is there anything you have that isn’t gorgeous? “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.” How can I get away from you when you’re digging your claws into my skin?

  Zach took the problem out of her hands. “Dr. Lassiter, Mrs. Lassiter, would you please excuse us? I see someone I’d like Jade to meet.”

  “Of course,” Doug said. “Jade, we’ll see you later. We’re seated at your table.”

  She’d forgotten about that. It was incredibly stupid of her to seat Doug and Marianne at the same table as she and Zach.

  Jade forced herself to give Doug a bright smile. “Wonderful. We’ll see you at dinner.”

  Placing his hand lightly under her left elbow, Zach led her away from the couple. “You owe me for that one.”

  Jade chuckled. “Yes, I do. Thank you.”

  “Just doing my job.”

  His angry tone of voice made her stop and look at him. He returned her look, his eyes cool. “I don’t like that.”

  “You don’t like what?”

  “That reference to your job.”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted? You informed me in the garage I’m nothing but your escort, that you won’t fall for any practiced lines of seduction.”

  Her words thrown back at her sounded so cruel. He turned his head, but not before she saw the flash of irritation in his eyes. She didn’t know if she’d hurt him or simply bruised his ego. Either instance warranted an apology.

  “I didn’t intentionally mean to be so rude.”

  Jade saw his chest rise and fall with a deep breath. His eyes were no longer cool when he looked back at her, but still flat. “Apology accepted.”

  “Shall we start over?”

  He squeezed her elbow. “An excellent idea.” A hint of warmth returned to his eyes. “Hi, Jade, I’m Zach. I’ll be your escort this evening.”

  Jade smiled. She liked this Zach much better.

  “Would you like another glass of wine?” he asked.

>   “Yes, but I’ll go with you to the bar this time.”

  “You’re afraid Marianne Lassiter will hunt you down again.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  “Well, then, my lady, I give you my protection.” He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

  She wrapped her hand around his biceps. “We shall.”

  *

  Zach watched Jade work the room. She spoke to everyone who called to her, handled several last-minute problems with someone’s special food order or the seating arrangement. Instead of calling on one of the staff to do it, she personally moved two flower arrangements on the tables because someone was allergic to roses.

  She fascinated him.

  Leaning back in his chair, Zach took a sip of his iced tea. He didn’t drink when he had to drive, nor on a date. He could better judge what his companion desired when alcohol didn’t make his head fuzzy.

  He wanted to be clearheaded so he knew exactly what Jade desired.

  He’d meant it when he’d told Breanna that it would be up to Jade whether or not the evening ended with him in Jade’s bed. He’d never pushed a woman for sex. He didn’t have to. Women did salivate at the sight of him. That knowledge could easily inflate his ego. Knowing he really wasn’t God’s gift to women helped keep him focused.

  He loved sex. That moment when he slid his hard cock inside a woman’s creamy pussy, that instant of resistance before her body accepted him…nothing felt better. He craved sex, and he craved it often. Yet if a woman simply wanted an escort and not sex, no problem. It was completely up to her. It would be the same tonight with Jade.

  Despite her adamant refusal to accept him as anything more than an escort, he couldn’t help hoping she would want to make love with him tonight.

  She carried herself with confidence…head up, back straight, those luscious breasts thrust forward. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and wouldn’t take anything less. He admired that.

  Her ex-husband had to be crazy to let her go.

  Zach set his glass on the table. He wanted her. The small amount of time he’d spent with her wasn’t nearly enough. He longed to hold her, touch her, feel her skin sliding against his, hear her breath catch when she came…