Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
It’s not work. It’s pleasure.
The water splash-slash-cum emoji appeared. Even though I knew he was implying that I was somewhere nice getting lots of dick, I played dumb.
Yes, in fact I’m in front of a swimming pool right now.
I sent him a photo of the water, tightly cropped so there was no identifying information in the shot.
Gabe
Who’s the guy?
I hesitated. Thankfully, before I responded, another message from him popped up.
Gabe
Guys, plural. I forget you don’t do repeats. Who are you with, though, and do they need another Marian? Because I could be free if needed.
Not sure Hunter would appreciate that.
My brother’s bestie was territorial as fuck, even though Gabe was oblivious.
Gabe
Hunter doesn’t care who I fuck.
Sure.
Gabe
Why are you so fucking squirrelly? Why can’t you just tell me where you are and what you’re doing?
I’m in Italy with a friend. Why are you awake so early in the morning?
Gabe
Couldn’t sleep. Which friend?
I closed my eyes and let out a groan under my breath. It was impossible to do what I did for a living and be in the Marian family.
You’re worse than Beau. You’re worse than *Aunt Tilly*.
Gabe
Take that back.
I closed my eyes and let the heat of the sun sink into my skin again, but the phone buzzed a minute later.
Gabe
I hate that you don’t talk to me anymore.
I stared at the words, absently rubbing the ache in my chest. He wasn’t wrong. And I felt the same way.
My fingers hovered over the screen before I typed a response.
I came to Italy with a straight guy. Someone I hooked up with before. Someone I should steer clear of. But I can’t seem to stay away from. There. You happy?
Gabe
Bro.
Don’t say it.
Gabe
BRO.
I clicked the screen off and tossed it on the chaise next to me to keep from typing more. There was nothing my brother could say that I hadn’t already thought myself.
It was ridiculous to catch feelings for a straight guy. And even if Locke was coming into his own in terms of appreciating his walk on the wild side, he wasn’t exactly the kind of guy who was going to start shopping for dildos and jocks and introducing his boyfriend at the annual Longshoreman’s Ball.
It’s just sex.
And I loved sex. Loved it. Couldn’t get enough of it.
I also loved lying in the sun by a crystal-clear pool and a wide expanse of the Mediterranean Sea.
So this was enough.
In fact, it was plenty.
The perfect renewal and recovery before throwing myself back into the career I wanted way more than any relationship. Helping others and making the world a better place.
I ignored the subsequent buzzing of my phone and allowed myself to doze with nothing but the floral-scented air and the faint sound of a gardener doing work in the distance.
Being a highly paid escort had its upsides.
It was enough, I told myself again.
It was plenty.
15
LOCKE
When I finally woke up, the sun was high over the house, and I felt much better. Jett was long gone, thank fuck. I wasn’t interested in morning-after awkwardness, and right now, I needed caffeine more than an orgasm.
“Good morning, Concetta,” I said, strolling into the dining room and heading for the table out on the balcony. “I would kill for a coffee and breakfast, please.”
She flashed me a smile. “I heard about your late night. We will have something right out for you.”
I held back from asking where Jett was, but a few minutes later, he was the one who appeared with my coffee.
“For shame, Locke,” he said with a grin. “Don’t you know American coffee preferences kill an Italian’s soul? Your chef is back there sobbing into your omelette.”
I shrugged and reached for it. “He hates me anyway, so my coffee order can’t make it worse.” I took a sip and groaned. “Thank you.”
He propped his ass against the balcony railing. This time, he wore white linen pants and a navy tank top, fitted enough to show off the outline of every single muscle in his chest and abdomen. “I checked in with Minnie at the office to see if there was anything urgent, and there isn’t. She did say you have a call at five this afternoon—Italy time—but that she will try to handle anything else that comes your way.”
I blinked at him in surprise, replaying the words in my head since I hadn’t been focused on what he was saying. “Uh, thank you. That… wasn’t necessary.”
Jett tilted his head in mock confusion. “Isn’t that what your assistant is supposed to do?”
I shot him a look and took another sip of coffee, keeping my eyes firmly away from his body. “I need to talk to Concetta about the room assignments for our guests.”
“Already done,” he said. “Only, she wanted to warn you that Emil Sorenson and his wife are very loud in bed and—”