She blinks at me a few times. “Well, if I put out, that would square us up faster.”
“Oh? And how much?”
“Ten grand.” She says it without any hesitation, like the number was locked and loaded before I even asked. “That’s thirty-three-point-six times. I could have us even in a month, and that’s not including the dog walks.”
“What is point-six times of sex?”
“Blow job. I know my worth. I’ve got a ten-k pussy.”
I shake my head. “Oh?”
“Yep.”
“Not to insult you, but the most I’m willing to pay is five-k.”
She taps her finger on her chin. “That’s two months… I guess I could give you half quality.” She leans in closer. “But once you have half quality, you’ll be begging for more.”
I laugh, and it hits me—I’ve laughed more today than I have in the last couple of years.
My family is in danger. I’m not supposed to laugh. And yet here I am. There’s a gnawing feeling in my brain that I’ve been missing something for years, and she might be literally sitting right in front of me.
“I might have to hold you to that.”
She huffs. “Only if you are lucky.”
My phone chimes.
Cam: You coming tonight?
My head lowers as my dread over crowds and social activities grows. I have zero desire to go but maybe it won’t be so bad if I don’t do it alone. And maybe I can make this day last a little longer.
“One of my friends is opening his club tonight, do you want to go?” The words fly out of my mouth, and I wonder if Jenny’s Uncontrollable Mouth Disease is contagious.
Jenny turns her head from side to side, then touches her chest. “Me?”
“Yes you. Cam is one of my lieutenants. I gave him some seed money to start his own club on the other side of town. It’s a soft opening.”
“What kind of club? With you, it needs to be clarified.”
“Music, high end bar. No sex, promise.”
She frowns, unimpressed again, and I really don’t like it. “You assume I have no other plans.”
“Do you?”
“No, but that’s not your business.” She lowers her head and reaches over to pet Kingston.
I flash her my most charming smile, the one I used to get extra dessert at family dinners. “Then come with me.”
She shifts and avoids eye contact. Is she nervous?
“I already wore my cute dress this week.” Jenny’s making excuses, but the way she taps her index finger to her thumb and turns away makes me think she might want to go.
“I can have a dress, shoes, everything… all sent to your place tonight. You can come hang out with me, go to an exclusive club, and when it’s over, I can drop you off at home and you can go back to reading your demon smut.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” She sucks on her lower lip. “Are you sure this isn’t your attempt to make me pay back all the money I’ve cost you?”
I shrug. “For the record, I didn’t mention anything about the money or a payment plan. But who knows where the night will lead us.” Am I making a joke? Yeah, I think I did.
