She’d just lost another punter, too. She didn’t know his real name – he’d always wanted to be known as Mr Grey, she assumed because of his grey beard since he was far removed from the handsomeFifty Shadescharacter. Today had only been his third visit. His ruse originally had been that he wanted some tips on how to liven up his marital sex. Now he said he felt ready to go back into his relationship. She had nearly told him she was a sex-worker, not a bloody counsellor. But most of her tricks were only with her because they were caught in loveless, sexless relationships. They were not after kinky fetish – apart from the whipping doctor. They liked the chat, as well as the physical release.
She got into the bath and tipped her head back under the hot water. She was just giving it a final rinse, when she heard her phone ringing in the bedroom. Leaping up, she threw a towel round herself and ran to get it. She swore loudly when it rang off, but then smiled broadly as a text came through.
Does my little bird fancy a big cock tonight?
Aroused already, the professor’s number was saved promptly back into her phone.
Why was it that love was just so much easier to fall into than out of?
FORTY-FIVE
‘Now this is a surprise,’ Noms uttered as the handsome actor swaggered towards them.
‘Hey, doll. A good one, I hope.’ Leo Grant’s words came in a slow Texan drawl. It was like he hadn’t seen the mother of his child in six days, not six years.
Despite her apparent nonchalance, Gracie could tell that Noms would be feeling slightly sick. The rich actor didn’t do surprises. Gracie had wondered why the offer of the villa had been made in the first place, after all the years of anonymity and separation.
Gracie stood up, pulled her sarong around her, then lay down again and assumed the thin stomach position. She wasn’t sure what she should say to someone she had seen in so many films. She felt like she knew him already.
Leo smiled. ‘I’m sorry. I thought you were leaving this morning. I must have got your dates wrong. Have the crew been looking after you OK?’
Gracie remained mute and nodded.
‘It’s been great. We can’t thank you enough,’ Noms said. ‘This is my sister, Grace. I told you she was coming, right?’
‘How goes it, Grace?’
Gracie smiled and held her hand out to shake his. Oh my God, she had just touched the hand of one of her favourite actors and she couldn’t tell a single soul about it.
Noms gestured to the house. ‘Jack’s inside. But… I really do think he is still too young to know who you are.’
Leo Grant cocked his head to the side. ‘Don’t you think maybe it’s time he did, Naomi?’
‘No!’ Noms fired off, then softened slightly. ‘I’m sorry, I think it’s best we keep things as they are, for all of our sakes. When he’s older he’ll understand better. And he’ll be more able to cope with your fame.’
‘Yeah, yeah. I guess. It would be amazing to meet the little fella, though.’
Gracie was drawn to the actor’s slow, deliberate drawl.
‘Anyway, I’m just off to the beach with him.’ Noms jumped up, itching to get away from the situation. ‘Are you hanging around here for a bit?’
‘Yeah. I’ve got a break in filming, so I’m here for a week. I’ve got guests coming over in the morning.’
Gracie sat up. ‘I’ll come with you, Noms.’
Kingston, the butler, came out of the house and indicated that the actor’s room was ready. The handsome one turned to Gracie. ‘Don’t go just because of me, honey. I need a sleep anyway. It’s been a long day. Catch you alls later.’ And he walked with a sexy strut into the villa.
‘I can see why you did it, dear sister.’ Gracie loosened her sarong.
Noms’s expression was pained. ‘Oh, Grace. I don’t want him even to see Jack. This is awful. I bet he’s set this up.’ She sighed heavily. ‘I should have known.’
‘He sounded pretty genuine, to be honest, and it’ll be fine. Look, why don’t you take Jack now. I’ll get showered then join you for dinner on the beach at Mangos later. It will be perfect, we can all watch the sunset on our last night here. We can stay out late so our boy is sleepy and pop him in his bed. It’s an early flight tomorrow, he won’t even see him.’
‘How romantic, just me, you and Jack,’ Noms laughed.
‘When you could be under the Caribbean stars with a Hollywood star.’ Gracie sprayed suntan lotion on her legs.
Noms screwed up her nose. ‘I don’t see him like that now, it’s so weird.’
