June hadn’t wanted to hear that tone in her voice. Too hopeful. She probably didn’t even mean to put machinations in motion, yet here she was, implying that this all needed to end now. In her favor, of course.
What about Miquela?
Miquela was the safer choice. She claimed to love her, but June knew it was a fleeting love. Miquela would be over her. Maybe she was already over it after going back to Europe. Besides, she had way more money and wasn’t even in the country half the time. That meant she would take up less of June’s valuable money-making time she could be using with other paying clients. That was the downside to a patron. They brought a steady income, but didn’t leave much room for additional profit.
Sette, on the other hand, was arealrelationship. Something June had never experienced before… and something she was not in a huge hurry to discover.I don’t want those strings attached to my business.That’s so dangerous.
“June?”
She glanced at her, dressed in her plain jeans and dark green flannel shirt. She was far from rugged, what with that smooth face and freshly buffed nails, but she was strong, reliable, creative, gentle (outside of the bedroom) and… and…
Way, way too much!
“I’m glad you want me this much, Sette.” She tried to use her plastic smile, but it kept slipping off her face. “You’d be a good patron.”
Sette sighed, fork dropping onto her plate. “I was hoping that I could prove to you these past two days that you should pickme… is the other woman that good?” Her countenance implied she found that hard to believe.
“That’s not the point.” June decided to lie. “Besides, I don’t get the executive decision. That’s up to my boss.”
“Surely, you get some say. I’m already well above the starting bid.”
“Yes, and she’ll take whoever offers the most in the silent auction.”
Sette furrowed her brows. Neither of them was eating breakfast now. “Come on…”
“What do you want me to say, Sette? That you want me to go to my boss and grovel for her to pick you to be my patron, no matter how much the other woman offers? That’s what you want, yeah?”
“Well…”
“Let me guess. You want me to tell her that I love you. That I’m quitting to run away with you and get married and have babies with you.” She stood up from the table, angrier than she ever thought she would be.
“I never said that.”
“You never said it, but I can sense it in you. I’m intuitive. It’s a part of my job. Or did you forget that all of this is my career?”
“Trust me,” Sette muttered, throwing some anger right back at her. “I never forgot for one moment what it is that you do for a living and what my role in your life is.”
“Good! Don’t you forget!” June fled to Sette’s bedroom, where her purse and overnight bag awaited. Fuck waiting around for Sette to drive her back up to the Manoir. “I’m a sex worker, Sette!” June called that out like she wasn’t standing in the doorway.You’re fucking gorgeous, and I hate you.Suddenly, Sette looked so much younger than she actually was. A scared baby-face. Great.Great that I can’t seem to resist this bullshit. Fuck me!June pushed past her.Even though I’d rather run intoher.With her desperate body? With a two-ton car? Who knew! “That’s not going to change anytime soon! I’ve worked too hard to give up what I’ve built for a client I met two months ago!”
“Two and a half.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
Sette remained standing in the doorway. The bed covers were still undone behind her.
“June.”
She stopped halfway to the door, bags in hand.No, don’t talk like that. Strong, but afraid. A woman firm enough to stand by her, but as human and vulnerable as anyone else.
“You love her, don’t you? You love the other woman.”
Tears dripped down June’s cheeks. She refused to wipe them away. “You’re an asshole, Sette. You’re everything I ever heard about doctors and artists. Asshole.”
“You’re a…”
She whipped around, ready to hear whatever slurs passed her lips. “I’m a what, huh?” June marched to her, determined to slap her if necessary.Not the first client I’ve slapped, either.Usually, she charged extra for a slap. “A whore? A prostitute? A hooker? A damaged girl with daddy issues? Go on! I’ve heard them all!”
Sette’s leveled glare shook her core. “A woman I clearly don’t deserve.”
