It couldn’t mean what she thought it did. Surely not. No respectable business operated like that, not on Savile Row of all places.
Her gaze drifted to a small, candid photograph at the bottom of the page. Billie herself, standing in front of a mirror with a client. The client’s face was out of frame, but Billie’s wasn’t. She had short dark hair, wore an exquisitely sharp suit, and had a tape measure looped around her neck. She had that kind of self-possession you couldn’t possibly fake, and there was something about her expression. Focused, but not detached. Like she understood the body in front of her wasn’t just fabric and proportion, but something far more intimate.
Debra closed her laptop halfway, took a breath, then reopened it.
Her pulse had quickened, but she tried to convince herself it was because of the alcohol, not the image she couldn’t quite look away from.
She quickly filled in the form and clicked submit.
Thank you for booking with Brown & Co. Our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your appointment.
Debra sat back in her chair and stared at the words. Sheshouldhave felt ridiculous. But tonight, she felt something else entirely. A flutter she hadn’t recognised in a long time.
Anticipation, maybe. Even attraction. After all, Debra had been here before. Many years before she’d married Gerald. A closeted bisexual.
She shut the laptop and took her glass to the sink, reminding herself that it was just a suit and nothing more. But as she switched off the lights and headed for the bathroom, the image of Billie Brown—impeccably dressed with the quiet command of someone who didn’t need to explain herself—stayed firmly in her mind.
It couldn’t mean what she thought it meant, but part of her hoped that she was wrong.
Billie sat behind her desk,watching the clock as it struck six in the evening. She’d spent the last hour or so responding to appointments for the rest of the week, but her interest hadpiqued when she came across a booking for a new client. She didn’t often have newcomers requesting The Full Service, but Billie welcomed them with open arms…certain they would leave more than satisfied. And yes, shewasthat good.
The door opened suddenly without a knock beforehand. Nina slipped inside, looking impeccable and put together, but Billie knew exactly how she was feeling deep down. She clocked the tremor in Nina’s fingers as she reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Six,” Nina said quietly, her gaze fixed on Billie’s.
“I’m aware.” Billie rose to her feet and smoothed a hand over her waistcoat. She stepped out from behind her desk and shook her head. “You’re lateagain.”
Nina frowned. “What?”
“It’s thirty seconds past.”
“I…” Nina swallowed, already flustered. “I waited in the corridor. I didn’t want to come in early.”
“Always thinking.” Billie sighed as she stalked towards her. “Always making decisions for me.”
Nina cast her gaze to the oak flooring. “I’m sorry.”
“Mm. You will be.” Nina’s breath hitched when Billie stopped in front of her, close enough to feel the air shift between them. “Skirt.”
Nina obeyed, gathering the hem and lifting her skirt.
As Billie’s gaze swept down Nina’s body, landing on what she desired most, she nodded. “You held it. I’m proud of you.”
“Yes. All day.”
“Did you think about me?”
A flush rose on Nina’s cheeks. “The whole time.”
“And you didn’t play even a little?”
Nina’s breathing grew shallow as Billie stepped closer. “No. I did as you asked. I didn’t touch myself.”
“Perfect.” Billie cupped Nina’s chin and tilted her face up. “You just let the ache build instead, didn’t you?” She lowered her other hand and slipped it between Nina’s legs, offering just enough pressure to make her gasp. “Because you’re so needy and desperately want to come for me.”
“Yes.”
“Well, go on. Show me.”
