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Brennan spends an unnecessary amount of time trying to stare me down, to intimidate me. But if I can win a staring contest with Simon’s cat, I can out-stare a middle-aged pimp.

“Get someone else,” I say to move things along.

“He doesn’t want someone else. He wants you. Not sure if it’s about actually liking you, or how you make his breakfast. Tried foisting one of the new guys off on him, but he insisted you’re the only one who knows how he likes his tea.”

Fuck. “Senator Latchley.”

Brennan’s mouth quirks into an almost-smile. “Funny thing. He gave the name John Smith.”

I nod. “It’s an astonishingly common name.”

“Indeed.” He pushes away from where he’s been leaning his hip on his desk and goes to sit in the chair behind it. “Fine. I’ll tell Senator Smith you’re not available for personal reasons.”

Brennan raises his eyebrows as if he’s looking for more information, or possibly for me to change my mind, but I only nod. “I appreciate you.”

I already told the senator I wasn’t available. People don’t respect boundaries with escorts. We’re not humans to those rich fucks, just another product.

“Let me know when you’ll be taking jobs again. Or is this your way of trying to quiet quit? In the last few months I’ve had Simon, PJ, Rowan, Adam, and Troy all leave the business, and Christian’s taking fewer gigs as well. The couple of new guys I’ve brought in are barely cutting it, and you know I hate to go out and recruit.”

That bullshit makes me laugh. “Liar. It’s your favorite part of the business.” Sure used to be, anyway. I was in that hospital bathroom six years ago when Brennan “recruited” me and Dean, after all.

He tries to give me his stone face. The hint of a smile that breaks through tells me I’m right.

“Anyway.” I tap the envelope in my hand against my thigh. “When I decide I’m done, I’ll let you know. That day isn’t today.”

“Good.” Brenna gives me a terse nod. “Keep me in the loop. And tell Dean I’m pairing him with Prince for his date on Tuesday. I assume that’s still happening despite your own booty embargo?”

Wait a minute. “Don’t ever use that phrase with me again. And what’s this thing with Dean and Prince?”

The hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Prince seems fine, I suppose, but him asking Dean out to dinner the other day had me feeling some way I’d rather not examine too closely.

Dean fucking other guys is one thing. Guys who might want him for more? Situations where feelings could get involved? Hell no. Without permission an image of Prince plowing Dean’s ass pops into my head, and I clench my fists so hard I leave dents in my palm.

The moment I let myself take more from Dean was the moment I reinforced for myself that he’s mine and he always has been. When he started dating my sister I didn’t try hard enough to stop them. It was a mistake I won’t repeat.

I get the urge to scratch my elbow, which ‌always itches when I’m annoyed. It’s a tell I can’t stand. Especially around Brennan, who sees more than he lets on.

“Oh, you know.” Bastard’s looking too smug. “Dean’s got this regular who likes to watch. Used to be Christian would pair up with him, but he’s been hit or miss since shit hit the fan with his abusive ex. Right now the rest of my bench includes a couple of new guys, you, Nico, and Prince. Prince is the only one available.”

“I’ll do it.” It’s entirely possible my tongue has bypassed my brain, because I think I just agreed to fuck Dean in front of a client.

Brennan seems to think the same thing. “Two minutes ago you turned down a two-day boyfriend experience with a cough, senator, cough that comes with a hefty price tag, and now you want to fuck Dean for a fraction of that money instead?”

He’s not wrong. Never mind that fucking Dean makes things messy as hell. Messier.

I think about sliding my dick into Dean’s open throat. About the way his eyes glittered with unshed tears as he stared up at me. The way he completely, unflinchingly handed me his trust.

Then I cross my ankle over my knee and double down as if it makes all the sense in the world. “The senator is too much of a time commitment. Dean’s thing will only be an hour or something, right? Besides, we’re family. Family helps each other out.”

“Did you think about how that sentence was going to sound out loud before you said it?” Brennan’s hand goes to his hip, pushing his suit jacket open enough to reveal his shoulder holster. Is that a coincidence or a threat?

I didn’t, but I roll my eyes to cover how the wrongness of it gives me a thrill. “You knew what I meant. Put me down. Dean knows where to go?”

“He does. Guy’s got a beach condo in that enormous tower where Simon and his boyfriend used to live.”

“Whatever. I’ll do it.” I point my finger at him. “Just this one time, as a favor for Dean.”

So Dean doesn’t fuck Prince. Or vice versa. But I’m not going into that.