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Mrs. H: Don’t worry about it. Might as well let her spend the night here. If she’s fighting something off she’ll need her rest. I’ll send her over in the morning.

One less thing to worry about. My shoulders slump from relief.

Dean: Much appreciated

Then I make my third attempt to dial Ravi, one of the most sunshiny male escorts I’ve worked with.

Thank the good Lord, he answers this time. “Hey! Sorry I missed you earlier. I was kind of tied up.”

“It’s fine.” It isn’t, but my problems aren’t Ravi’s fault. He’s a nice guy; a little too sweet for my tastes, but he’s always eager to help when someone needs it, which is what I’m counting on right now. “Uh, I need a favor. It’s kind of an emergency.”

There’s a rustling noise, and he says something I can’t hear to someone on the other end. Probably his boyfriend. More rustling, and then he’s back on the line. “I’m happy to help if I can. What’s the emergency?”

My heart tries to thump its way out of my chest. “It’s uh…” Lord. My skin might actually catch fire. “You said something once about being able to pick locks. I’ve got a bit of a situation.”

“Oh. Well, I’m not the best at it, but yeah. Depends on the lock. What’s the issue?”

“Uh.” Clearing my throat, I let my head fall back against the wall behind me and thunk it twice for good measure. Then I glance around again to make sure nobody can hear me. Down the hall a way is a bald guy who’s whispering way too loud about what he wants to do to his date.

The date in question doesn’t look familiar to me, but based on the way she’s both murmuring sexy-sounding stuff into his ear and looking bored out of her mind, I’m going to guess she’s another professional.

We catch each other’s attention as they pass. I nod. She gives me a wink and then herds the man into the elevator.

My attempt at smiling back feels stiff. I’m busy trying not to jiggle my leg. Trying not to walk right out of the building.

“I’m stuck in a cock cage,” I admit when I’m alone again.

“Oh! That’s easy.”

Ravi’s enthusiasm both thrills and terrifies me. A little how I felt when the doctor said, “It’s a girl.”

Relief has me sagging against the wall behind me. “Good. That’s great. I hate to ask, but do you think you could come now?”

“Where are you?”

“The Premiere hotel. I’m here for a date, and I don’t know if dessert’s on the menu, you know? But if it is… You know.”

I’m grateful Ravi doesn’t tease me for my awkwardness. I’m already embarrassed as hell, and you never know who’s listening.

More rustling and talking on the other end. Please say yes. Please say yes.

“Liam and I can be there in ten, is that okay?”

As if I’m going to say no. “Please. As soon as you can. I’ll make it work.”

“Hang tight.” It’s the last thing he says before he hangs up. Great.

The next ten minutes are the longest of my life. I return to the party. I make small talk, fending off a guy who’s getting too familiar with Vivica and then an older lady who’s getting too familiar with me. Then there’s the man who talks to both of us as if we’re stupid, which Vivica handles surprisingly well.

Me, I’m not so graceful. “I’m pretty sure I know him from somewhere,” I tell Vivica as we walk away from the slimy, balding man with the excuse of getting more drinks. Even though I know she’s already had her limit of two glasses of wine she allows herself at these things, and I’m sticking to club soda.

I’ve hardly touched a drop of alcohol since Ella was a baby. Not since the time she had colic and I wound up drowning my frustrations and frayed nerves in beer. After that, I didn’t trust myself. Reminded myself too much of my father after Momma left.

Vivica frowns as we approach the bar. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

It’s a sacred rule to never out a client, even to another client. Which, technically, I’m not exactly doing. I haven’t said the words out loud. Vivica is my only female client though, and I know I can trust her.

Also, the way I see these men treat her? I figure she’s best off ‌armed with all the knowledge she can get. These people talking to a woman like her as if she’s trash? Doesn’t sit well.