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Obviously takenby surprise, Ander gave an inelegant snort over the rim of his wine glass.“Excuse me?”

“A sextherapist. Just think about how good you were with helping me out. People wouldline up for sessions from you.”

For a moment, Loriheld her breath—unsure of Ander’s reaction. It could have gone either way. Butthen his lips twitched. “There would be an appalling sort of irony to thatcareer choice.”

She grinned.“Or you could do what I suggested before. Do seminars and webinars withinstructions on how men can better please women.” Thinking about Phil, herexpression transformed into a bitter scowl. “They definitely need the advice.”

Ander archedone eyebrow. “Any particular disappointing experience you'd like to share?”

“Shut up.”Although she’d fixed her scowl on Ander now because of his smug smirk, shewasn’t really annoyed with him. She felt a ridiculous urge to giggle. “Oh, Iknow! You should write a book.”

Ander shook hishead with wry amusement. “If you’re going to suggest I write romance novels—”

“No, no,” sheinterrupted. “Although I’m sure you’d probably write good ones. I mean youshould write a non-fiction book on all you’ve learned about women. It would bea best-seller.”

“TheConfessions of a Male Hooker?”

His voice wasstill amused but she didn’t like the note of bitterness she detected. “Not likethat. I suppose your former profession could be a marketing ploy, but I meanmore like a how-to book. I’m serious. You really should write up all the wisdomand insight you have about women and relationships.”

“Wisdom andinsight?” Faint skepticism was etched on his handsome features.

Loristraightened up on the bed, frowning at him in annoyance. “How can you be sosmug one minute and then so completely oblivious the next? You’re one of thesmartest people I’ve ever met. And I’ve never met anyone with the kind ofexperience with human nature you’ve had. I’m not saying it’s a blessing or thatit didn’t come with a price. But you have it. Why not use it?”

His gaze wasoddly still. Quiet. “I do use it.”

She made afrustrated noise in her throat. “I meant use it to write a book. Channel it ina different way. I have a lot of contacts in the publishing industry. I canalmost guarantee I’d find at least a few editors who’d be interested in givingit a read.”

Ander justlooked at her for a full minute, his expression so acutely observant that Loriwanted to squirm. “Are you trying to convert me out of my life of depravity?”

Lori almostsputtered. She hadn’t thought that was what she was doing. She’d just gotten anidea and run with it—the way she always did. “What kind of hypocrite would I beif I was doing that, given how much money I’ve paid you to fuck me? I hope youdon’t think I was judging you. I wouldn’t.” She stared down at her wine glass,strangely self-conscious all of a sudden. “You don’t really think I was doingthat, do you?”

“Lori,” Anderbegan, his voice drawing her eyes to his face again. “Sometimes I have no ideawhat to think of you.”

Not surewhether she’d been complimented or insulted, she gave him a cool glare. “Well,I assure you the feeling is mutual.”

She thought hislip might have given that delicious twitch, but he was still seated in the chair,too far away from the bed to be sure.

“Were youreally thinking of leaving the business?” Lori asked at last.

“I never saidthat. You asked if I ever think about it, and naturally I think about itoccasionally.”

“Do youactually find this line of work...satisfying?”

Ander gave aslight shrug. “I’m good at it. I make a lot of money. I set my own terms. I’vesucceeded in...”

When he trailedoff, Lori prompted, “Succeeded in what?” Not for the first time, she wonderedif Ander was happy. If he was anything close to happy with the life he’d madefor himself.

She reallydidn’t want to judge him—not knowing anything about what had shaped hischoices—but she couldn’t imagine that he found life genuinely satisfyingallowing his body and even his personhood to be used the way it was.

He shook hishead and didn’t answer.

“Was it hard?” Loriasked, letting the questions spill out now that she’d started on the subjectshe’d been too afraid to ask about before. “The first time, I mean. Was it hardwhen you started being an escort?”

Ander wassilent for a long time as he stared at an empty spot in the air. Then he said,“Shut up, Lori.”

Lori huffed andgave a little flounce of frustration on the bed, but she couldn’t complain orsay anything. She was the one who had told Ander to shut her down if she becametoo nosy.

Watching herpout, Ander chuckled and finished off his wine. He looked a lot more at easenow than he had the last time she’d seen him. She wondered what had changed.What kind of personal resolutions he’d come to. What had allowed him to leveloff the emotional tension she’d witnessed before.

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