Page 51 of Sexy Bad Escort

“Oh, honey.” Mymother climbs out of her chair and makes her way around the table.“It’s all starting to make sense now. You’re pretending to dateDanny.”

“What? No,that’s not—”

“I’ve naggedyou too much.” She presses her hand to her heart.

“Yes,”Garrettagrees.

“You are alittle obsessed with grandchildren,” Paynt adds.

“Alittle?” James smirks, folding his arms over his chest and restingback in his chair. “You don’t know when to stop. Myra told me youasked her when we were planning to have our next child. Jane is three months old, forChrist’s sake.”

“I onlywant to see you allhappy and settled,” Mom says. “Is that too much to ask?”

“Not all of usare cut out to be like you, Mom,” I snap. This conversation isgetting out of hand.

“Wait,”James says and the wholetable falls silent as he gestures between me and Danny. “You saidyou were working together. You’re managing his escortbusiness.”

“Oh,” mymother exclaims, the lines around her eyes and mouthdeepening.

“Yes.” Iexhale the word as I lookto Danny for help. “But it’s not like that. It’s not as badas it sounds.”

“You’rea pimp.” Garrett actually sounds slightly impressed.

“No. Not apimp. A manager.”

“Ronniesets me up on dates with women who need a guy who can give them thespecial touch,” Danny explains.

I groanand press my fingers to my forehead as warmth creeps over my neck and face. Thatsounds worse. Is he doing this on purpose? “Danny has a gift. Withwomen.”

“High five.”Danny lifts his hand in my direction. I ignore it.

“He’s better atmatchmaking than you are, Mom. Sorry, but he is. I don’t know howelse to explain it. I set up the date, and he shows up and fixestheir love life. That’s what he was doing that day at therestaurant. Helping a woman come out to her mother so that shecould introduce her girlfriend. There’s no sex involved. I’m nothis pimp. I’m really proud of Rent-A-Danny.”

“Why didn’tyou just tell us that?” she asks.

“Uh,because obviously people draw conclusions.” I gesture ateveryone.“And I wantedto know that it was viable before I told you about it.”

“And isDanny fixingyour lovelife?” she asks me before turning on him. “Since you’re so muchbetter at this matchmaking thing that my daughter insists I’mdoing, have you found a great guy for her yet?” She arches aneyebrow and plants her hands on her hips the way she used to whenwe were younger and she caught us sneaking cookies from the cookiejar. “Perhaps you have a brother.”

Dannyfreezes with his drink halfway to his mouth. His eyeswiden, and his lips partas he lowers the glass to the table like it weighs 100 pounds. Hischest rises and falls in an increasing tempo. It’s like she reachedout and twisted his nuts into dried up husks with five littlewords.

“Damnit, Mom.Why would yousay that? You like Danny.”

“I do.Which is why you decided he would make a great beard, I’m sure. Butthis isn’t about me. It’s about you. I knew I shouldn’t have setBen up with my dentist when I found you and Danny kissing in mykitchen. She’s a great girl, by the way. Single, loves kids.” Sheshakes her head to get back on point. “But he was into you. Whywould you pretend to be with Danny?”

“I’msorry.” Danny stands up, raking a hand through his hair as he does.“I have to go. I’ve got a client this evening that I better getready for.”

There’sno one on the books for tonight.Danny side-eyes me. Hurt shadows his features andsits heavily on his shoulders. My heart loses time as he turns towalk inside.

“I’llcome,” I say. “I should get some work doneanyway.”

“Noneed,” he tells me,gesturing for me to stay.

“If you’d toldme he had to work tonight, I would have rescheduled,” Mom says.

“Hedoesn’t.”He’s leavingbecause you suggested I hook up with his brother, like he isn’tgood enough for me. Racing after him, I catch up to him in thefoyer. “Danny, wait.”

“Not now,Ronnie,” he says, his back to me.

---