Page 7 of Sin City Lights

Having a seamstress for a friend had its benefits, although it was often hazardous to her wallet. Ever since they were in elementary school together, Lauren had had one goal in mind: to go to fashion design school and have her own line. Not only had she managed to achieve that, working as an escort while taking classes, but she had opened her own business and was the go-to for custom evening wear. Most high-end escorts went to her, and Eve got to play model when her friend tested new creations.

Lauren quickly placed the pins like the professional she was.“I don’t know how you still do it. I’d go crazy if I had to go back. I remember some of the girls soaking cotton balls in orange juice and swallowing them, just to get rid of the hunger pangs for a while.”

“That’s extreme, yeah. I just have a glass of water and a handful of almonds. Does the trick for me.” It also helped that she had regular clients who liked her just as she was: petite and slightly curvy.

“There.” Lauren set down the pincushion, her pale blue eyes critically assessing her handiwork.“This should photograph nicely too—just enough shimmer to bring drama but not too loudly.”

“Thank you, Lauren. You’re the best.”

“That’s what they tell me. Three new girls came to me last week. Did you have anything to do with it?”

Eve smiled.“Maybe.”

“You are too good to me.”

Eve made a dismissive gesture.“I had little to do with it. They saw the white dress.” Ironic that the client who had requested it hadn’t even seen it.

Lauren brushed a lock of fiery red hair off her forehead.“OK, I’m done, let’s take it off. Be careful of the pins.”

She eased down the zipper, and Eve shimmied out of the spectacular red number.“This is the prettiest one you’ve ever made.”

Lauren laughed.“You say that about every single dress, Evie.”

“That’s because it’s true. You are my hero.”

Lauren snorted.“I’m no hero. But I’m glad you think so.”

Eve was proud of her childhood friend. She was as close to a sister as Eve would ever have, and she was grateful for everything Lauren had done for her. When she’d lost her college scholarship and her mother kicked her out, Lauren reached out a helping hand and took her in, no questions asked and wanting nothing in return.

Right now, her sharp gaze searched Eve’s face, her light blue eyes piercing.“Something’s bugging you. You’ve been off all evening. What’s going on?”

Eve sighed. She’d known that this was coming. If there was a downside to having such a friend, it was the fact that she couldn’t hide anything from her.

She swallowed.“I had a…strange thing happen to me the other night.”

Lauren tensed.“Oh no. A weirdo?”

“No.”

Lauren’s shoulders relaxed. Eve knew she worried, even though Eleet was the safest place you could possibly work in this field. Once, one of Lauren’s clients had gotten aggressive, and she had never forgotten it. It didn’t matter that it had been a sleazy agency that had set up the encounter. Lauren was still apprehensive and often texted late at night just to make sure Eve was OK.

Lauren waited expectantly.

“Not a weirdo. But it was…”

Intriguing. Exciting. Mind-blowingly erotic.“Different.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“Um…” Eve hesitated.

She did, and she didn’t. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear her friend’s brutally honest opinion on what had happened with Adam. It was so out of the ordinary, and oddly, part of her wanted to keep it to herself.

“Evie, you’re blushing! Oh my God!” Lauren’s eyes widened.“What happened?”

Adam happened.

She described the encounter as succinctly as she could, watching as her friend grew increasingly incredulous.

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