Page 350 of Rock Me All Night
"Later." Tom hangs up his phone and slides it into his pocket. He releases his grip around my waist then looks at his arm like he's not sure how it got there.
"She said yes?" I ask.
He stares back at me with a wide smile, clearly enjoying tormenting me. "Did she?"
"You're killing me."
"Yes, she said yes. She's looking forward to meeting you."
I throw my arms around him and squeeze tight. Tom steps back, surprised, then he moves forward. Hugs me back.
He feels good. Hard. Safe.
"You that excited?" His voice is apprehensive.
"Yeah." I pull my arms to my sides. "Sorry. I shouldn't have jumped at you like that."
"It's all right. Just surprising."
It is? But he's experienced. "You've slept with 500 different women."
"Don't really stop to cuddle." He runs a hand through his hair. "I just... uh." He shoves his hands into his pockets. "You're going to stay through the tour?"
Fuck yes. I'll stay anywhere to work with Hazel Alexander. I nod.
"Then you'll need clothes. You only have that." He nods to my messenger bag. "You need help picking out stuff for clubs or you have that covered?"
"I can manage." Probably.
"Just, uh, make sure you pick out some lingerie."
Say what? I stare back into Tom's eyes but it doesn't help me figure out what he's getting at. "Why?"
He pulls out his wallet and counts out a thousand dollars in hundreds. "It's a surprise."
He is incredibly obvious about handing me the money.
I shove it in my purse before anyone can get ideas about mugging me. "What is this?"
"An advance on your salary. We're going to take our first set of pictures today. Get everything you need for the rest of the tour. Plus at least one set of matching lingerie."
I raise an eyebrow. He just smiles and nods to a bench outside the department store. "I'll be here."
* * *
It takes two long, exhausting hours of shopping to get everything I need. After I finish, Tom leads me to the parking garage, back to his flashy red convertible. It's a bright contrast against the beige concrete walls and the dusty asphalt.
Tom unlocks the trunk, stuffs my bags inside. Something in his expression changes. The softness in his eyes is disarming.
He leans against the car next to me. "Listen, kid. I hate to risk ruining the mood but I need to know what it is you're running from."
"Why?"
"A deal is a deal."
It's true. A deal is a deal. I take a deep breath. The air smells of gasoline. It's quiet. I can hear my heart beat.
"You're not okay," he says.
