Page 64 of Angels & Whiskey
“It’s not,” Nick and Vinny said in unison.
Nick looked at Vinny. “We’ve both tried to have relationships, but they only last a few months before jealousy takes over. Women can’t grasp that it’s just work and we have no feelings for these chicks.”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t be okay if she were an escort either,” I countered.
They all nodded in understanding. I had no idea what I was going to do when I had Autumn in my house. Once she left her husband, I wasn’t going to hold back how I felt for her. It was already hard enough seeing her every day and not being able to touch her as I wanted too. It felt like it had when I was with Alyssa.
I just hoped it didn’t turn out the same way.
On Thursday after our daily Starbucks post-workout rendezvous, I checked my back office again to make sure I didn’t have any dates besides the one for Saturday— I didn’t. I also double-checked the instructions for Saturday’s date.
Trista was hiring me to escort her to a black tie party. I was to be her boyfriend and eye candy on her arm for the night. The problem—I didn’t have a decent suit to wear. Since working out five days a week, sometimes six since being in Vegas, I’d bulked up, causing my suit to be uncomfortable.
“Hey, want to go with me to the mall?” I asked Jackson as he sat on the brown leather couch watching baseball on our giant sixty inch flat screen TV.
He furrowed his eyebrows, turning his head toward me slowly. “Did you just ask me to go to the mall?”
I laughed, realizing what I’d asked. “Sorry, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go with me to get a suit for my date on Saturday.”
He chuckled. “Yeah … Cap. I’m gonna pass. Baseball is much more entertaining than seeing you strut your stuff.”
I shook my head. Hanging out with Jackson every day was turning me into a chick. “What? You don’t think my ass looks good in these jeans?” I asked, turning and sticking my butt out.
I had driven around for a good thirty minutes before Siri helped me find a good place to go. My plan was to go to the first store I saw that sold suits and get one that fit enough to get by for one night. I didn’t need anything custom tailored.
However …
My plans changed when I sawher.
Autumn was walking along the sidewalk of the outdoor shopping area, and I watched as she slipped into one of the stores. I crossed the street, following her. Even though I had just seen her a few hours before at Starbucks, I wanted to see her again. After all, we werefriends.
I searched the store, looking for the women’s department until I found her where she was looking in the dress section.
“Angel,” I greeted, walking up behind her. “If I would have known you’d be here, I wouldn’t have made an ass out of myself and invited Paul to come.”
She jumped as if I scared her, holding her hand to her chest as she turned to look at me. “Oh my God, what are you doing here?”
“I have to get a suit for work.” How could I tell the woman I was interested in I was going on a date with another woman … a date I was paid for? I knew I needed to tell her. If she found out on her own, it would more than likely be the end of whatever we were and whatever we were going to be once she wasfree.
“I was starting to think you and Paul didn’t have jobs.” She laughed, looking around—probably for a spy. There wasn’t anyone around but us.
I chuckled. “We have jobs.” My gaze roamed her body as I took in her perfect frame in tight jeans and a simple black T-shirt and flip flops. I usually saw her in casual workout gear, but damn if I didn’t love her in jeans as well. And the icing on the cake: She smelled like warm vanilla sugar.
“What do you two do then?”
“It’s complicated,” I answered with a shrug. “Why are you here? I thought you’d have to go home after Starbucks?” I asked, changing the subject. Luckily she didn’t press the issue about my job.
She shrugged. “I did go home, but I wanted to go shopping. I’ve been pushing the envelope with my husband for weeks now.”
“And everything’s okay?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah,” she answered, giving a tight smile.
I followed Autumn as she went from rack to rack, grabbing a couple of dresses. “When do you meet with an attorney?” I asked. Whenever she was going, I wanted to go and at least wait for her in the parking lot for support. If her husband’s spies told him she was meeting with an attorney, there was no telling what would happen. I wanted to be there in case he showed up.
“I haven’t found one yet. My luck, my husband knows all of them.” She moved a few hangers, looking at different dresses as she spoke.
“I highly doubt that. When are you going to tell me what he does for a living?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
