Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
WYATT
It had been three hours. My feet hurt from my heels, and my head hurt from all the overpriced cologne and cigar smoke.
Maverick had led me to the Orion Room, where the richest of the men crowded around a table.
I’d been passed from hip to hip. Asked to blow on dice and kiss cards.
This was below my pay grade. That was what the girls from the Golden Serpent were for.
And they were better at it. They had the patience to put up with men.
I stepped out into the hallway when I heard someone call my name. Margo’s younger brother, Anders, caught up with me. “Anders?” I looked past him to the table he had come from. “I thought you had a girlfriend.”
“I do. What does that have to do with playing cards?” He flicked his eyes toward the table. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I stepped out to the cool, clean air of the hall.
“Are you working?” He followed, closing the door behind him.
“Anders, you know the rules.” He was Margo’s little brother, and that was not a line I wanted to cross. I was sure at some point I had slept with someone’s little brother. But I didn’t want to think of it that way.
“Not for me.” He cast a quick glance behind him and led me farther down the hall. “What does one charge for your services?”
“More money than you make.”
“Tell me. Five? Six—”
“Twenty,” I said.
“Twenty thousand? For how long?” Anders’s voice pitched higher.
“Five hours.” Most didn’t last five hours. Three was the longest. But two and a half of those hours were spent talking about how much money he made and how important his job was. Add in twenty minutes for a shower, and there wasn’t really a lot of sex happening.
Anders stepped away, running his hand through his hair. “That’s, like, four thousand an hour. Fuck.”
“This from the man who signed a five-million-dollar contract.”
“It was seven, thank you. And I get the shit beat out of me. You…” He gave me a once-over.
“Have to pretend to enjoy having sex with old men. If the only reason you came here was to insult me, you—”
“I have a friend.”
I waited for Anders to say more. “Good for you, Anders.”
“He’s gone through some shit, and I think you could help him.” Anders rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m worried about him.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, not sure where Anders was taking this. “Do you want to sit and talk?” I motioned to the two chairs.
“No.” Anders paced a couple of steps. “You won’t say anything to anyone, will you?”
“About what?” I arched a brow.
“This.”
“No, I abide by the strict escort and client confidentiality code. Not even the cops could drag it out of me.”
“Okay, good.” Anders nodded, pacing a couple steps.
There was no code. “His game has been shit, and if he doesn’t change something soon, I’m afraid this could be the end of his career.
And he deserves more than being labeled as a has-been or washed-up.
” He shifted his attention to the floor, chewing on his bottom lip.
“He, uh… he’s the reason I’m even here in Vegas. Hell, he’s the reason I play hockey.”
Normally, Anders came off cocky and loud. He was quick with a smile and quicker with a smart-ass comment. But this felt different.
“He’s lost his confidence for a lot of reasons.
But there is one really big reason that’s not mine to tell.
” He seemed to struggle with what to say.
“He’s a nice guy. Some women think he’s attractive.
Not as good-looking as me, of course. He works out every fucking day.
Some might say he looks good naked. He’s only thirty-four.
Brushes his teeth, wears clean underwear.
No kids. Or pets. He did hurt his knee last season and—”
“Anders.” I held up my hand. “Are you trying to hire me for your friend?”
“Yeah. He needs a confidence boost. And, well, what better way than sex with some hot chick? You could do that, right?”
“Have sex, yes. But sex will not fix him. Maybe he should try therapy.”
“He said the same thing about sex. So there, you have that in common.” Anders gave me a hopeful smile.
“He won’t get therapy. He’s afraid the NHL will find out.
And no one has to know about you. You have to make him understand that what she said about him was a lie.
Because it is. He’s better than Payton.”
“Anders, I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about. Who is she?”
“Emily, his wife. I mean, they’re separated.
She said…” He paused, eyes drifting to the door.
“It doesn’t matter. He’s a really good guy, and we’ve tried everything.
We tried getting him high. That made things worse.
Coach thinks we should give him a lobotomy.
And I thought about it. Then I realized that had to do with his brain, and, well, he plays hockey, so…
” Anders met my eyes. “I think he’s depressed.
They’re threatening to take him out of the lineup.
That will destroy him. Hockey is all he has. Please, Wyatt.”
“What are you asking of me?” Men came to me willingly. They choose to pay for sex. I wasn’t about to pursue some hockey player because he was depressed.
Anders chewed on his thumbnail. “To fake it. I mean, maybe he’s good and you won’t have to. But if you fake it, maybe that will help him.”
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
I really didn’t want to deal with this. Not the faking part; I did that all the time.
“There are, like, five girls from the Golden Serpent in there.” I pointed down the hall.
“He could have any of them. They’ll all fake it.
They’ll cry to heaven and praise any god you ask them to. And they’re cheaper.”
“It’s not like that. They aren’t you.”
“I’m not following.”
“Wyatt, you are stunning.” He studied me, a crooked smile forming. “Don’t tell Tee that. She’s perfect for me. But not for Julian. He needs someone like you. Someone unforgettable.”
“I’m flattered, but I don’t do athletes.”
“Don’t mix us up with those athletes. We’re hockey players. We are a different breed. And he’s not like us. Which is why he’s struggling.” Anders gave me sad eyes. “Come on. The city would owe you.”
“Is there some billboard with that printed on it?” Sex: the thing that saved Las Vegas.
“If this helps him and we make it to the playoffs, you’ll be able to claim that you helped the team. Maybe they’ll dedicate an arena to you. Or…” He pointed at me. “A statue right outside of City Center Arena. You could be sitting in the cup.”
“Naked, I hope.” I shook my head.
“Me too.” He winked. “Julian is really a great guy. He let one evil woman ruin everything.”
“Julian? Is that his name?” I wondered what a Julian looked like.
“Yeah. Julian Silver. Please, Wyatt. You are our last hope. The Las Vegas Desert Coyotes’ empire depends on you.”
“Some would say he looks good naked?” Maybe I could try enjoying sex for once. Maybe that would make my life feel fuller. Or something.
“Yeah, the internet says he does.” Anders winked. “He’s here tonight if you want to judge for yourself.”
“No. That’s not how this works.” I pulled out a black card from my handbag, not sure what would come of this.
There was nothing on the card but numbers.
One was a phone number; the other a code to get to Margo.
“If he is serious, give him this. He’ll need to pay the deposit.
Half now, the other half the night of. Submit a clean record of health.
No STDs. No drugs. And agree to a criminal background check. ”
“Is there a friends and family discount?” Anders asked, taking the card.
“Are you shitting me right now?”
“No. How much for four hours? And remember, we are hockey players. We don’t make the big bucks.”
“Are you negotiating for him?” I couldn’t decide if I should be impressed by their friendship or feel insulted that Anders was negotiating with me.
“Yeah. He won’t agree with twenty. But four?”
“No.” I reached for the card.
“Come on, Wyatt, be a team player. This city needs a cup. And he really needs to get laid. How about seven? I’ll pay the other two.”
I closed my eyes, regretting ever agreeing to this. “Five, and he pays it all. I’m not having your sister think you and I are fucking.”
“Deal.” Anders stuck out his hand. “Don’t tell him about the price. And make sure he believes you’re enjoying yourself.”
“I know how to do my job.” I shook his hand. “But Anders, this is the one and only time I do one of your friends. Do you understand? And don’t tell him my name.”
“Boy Scout’s honor.” He held up three fingers and gave me a bright smile. “You will not regret this.” He pulled me into a hug.
“He better look good naked.”