Chapter 3
TALON
Ididn’t expect it to be so easy to make this happen.
After she ran from me, I knew I had to dig deeper into her life. There was something so incredibly intriguing about her. Something that wanted me to know everything about her.
Plus, she was still my best chance to get into the wedding. I needed to be her plus-one, whatever it took. So when I hacked into her computer to see what she was searching for, I found my in. Creating a male escort ad didn’t take much, and she was too desperate to question her luck.
For two weeks, I’ve waited, expecting her to reach out via email and cancel.
I figured she’d come to her senses after a day or so.
There was no such email, and stalking Ainsley on social media told me how she’d been preparing for the wedding: checking in at a dress shop earlier this week, then at a nail salon yesterday.
She wants to look good for this, and that means having a man on her arm.
A little more background work on her family confirmed my suspicions.
She’s the odd duck. When I look through family photos posted by the middle-aged woman I now know is her mother, I find Ainsley standing alone most of the time, slightly off to the side.
While they’re wearing designer shit and sporting fake tans, she wears the same type of clothes I saw her in at the pet store.
I sort of admire her for that. She doesn’t care about fitting in. We have that in common.
Now, here I am, wearing a suit and a tie, which I’m pretty sure is strangling me.
The things I do for my job. The fact is, over the past two weeks, I’ve almost forgotten Paul Marshall’s place in all of this—I was too busy deep diving into his cousin, Ainsley, and what makes her tick.
Why a cute girl like her has to resort to renting a date.
She might be odd, but she is also beautiful, funny, and smart.
My dick hardens under my slacks just by thinking of her tight little body and how good her plump lips would feel wrapped around my aching cock.
Fuck. I shake the thought away. Today isn’t about her. It’s about getting close to my target, so I can take him out. Since when is that something I have to remind myself of?
I’m five minutes early when I knock on her apartment door, and the squawking of a bird on the other side reminds me about her parrot. Her neighbors must absolutely love it.
“Just a minute!” She’s breathless, her voice high-pitched.
Nerves. I lean in, my ear close to the door, and I hear her murmuring.
Probably reminding the cat how even though she’s going out with an actual human being today, he’ll always be the number one guy in her life.
I can’t make out what she’s saying, but I’d be willing to bet money on it.
Suddenly, the door flies open, leaving me off-balance.
I catch myself before falling against her, then take in the outcome of all the work she’s put into today’s look.
She’s been busy having her hair and makeup done.
I’ve seen what the girl can do when left to her own devices—a professional handled her this time around.
That’s not what makes my eyes widen, though. It’s her dress. She’s wearing a ball gown—like something out of a Disney movie. It’s pale blue, a little shimmery, with a full skirt that makes noise when she takes a step back on recognizing me.
And she does immediately; fear washes over her face, making her flushed cheeks pale. Those enormous eyes of hers only grow wider. “You? What are you doing here?”
Before I have a chance to answer, she swings the door hard like she wants to lock me out. She’s quick, but I’m quicker, wedging a foot between it and the doorjamb before it can close.
“Why are you not letting me in? You paid me to come here.” Her eyes go wide as she realizes why I’m here.
“I-I didn’t know it was you,” she blurts out.
“What’s wrong with me? And while we’re on the subject, why would you invite some man to your house you know nothing about? You didn’t even ask for a picture.”
“I… because…I thought…” She stumbles over her words, unable to form a single sentence. Her bottom lip quivers, drawing my attention to it before her big baby blue eyes suck me back in.
“You thought what—”
“ATTACK!” She suddenly screams, pointing her small dainty finger at me. “Klaus, attack!”
I scan the room for her weird-looking cat and find him lounging on the back of the couch.
He doesn’t move. Not even his ear twitches. That cat couldn’t care less if I bent Ainsley over the coffee table and fucked her raw.
That thought has my dick stiffening again.
“Nice try, but even if your cat would care to move a paw, don’t you think I could handle a fifteen-pound animal?”
“How dare you? Klaus is not fifteen-pounds! You are going to make him feel fat.”
“Oh, no. I wouldn’t want to insult a cat and give him a complex. He might have to go to therapy. I hope you don’t expect me to pay the bill.”
“You’re going to have to go. Now.” She even points at the door. “I’m sorry. There’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Not much room for misunderstanding. You booked a date. I’m here. Where’s the misunderstanding come in?”
I can hear her gulp. “It’s that… I didn’t expect you.”
“Are you that scared of me?” My lips twitch into a grin.
Like the bastard I am, her fear only edges me on more.
I take a step toward her, closing the distance between us.
She mirrors my step in the other direction, desperately trying to get away from me until she bumps into her bookshelf. Now she has nowhere else to go.
She knows it, too; her eyes go impossibly wide, and the rustling of her dress is giving her shaking away.
“I-I just…” She bites her freshly glossed lip, and I wish I could be the one doing it.
Everything about this girl screams at me that she needs to get laid.
Big time. For a second, I wonder if she’s ever had a man.
There is an innocence around her that other women don’t have.
I shake that thought away. It can’t be. At twenty-five, there is no way she is still a virgin.
“You’re scaring me.”
“I know,” I admit shamelessly. Lifting my arms, I grab the sides of the bookshelf, caging her in with my body. She looks up at me with tears forming in her baby blues, and suddenly, I feel an ache in my chest.
“Please,” she begs, her voice so small and soft. All I want to do is wrap her up in a blanket and hold her until she trusts me not to hurt her.
I suck in one more deep breath, taking in her flowery perfume before I take a few steps back to give her some space. She basically slumps against the shelf, grabbing onto the edge until her knuckles go white.
“Is it really you?” she asks after a moment of awkward silence. “You’re the person who was assigned to me?”
“That’s right. And your deposit has already cleared, so we’re sort of locked in here. No refunds.”
“I know that.”
“You are safe with me if that’s what you are worried about.” Probably safer than ever before. I doubt she has been on a date with a hitman for hire. And definitely, not one who would protect her like I will. I would kill someone for her… for free. And that’s something I don’t normally do.
She inspects my face like she is mapping my features. Her eyes move over my lips, jaw, nose, and forehead. I wonder if she can see the small scars covering my face. Suddenly, I feel exposed, a feeling I’m definitely not used to. I avert my gaze, ignoring how self-conscious she has made me.
“Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I’m sorry I tried to slam the door in your face.”
I clear my throat, looking her over again. “I’m sorry I scared you.” Apologizing is another unusual behavior for me.
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s probably me, not you. My imagination runs wild sometimes. I shouldn’t have assumed you are some kind of criminal just because you have a skull tattooed on your hand.”
I nod, pressing my lips together, so I won’t tell her that her instinct was spot on. She shifts her weight back and forth, and every time she does, her skirt rustles.
“Are you sure I’m dressed correctly for this? Is that the problem?” Just thinking about my tie has me adjusting it again. There’s a reason I work in a field that doesn’t require a suit.
“What? No! You look… very nice.” She whispers the last part, her cheeks turning a hue of red.
“But you’re dressed more formally than I am. Should I be wearing a tuxedo?”
She looks down at herself, then up at me, and I don’t know if it’s sad or touching, the confusion in her eyes. “I thought it was pretty.” Holding her arms out, she does a slow turn. “The girl at the store said it looked like it was made for me. Do you think it’s too much?”
Fuck me. This girl needs help. They’re going to eat her alive at this wedding.
I’ve never met any of her family, but I have good instincts when it comes to people.
“Not at all. It does look like it was made for you.” More importantly, Ainsley clearly loves this dress.
Why should she change because other people don’t approve?
“I just don’t want to be the odd man out and have everybody wondering where you found me.
The idea is for the customer to be satisfied with their experience. ”
“You look perfect too.” Her gaze immediately falls to the floor, and something about that makes my dick twitch again. “I’m sorry I was so rude. This is all really new to me.”
“New? Like you never been to wedding?”
“No, I mean the other thing.”
“What, you mean you’ve never rented a date before?”
It was supposed to be a joke, something that would make her loosen up a little.
I don’t need her walking around looking like a scared rabbit all night and attracting unwanted attention.
The idea is to blend in. I doubt that’s going to be possible with her looking like a wannabe fairy tale princess.
I don’t need her making it worse by looking at me like she’s terrified.
Her features pinch together like she’s pained. “Do you think it’s pathetic? Is that what you’re saying?”
“What no! Not at all. I mean, what would it say about me if I did? This is how I make my living.”
Some of the concern on her brow smooths itself away, but she still looks unhappy. “Maybe this was a big mistake. I probably shouldn’t even go.”
“Hang on a second.” This is careening out of hand. The idea is to get close to Paul through her, and I can’t do that if she decides to stay home and play dress-up with her cat. “Why don’t we start again?”
Extending my hand, I offer a smile. “My name is Talon. I’m glad to meet you. And I think you look beautiful.”
She accepts the gesture, placing her hand in mine. Like the rest of her, it’s small and delicate. “You do?”
“I do. Like a princess ready to go to the ball.”
“Thank you.” Her teeth sink into her lip again. “Maybe you could say that when other people can hear you? Like, when we’re around my family?”
This poor thing. And now I hate these people for her. Sure, she’s a little strange, but they must make her life hell. “Absolutely. You’ll have to let me know in the car if there’s anything else you want me to say. But we’d better get going if we don’t want to be late for the ceremony.”
“You’re right.” Still, she hesitates, her eyes moving around the room like she’s looking for an excuse.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” I catch her gaze and grin. “You might even have a good time.”
Right up until the whole me murdering someone part.
“Somehow, I doubt it.”
“Let me guess. Your family gets on your case about not having a boyfriend, and it’s especially bad at times like this when somebody is getting married?”
“I’ve been dreading it ever since they announced their engagement.”
“Family can be a pain in the ass. But here’s the thing: if you were the only person who ever went through this, there wouldn’t be a reason for guys like me to do the work I do. Right? You’re not alone.”
When her eyes light up, I know I said the right thing. “That’s true. I didn’t think about it that way.” Yeah, I’m sure good old Klaus isn’t so hot on offering advice. He’s currently licking one hairless paw while staring out the window.
“We better get going,” I remind her. “My car is outside. Let’s go have a good time and to hell with the rest of them.”
“You’re right.” She throws her shoulders back. “To hell with them.”
“Good girl.” I have no idea where that came from, but she doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, when a flush covers not only her face but her exposed chest and shoulders, I make a mental note to praise her again later. She needs somebody by her side who makes her feel good, strong, and worthy.
Just why I care is a mystery. She seems like a decent person, I guess. I’ve never much liked seeing bullies pick on those smaller and weaker than them.
“Let me get my purse.” When she turns away, I’m shocked into jumping in surprise at the sudden appearance of a turtle, which must’ve been hiding under her skirt.
She clicks her tongue at it, bending to scoop it up. “Now, Bob, what have I told you about breaking out of your enclosure?”
“Oh, you mean you weren’t planning on sneaking him into the wedding? Are you sure there aren’t any other animals hiding in there?”
After depositing the turtle in his fenced-off home, she gives her skirts a shake. “No. I think we’re good.”
“Because I doubt the bride would appreciate a random squirrel running around during the ceremony.”
Her eyes sparkle, and her lips twitch. “Careful. You’re making me wish I had a pet squirrel.”
She’s the one who’d better be careful because she’s starting to make me wish I was doing this strictly for pleasure rather than for business. It won’t be easy keeping my attention where it needs to be.