“So you’re actually interested in women? It’s not just the job?”
“Women, men, anyone really. Even though this is a job, the attraction is always genuine. I choose my own clients, and I only choose clients I’m attracted to on some level.”
Yvonne studied her. “Does that include me?”
Ruby’s skin prickled, Yvonne’s voice enthralling her. “Like I said, I only choose clients I’m attracted to.”
Silence sizzled in the air between them. Yvonne’s gaze didn’t leave Ruby’s. What was going on behind those hypnotic eyes? Everything about Yvonne was impenetrable, from her expression to her words, to the way she held herself. Ruby usually found it easy to read people, but Yvonne was a complete mystery.
Ruby broke the silence. “There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Go ahead,” Yvonne said.
Ruby’s heart began to race. “Is there anything else you want from me?”
Yvonne’s lips opened ever so slightly. Their eyes still locked, Ruby caught a glimpse of something in Yvonne’s, the faintest ember of desire, just like when they’d shared that first glance in the bar in Vegas.
But it only lasted a moment.
“I’ve already told you what I want,” Yvonne said. “I want you to be my wife to the outside world.”
“Only to the outside world?” Ruby asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m only asking because most people who hire escorts are looking for something more than that.”
“I’m not interested in that kind of arrangement.”
“Right,” Ruby said. “But I’ve noticed you haven’t actually said you’re not interested in me.”
Yvonne stiffened. “That’s not relevant. This is a purely business agreement.”
Ruby held back a smile. “Right, because you don’t ‘do’ escorts? Is that because of those ‘specific tastes’ of yours? Nothing fazes me. Trust me, I’ve seen it all.”
Yvonne scoffed. “No, you haven’t.”
“Yes, I have.” Ruby rested her chin on her hands, examining Yvonne. “So what is it that you’re into? Do you have a foot fetish? Do you like to make women dress in schoolgirl outfits? Do you like to tie women up?”
Yvonne spoke in a firm voice. “It doesn’t matter what I like. I told you. I’m not interested. I don’t pay for sex. And even if I did, that’s the last thing I’d want from you!”
Ruby flinched, a stinging feeling growing in her chest. Clearly, she’d pushed Yvonne too far. “Okay. Message received.”
Yvonne let out an exasperated sigh. “Ruby-”
Ruby held up her hands. “I hear you loud and clear. Forget I said anything.”
“Ruby.”
The doorbell rang.
“That’s the takeout I ordered.” Without giving Yvonne a chance to respond, Ruby got up and left the room.
She headed to the door, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Was she actually upset that Yvonne wanted to keep things business? It wouldn’t be the first time a client had wanted an arrangement that was entirely platonic. Besides, it was a good thing. It made Ruby’s job simpler, decreasing the risk of her getting emotionally involved. So why did Yvonne’s words bother her so much?
There was only one explanation. Ruby wanted Yvonne. Badly.
And considering their complicated circumstances, and the dangerous way that Yvonne seemed to be able to get under Ruby’s skin, that was not a good thing.
Chapter 6
It was early afternoon when Ruby returned to Yvonne’s apartment. She’d treated herself to lunch at the fanciest restaurant she could find using the credit card Yvonne had given her, simply so she’d have something to do. Now, boredom was setting in again.
She sat down in the living room. It had been a week since she’d signed the contract laying out her agreement with Yvonne. Since then, Ruby had taken advantage of her new status as Yvonne Maxwell’s ‘wife’. She’d embraced a life of luxury, ordering expensive food and furnishing herself with a whole new wardrobe. But it had only taken a few days before the novelty had worn off.
Now, Ruby was faced with the reality that she had absolutely nothing to do.
It didn’t help that she didn’t know a single person in the city other than Yvonne, and Yvonne seemed determined to maintain a professional distance from Ruby. Sure, Yvonne had reiterated that their arrangement was purely business, but with the way Yvonne was behaving, it was like she was going out of her way to avoid Ruby. Yvonne would leave for work early in the morning and would come home late at night, with nothing but a ‘good morning’ or ‘good night’ if Ruby happened to be around. Ruby wasn’t sure whether to take it personally. Yvonne was a busy woman, and it had been clear from the moment they’d met that Yvonne wasn’t a warm, bubbly person.
But this felt like something more.
Ruby recalled the conversation they’d had that first night. It’s the last thing I want from you. Yvonne’s words had been clear. Her behavior, however, was far more ambiguous.
Ruby knew a thing or two about attraction, and Yvonne showed all the signs of wanting Ruby, in her cool, reserved way. When Ruby would walk by late at night in nothing but the oversized t-shirt she slept in, Yvonne’s eyes would follow her, before snapping away. When they passed by each other in the hall, Ruby would feel Yvonne’s gaze on her. When Ruby would go into the kitchen for breakfast, freshly showered, combing her fingers through her damp hair while she waited for her toast to pop, Yvonne would give her a wide berth but would watch her out the side of her eye.
Ruby sighed. Yvonne was so confusing. Clearly, she wasn’t going to warm up to Ruby any time soon. Ruby couldn’t rely on Yvonne to keep her occupied.
However, Ruby didn’t know what to do with herself. She had no hobbies, no interests, no way to pass the time. It was like she was just this blank slate of a person. She had no friends to call, no one to talk to. Not anymore.
Things hadn’t always been this way. It had been a slow, gradual thing. And it had all started with him.
Over time, as they’d become more than just client and
