Ravenous next book 3, p.4
Ravenous (NeXt Book 3), page 4
Not that I wouldn’t enjoy a night or two down there. I haven’t been to Miami Beach in a couple months. Maybe if nobody bites at the job, I’ll do it myself.
I jot down the first names who come to mind for it, though. Jace could work. He has a nice look to him that works well in big city settings. He sticks out like a sore thumb at backyard parties since he insists on wearing two thousand dollar suits everywhere he goes, but he would fit in nicely for this job.
Or Calvin. He’s been asking for more work, and he does clean up nicely, especially when you find out he works on boats for his day job. Once he got the grease out from underneath his nails, he turned into one of our best guys.
The second message starts and I hear a soft voice say her name is Anna. She needs an escort for a wedding reception. Easy job. Cakewalk. Lots of smiling and dancing, and although the food is rarely top-notch, it’s usually not terrible.
Marcus could do this job. I listen to her say she’d like someone with dark hair and dark eyes and know he’s the man for it. Plus, he looks damn good in a tux, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. Some guys just look like oversized penguins, especially those with bulging muscles. Never a good look.
I move my phone away from my ear when I think she’s finished talking, but then I hear something and quickly listen as she says, “I just need someone with me so I’m not alone and have no one to deflect from my family. I guess that sounds sad, but if you come from a big family, you know what I mean. Thank you.”
For a second, my chest contracts against my heart. I know exactly what she means. I love my family more than they can even know, but having all those eyes on you can be a lot to deal with. I don’t know how big Anna’s family is, but as someone who comes from a family the size of the March and Jackson clan, I know dealing with them can be a chore.
Especially when you’re trying to hide parts of your life from them and they expect to know every tiny detail of your existence.
She finishes talking and the message ends, so I set my phone down and get to work on arranging escorts for the two clients. Fifteen minutes after I put the call out, Jace comes back with a definite yes to the event in Miami Beach. He can’t wait to take a little vacation and get paid at the same time.
Anna’s request I send to Marcus because he’s the only one who’s right for this job. I consider Seth for a few seconds, but he’s too young and something about the way her voice trembled when she said those last few words into the phone tells me she’s vulnerable. Definitely Marcus.
When I don’t hear back from him in thirty minutes, I text him again. He’s never one to slack on jobs, but maybe he’s sleeping in late this morning. I don’t know what he does when he isn’t working for us, but maybe he got himself a full-time job?
Finally, an hour later, he gets back to me as I sit waiting on my balcony drinking my second cup of coffee for the day. Looking down at my phone, I read his message. He’s sorry, but he has to go to his mother’s third wedding that day. Damnit. I really don’t want so send Seth out on this one. I’ll just have to put this job out on a regular cattle call and see who comes back at me.
One by one, I get the same message. I can’t do it because of the holiday weekend. By the time I finish my second cup of coffee, I know I’ve got no one for this job. Not even Seth, who can’t do it because he’s in the middle of a move.
That only leaves Damon or me. Fuck, I hate weddings.
After cursing out my partner and his girlfriend, I message this Anna person with the name I use whenever I have to go out on jobs. It’s not completely a lie, but then again, who cares, right? This is a business deal, not some romance just starting.
Hi Anna,
I’m Cash Lucas and I’ll be your date for the wedding Saturday. I just need to know the time and where to meet you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Cash
While I repeat my angry words for Damon and come up with a few choice ones I haven’t used yet for that girlfriend of his, Anna quickly texts back with her address and when I should meet her there. It goes like clockwork, as these things usually do, but then she texts once more, this time with a demand.
I hope you understand, but I have to do it this way. You have to drive my car to the event.
Normally, I prefer to meet at a neutral site and then drive separately from there. It’s the safest way to go and nobody feels like they’re putting themselves in any danger. However, something about this woman says this is merely an idiosyncrasy she needs indulged and not the beginning of some plan to drug me and harvest my organs in some swamp nearby.
At least I hope not.
So I text back I’m fine with that and kick back to relax until the next client needs a man. It’s good work, if you can get it, even when you have to actually be the escort sometimes.
Chapter Six
Cash
My Lexus rolls over the tan and brown pavers set in a herringbone pattern that reminds me of the driveway at my parents’ house. That’s where the similarity ends, though. The March family has money, but one look at Anna’s house says she’s got that times ten.
Or a hundred. Whatever the multiplier is, she’s loaded.
I stop the car and step out to look at the gorgeous home in front of me. Cream color, it reminds me of a house that belongs in Europe with its dark brown stone façade that runs halfway up the front of the house and wrought iron railings on the balconies on the second floor. To the left, a four-car garage with all its doors closed connects to the home, and in front of the door on the far right sits a silver Mercedes. By the looks of it, I suspect it’s not even two years old and doesn’t look like it’s been anywhere but this courtyard.
Maybe this Anna woman is a shut-in who rarely goes out. The image of a woman like that one in Driving Miss Daisy pops into my head. That might not be too bad. I don’t usually enjoy hanging out with elderly women, but it does tend to make the job easier, especially if she’s cool like my grandmother.
I chuckle as the thought of Alexandria March hiring an escort to take her places runs through my head. She’d totally be all in for that. Grandma knows how to have a good time, and from what Alex and Cade told me a while back, she’s definitely got some tricks up her sleeve, at least in her past.
So I get to be an old woman’s stud for the afternoon. Again, it’s not bad work, if she’s as nice as she sounded on the phone, and at least there will be free booze and a meal at the reception.
When I walk up to the door, I see someone dart past the glass around it. Although it’s just a quick glance, Anna doesn’t seem to be an infirmed old lady. That’s good. It might mean she wants to dance today, but that’s not a bad thing. Some of these elderly women really know how to light up the dance floor, and assuming she’s in good shape, I’m game.
I lift my hand to press on the doorbell, but the front door opens before I can and standing there isn’t an old woman at all but a woman who looks to be about my age. Dressed in a dark blue strapless gown and wearing a diamond choker around her neck that highlights how she’s put her dark hair up in a bun on the back of her head, she’s stunning.
And definitely not what I expected.
Or maybe she’s coming with us as a guest of Anna? I’m not sure at first, so I simply introduce myself and hope she explains who she is so I don’t have to ask.
“I’m here for Anna,” I say with a smile.
She looks confused for a moment, so I add, “I’m her escort to the wedding today.”
“I know. I’m the one who hired you. I’m Anna Gardener.”
Now I’m the one who’s speechless.
When I don’t say a word for nearly ten seconds, she covers her hand with her mouth and in a horrified voice says, “Oh my God! I’m so sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say I’m paying you, was I? That makes it sound like you’re a prostitute, but that’s not what they call men who do this, is it? They call you gigolos, but I’m so sorry because that’s not what this is.”
Unsure I caught most of what she said, I just shake my head and smile. “No, it’s okay. I wouldn’t suggest mentioning any of that in front of your family, assuming you don’t want them to know you hired me, but I’m fine with most of what you said. Except the gigolo part.”
That makes her cover her entire face with her hands, and from behind them, she says quietly, “I am blowing this, and we aren’t even out the front door. Maybe we could start again?”
I extend my hand and smile, hoping she can see from behind her fingers. “Hi, my name is Cash Lucas. It’s nice to meet you.”
She slowly lowers her hands to reveal her cheeks are pink with a beautiful blush. Her dark eyes avoid meeting my gaze when she touches my hand and says, “Hi, I’m Anna Gardener. It’s very nice to meet you too, Cash.”
Her skin is petal soft against my fingers, and her handshake is as light as air. I look down at where our hands are joined and notice her skin is flawless. Then I feel her hand begin to tremble against mine.
“This is going to be okay. I promise. We’re just two people going to a wedding reception, right?” I say, trying my best to calm her fears.
For the first time, she looks up at me and meets my gaze with her deep brown eyes. “I’m sorry I’m acting so stupid. I’ve just never done anything like this before.”
“It’s okay. Most people I work with haven’t either. You look gorgeous, so you can feel great about that. I wear a tux pretty well, if I do say so myself, and everyone at this wedding is going to be wondering who I am and not focused on you. If you want me to say anything in particular to anyone in particular, just tell me. I’m here to make this easy for you.”
“Thank you. You have no idea what my family is like. I hope they don’t swamp you with questions. They’ve been pretty good at leaving me alone, but I couldn’t get out of this wedding,” she says, basically apologizing for something that hasn’t happened yet.
I know what she means, though. Big families can be a lot to handle.
“Well, while we’re on our way, I’ll tell you about my family and you’ll see it’s not just yours that can be a bit much. Try five children born in five years to three brothers. Throw in an adoption and one more and that’s just the kids in mine. Those three brothers each have a wife who’s as different as night is to day, and there’s the family matriarch who doesn’t take no for an answer and doesn’t seem to know she’s supposed to slow down in her eighties. We’re quite the bunch.”
Anna’s smile broadens as she listens to my quick rundown of the March and Jackson crew. Taking my arm, she walks with me to the car and laughs at my joke about my family tree having a lot of squirrels in it because we’re nuts.
“Thank you for understanding my nervousness, Cash. I’m just not used to dealing with people much anymore.”
As I close her door and walk around to the driver’s side of the car, I wonder what happened to this woman to make her pretty much housebound, from the way she’s described herself. I was right about the car. When I open the driver’s side to get in, she remarks that it hasn’t been driven in nearly two years. That detail, combined with her comment that she doesn’t know how to deal with others anymore, makes me think something terrible happened to her.
Maybe an attack? Jesus, if that’s the case, I need to make sure I don’t make any sudden moves that she might interpret the wrong way. The last thing I need is to end up in handcuffs trying to explain today’s arrangement between the two of us to one of Gainesville’s finest.
When I slide in behind the wheel, I decide I need to be very careful with this woman. I can’t risk my entire business on one person, so she gets the cool Cash this afternoon.
I put the car in drive and begin to roll down the driveway between the two enormous palm trees as she says in a quiet voice, “My husband died two years ago. That’s why I seem so odd. I’m really not weird like this with people. I just haven’t socialized much since he died. He was the only person to ever drive this car.”
Gently, I slow the car to a stop and turn to look at her. She looks so vulnerable, so fragile staring at me, her eyes wide with something that looks like fear. I want to say maybe we should go in my car since I have a feeling this one brings with it a world of memories, but I don’t.
Instead, I say, “I promise I’ll take good care of it, Anna. It’s in the best hands possible, I swear.”
When I finish, she lets out a sigh like she’s been carrying the entire world on her shoulders and for the first time in ages, it’s been lifted from them. “Thank you for being so good about this and me and how weird I am. I know you probably do this just for the money, and I can appreciate that. I just want you to know you’re being really sweet and I loved that story about your family.”
“Well, I have hundreds more if you want to be bored. Just say the word, and I’ll start talking.”
She gives me a warm smile and nods. “I’d like that very much. Thank you, Cash.”
And with that, Anna opens up Pandora’s Box of March and Jackson family stories. I just hope she doesn’t regret it.
I take Anna’s hand in mine and we start walking to the Courtright Meadows Country Club main building. It’s a beautiful, sunny September afternoon, and after our drive here and my stories about how my brother and my cousins and I terrorized our parents as little boys, she’s finally calm enough so her hands aren’t shaking.
This will be fine. It’s just a wedding reception, and if I can handle my family, I certainly can handle hers.
And then from under the portico, a woman who looks like I imagine Anna would if she was twenty years older, fifty pounds heavier, and angry comes storming toward us like she has a bone to pick with either Anna or me. So much for thinking that everything would be smooth sailing.
“Where have you been? We’ve been waiting forever for you!” she announces loudly enough for anyone within twenty yards to hear. “Who is this? I thought you were coming alone. When did you start dating? Or is this just a friend?”
Anna squeezes my hand so tightly, I wonder if she’s hurting herself. Knowing she’s already probably spinning out of control, even after all that laughing she did in the car, I lean in toward her as we keep walking forward and say, “It’s okay. Families are like this sometimes. Everyone has someone like this to deal with, and I’m here.”
With each step, her grip on my right hand lessens so by the time the loud woman reaches us, Anna and I are simply holding hands and not holding on for dear life.
“Cash, this is Cecile, my older sister. Cecile, this is Cash Lucas, a friend of mine.”
Her voice shakes on the final few words of her introduction, but I don’t think her sister notices because her attention is fixed on my face. If that’s what it takes for her to not pester Anna, so be it. I don’t mind a little staring for a good cause.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Cecile. You look lovely in that green gown. It flatters you,” I say with a smile, even as I think the truth is she looks like a large plant someone should prune.
“Did you know my sister’s husband or did she meet you after?” Cecile asks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Anna wince like every word out of her sister’s mouth is painful. I barely know this Cecile woman, but I already dislike her.
“I’m afraid I never had the good fortune to meet your late brother-in-law, but his reputation is well-known, so I know of his business success.”
“And what do you do?” she asks, barely taking a moment to hear what I had to say to her first question.
Beside me, I can feel Anna’s entire body tense up. We never discussed what my answer to that would be, so I have to go with what I usually tell people away from Tampa what I do for a living.
“I’m part owner of a restaurant.”
More than just a tiny lie, but since my father and I share a name, I can usually get away with it. The fact that I use my mother’s maiden name for my last name complicates things a bit in this situation, but if Cecile decides to do a little online stalking of me, it’ll take her longer than one afternoon to figure out none of what I’ve told her is actually true.
By that time, Anna will be back home safe and sound and I’ll be back to my life running my business with Damon.
When she asks what the name of the restaurant is, she’s interrupted by another woman and a man walking toward us. I recognize the man instantly as Nico, one of my guys who works for us. He, of course, doesn’t recognize me since Damon and I stay completely anonymous, but I can’t help but smile that two women at this reception are paying my company.
“Cecile, they want you inside. Something about the ice sculpture melting and they need your personality to firm it back up,” the woman says with a completely straight face.
Anna’s older sister turns on her heel and snaps something at the woman before looking back and getting one last comment in. “I’m glad you’re finally getting out. Just because your husband died doesn’t mean your life has to end. He believed that, and I do too, so it’s good to see you.”
I feel Anna’s hand reach for mine when her sister finishes speaking, and I give it a gentle squeeze to let her know she’s not alone. “Well, I hope we aren’t sitting with her.”
The woman with Nico smiles at me and then sweetly cradles Anna’s face. “Now that the wicked witch is gone, I think we can go to the singles’ table positioned somewhere between the bathroom and the kitchen, right?”
For the first time since we arrived, Anna smiles and her face lights up. Turning to face me, she says, “Cash, this is my younger sister Cheyenne.”
