Learning the Hard Way by Bridget Midway Read Free Book Online Page B

him.
    “No, man. I want to hear you say it so I know you understand what you’re getting yourself into.” Like a silent movie villain, Gross rubbed his hands together.
    Troy released an exasperated sigh. “I will be your step-in gigolo while you whore yourself with one of your Johns. Or do you call them Janes?”
    Gross pointed to Troy. “I’ll take that as a yes. Thanks, T. I owe you.”
    “Just let your employer know that I’ll only be available for at least one call the week you’re gone. After that, I’ll decide if I’ll do any other, uh, dates while you’re away.”
    Gross patted Troy’s shoulder as he started to walk by him. To arrest Gross’s attention, Troy grabbed his friend’s arm.
    “Don’t screw me. A week. You stay out longer, don’t bother calling me or coming to my house.”
    “You got it. A week and that’s it.” Gross waved his hands like an umpire calling a player sliding into home plate safe.
    “And my life is not for sale.” Troy shook his head.
    Gross cocked his. “What are you talking about?”
    “What I do in my personal life, my BDSM side, is not a part of this equation.” He would do a lot for his friend, but compromising himself wouldn’t be one of them. “What it is that I do isn’t a part of some package. There has to be some connection along with a conversation that happens before I put my hands on her in that way. For that reason, I won’t be doing any disciplining.”
    “Understood. I think they tweaked your description on the website so it’s not so in-your-face about your lifestyle.”
    Troy blinked. “They tweaked the description instead of taking down my profile completely like I’d asked you to?”
    Gross gave him a sheepish grin.
    “One booking. Take down the profile once I’m booked.” He marched back to his desk chair. “And one more thing.” He took a seat. “When I say my life is not for sale, I’m also talking about my penis. No sex.”
    Gross blinked. “You sure, man?”
    “This coming from a guy who called his clients old and said dipping them in the Atlantic wouldn’t make them wet.” He opened the book for his ethics class. As soon as he cracked the spine as parted the pages, he thought about Ava. Dr. Kushnell.
    “Yeah, but a couple can be hot. Plus, they don’t mind tipping a little extra.” Gross raised his eyebrows.
    “Unless the woman I sleep with can help me become a teacher, I’m not doing it. I’m simply going to be her escort. That’s it.” Troy would have to find his dream woman, who would want to support his goals along with getting a getting a good flogging, from somewhere else.
    Gross showed Troy an okay sign with his hand.
    No, he wouldn’t find his dream woman doing this. Someone willing to get her dates from an escort service had to be desperate with low self-esteem. Then again, what did it say about him that he would be willing to be her escort? God help Troy if he made the biggest mistake of his life.

Chapter Four
    Ava’s body tingled, and the feeling had nothing to do with being fresh from her all over body waxing, her massage or getting her hair done. She broke her attention from staring at her reflection in the mirror when the front doorbell chimed.
    No, don’t answer it right away. Take your time. Wait for it. She smoothed her sleek hair behind her ears, decided the look matched that of a bookworm and quickly put it back in its original spot.
    Another doorbell chime sounded but this time a knock followed. Her need to please kicked into overdrive as she snatched her purse from her bed, slipped on her black platform pumps, and ran to the door. After a deep breath, she opened it.
    A squatty man wearing a chauffeur’s outfit huffed when Ava opened the door. As soon as she stepped onto her porch, the limousine driver waddled down to the long, black Hummer. Vonda’s cousin didn’t let her down.
    After locking her front door, Ava sauntered toward the luxury ride. In her long, strapless red dress, she felt