Love Me Not by Villette Snowe Read Free Book Online

heavily.
    “You don’t know what’s right yet,” I surmised.
    “No fucking clue.”
    “You know, you’re cute when you curse.”
    Her lips curved a little. The smile didn’t reach her eyes.
    I didn’t push the topic anymore. I saw she was going to be unsure of what to do for a while. At least she wasn’t crying anymore. Seeing Elizabeth’s tears was both hurtful and disturbing—she always seemed strong, or maybe just hesitant to let herself be seen. I just wanted to help her feel a little calmer, able to think things through, and I felt like I had.
    After we ate, the waitress set the check on the table. Elizabeth reached for it, but I was faster.
    “No,” she said as I took out my wallet. “I don’t want—”
    “And I don’t want you paying for my meal when I invited you out. I get to be a gentleman on occasion.”
    “You always are.”
    “Right.” I stuffed some cash in the folder with the check and set it down on the table. The tip was a little big, but I didn’t feel like waiting for change. “Ready?”
    She stood and draped her purse over her shoulder.
    We walked in the direction of Penny’s shop. We’d sat at the restaurant for a while. Evening was looming.
    “Where’d you park?” I said.
    “In that lot by the sporting goods store. You don’t have to walk me. It’s out of your way.”
    I guided her down the next walk. “I’m going in the back anyway.” As it was, Penny might’ve gone out looking for me. She complained I should at least get a cell phone. I could certainly afford it, but it went against my principles of no responsibility, of not being tied down to anyone, not even AT&T.
    The rest of the walk was quiet. We stopped at her car.
    “You can call the shop,” I said, “if you need anything.”
    “I’ll probably see if I can make an appointment this week.”
    “I mean if you need to talk.”
    “I know. I just, I don’t want you to feel like you have to treat me special or something.”
    “You are special.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Always the charmer.”
    I held in a defeated sigh. I wasn’t in the position to offer any real comfort.
    “Well,” I said as I took a step back, “I’ll see you soon.” I turned.
    “Heath.”
    I looked back.
    “Why do you do it?” she said.
    “Do what?”
    “Make money the way you do.”
    I grinned wickedly.
    “No, it’s more than that.” She hesitated, and I almost walked away. “Your sister schedules your appointments.”
    “And?”
    “There’s more to it all. I mean, what does she think about what you do?”
    “She makes money off it.” I walked away.

Chapter 9
    Candace And The Hotel Bitch
    Monday was crazy. I had five two-hour appointments. I didn’t eat, had barely enough time to rinse off before the next woman was at my door. Three of them I’d never met before. I didn’t bother asking their names. It didn’t matter, and besides, I wouldn’t remember anyway.
    The last woman arrived promptly at six. I was just drying off after my two minutes under the showerhead when she knocked. I wrapped the towel around my waist and answered the door. It seemed stupid to put on pants when they would be off again in a matter of minutes.
    She stared at me.
    She was in her late forties or so, another unsatisfied well-to-do housewife. She was in decent shape, wore a silk dress, and carried a Louis Vuitton bag. My regulars didn’t usually bring their purses in with them, just car keys and cash in their pocket. The new ones never knew what to do with their bags.
    I lightly took her hand in mine, drew her into the room, and then closed the door behind her.
    “Um, I’ve never done anything like this before,” she said.
    I smiled a little and took the strap of her purse so I could set it on the table by the door. I’d bought the table solely for this purpose.
    “I’m, um, I’m Candace.”
    With a step closer, now standing against her, I murmured, “Nice to meet you.” Then I touched her lips with mine.
    I brushed my