Whatever You Like by Maureen Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

fluency in Japanese sealed the deal for him. Whenhe asked to see your photo, I refused to show it to him. I knew you’d knock his socks off, so I just told him to trust me. I’m so glad he did.”
    Speak for yourself, Lena thought darkly.
    â€œSo,” Zandra said, drawing out the word, “are you going to see him again?”
    Lena swallowed hard. “No.”
    â€œNo?” Zandra sounded surprised.
    â€œNo. I’m not.”
    In the ensuing silence, Lena could hear Zandra’s unspoken questions, could hear the wheels turning in her mind. She was speculating about whether Lena had slept with Roderick, but she was reluctant to come right out and ask. Probably because she didn’t want to know.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t want to see him again?” she gently probed. “If he asks for—”
    Lena closed her eyes. “I can’t.”
    â€œOh.” A lengthy pause. “I see.”
    Lena waited tensely.
    Zandra heaved a deep, frustrated breath. “Damn it, Lena.”
    Guilt assailed her at once. “I’m so sorry, Zandra. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
    â€œYou obviously weren’t,” Zandra muttered.
    Lena didn’t argue. She couldn’t.
    â€œI don’t have to tell you what a bad position you’re putting me in,” Zandra continued. “The agency means everything to me. I can’t afford to lose it over some sex scandal.”
    â€œI know.” Lena felt like shit for betraying Zandra’s trust. Her guilt was compounded by the fact that Zandra was the one who’d come to her rescue three years ago when she’d needed extra money to put her grandfather in a retirement home.
    They’d met at a social function hosted by the national chapter of their sorority. After explaining that she owned and operated an upscale escort agency, Zandra had asked Lena whether she’d ever considered working as a paid companion.
    â€œCan’t say that I have,” Lena had replied.
    â€œYou should,” Zandra told her. “With your looks, poise and level of education, wealthy men would pay top dollar for the pleasure of your company. I can guarantee that you’d make a killing if you worked for me.”
    If the conversation had occurred at any other time, Lena wouldn’t have given Zandra’s proposition a second thought. But finding another source of income had been weighing on her mind lately. So she was undeniably intrigued by the idea of “making a killing” in any capacity.
    Sensing her receptiveness, Zandra passed her a glossy business card. “Give me a call. I’d love to have you on board.”
    Lena did call her. And true to Zandra’s word, she did make a killing as one of the agency’s top escorts. Working for Zandra, she made more in one month than she earned as a grant writer for an entire year. Although she’d hate to forfeit the extra income, she wouldn’t blame Zandra for considering her too much of a risk.
    â€œDo you want me to quit the agency?” she asked quietly.
    Zandra sighed in resignation. “Of course not. You’re one of my most popular escorts. It wouldn’t make business sense for me to let you go. Besides, maybe this is my fault. I’m the one who set you up with Roderick, knowing how irresistible he is to women.”
    â€œNo,” Lena argued, “that’s a cop-out. It’s not your fault that I didn’t use better judgment. I’m a professional. I’m supposed to know better.”
    Again Zandra sighed. “Well, it’s not as if you’d be the first of my escorts to violate the no-sex policy. One girl, in particular, made a regular habit of sleeping with clients until I was forced to show her the door. I hated having to lose her, but she’d been warned several times. So I had no other choice.”
    Lena gulped. “I’ll consider myself