“Did I say that? I’m pretty sure I didn’t.”
“It was implied,” I said. “And there’s a part of me that’s glad I can show you some of the advantages to being with a man like me.”
“Advantages, huh? You know I’ve protected billionaires before. You're not the first.”
The band struck up their music as my eyes bored into the profile of her face.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You’re not the first high-profile client I’ve taken on,” Sam said.
“Were any of them in fear for their lives?”
“Most of them were, yes. None of them have handled it as well as you have, but they were all under serious threats. Most of my clients are.”
“So, you know the benefits of being with a man with money,” I said.
Sam turned her gaze toward me, her sly grin growing into a petulant smile. Had she dated other billionaires? Was I really not the first? I assumed I was. I was going about this as if I was. Had I been making an ass of myself over the past few weeks by assuming she’d never been with a man like me?
“I’m aware of them, yes, but I’ve never experienced them firsthand,” Sam said.
“So, you never went with your clients to any of their hideouts?” I asked.
“No,” she said with a giggle. “I’ve never been to any of their hideouts.”
“You never went on any business trips with them?”
“I accompanied them if they fly out of town, yes. To make sure they were safe.”
I rolled my shoulders back as I tightened my grip on my glass of wine.
“What about staying at their houses? Is that something—?”
Sam’s giggle caught me off guard, and I whipped my gaze over to her. She had her hand to her lips, trying to stifle the hilarity she saw in the situation. But I didn’t think this was funny. I wanted to know her experience with billionaires. Had they treated her with the care and commitment I had? Did they make sure she had whatever she needed during her tenure with them? Shopping trips and clothes stacked in her closets and private resorts with beaches meant only for her and him?
Did she already know what this felt like?
“You’re jealous,” Sam said.
“I’m not jealous. I’m merely curious,” I said.
“You want to know if I’ve slept with other billionaire clients.”
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
She reached out for my hand and took it, our fingers lacing together. It was the first semi-public display of affection she had afforded me, and I soaked it up as the music bubbled in the background. Her eyes drifted up toward mine as I gripped her hand tightly, not wanting to let her go as her grin eased into a comfortable smile.
I sighed as I brought her hand to my lips, kissing each one of her lightly-scarred knuckles.
“I keep a very strict rule about never dating my clients. You’re the first person I’ve ever tossed that rule out for,” Sam said.
I felt relieved, but I was also shocked.
“I find that hard to believe,” I said.
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“Not at all. A blind man could see your beauty, Sam. You’re a very impressive woman. You impressed me the moment I saw you lounging back in my office the day I employed you. I’m sure your clients have wanted you before.”