An Escort for Christmas

Even now, as tired as I was, I knew that when I laid my head on the pillow my brain wasn’t going to shut up. It was just the nature of the beast. Wide awake when I finally decided on getting some sleep.

I could wait until Jameson finished his shower and go into the bathroom, but then it would just mean I’d be up even later. It took a while to kick in, and it was already late as it was.

I threw off the covers and wrapped a silk robe over my nightgown before I snuck out the door. Hopefully I wouldn’t be bumping into anyone in the hallways at this hour.

Chapter Eight

I thought I’d made it free and clear as I tossed back my pill, until I heard a throat clear behind me. I turned around to see Lleyton sitting at the kitchen island, eyeing me curiously.

“Headache?” he asked. “I wouldn’t blame you after that dinner.”

I grinned and shook my head. “No, it’s just something to help me sleep.”

“If you need that then I would say my brother’s not doing his job,” he teased.

I laughed awkwardly at his joke, but a moment later his eyes filled with guilt.

“I came down to sneak some milk and cookies,” he said. “It usually helps me sleep.”

“I can imagine. Sugar coma.”

“Will you join me?” he asked, heading towards the fridge.

I lingered in place, not really sure what to do. I didn’t want to come off as rude, and I wasn’t certain what Jameson would expect from me in this situation. But this was his brother, and he seemed harmless enough, so I agreed.

“Okay.” I sat down on one of the stools. “But just one.”

He poured us a couple glasses of milk and set a plate of cookies between us, gobbling his down like he hadn’t just eaten two hours before.

“So how did you meet my brother?”

“More questions?” I cringed “I thought we were done with the inquisition today.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Don’t worry, I’m not like my father. I’m genuinely curious.”

“Why is that?” I tried to deflect his curiosity. I didn’t have a story lined up yet for how I’d met Jameson either. We really needed to get our facts straight.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “He always brings women to family events and stuff, but he’s never brought anyone home for two weeks before.”

“He always brings women home?” I probed.

He grimaced at the expression on my face and I mentally slapped myself for even asking.

“Yeah, I mean sometimes.” He waved his hand around flippantly. “But nothing serious. They’re like the type of women you only take to look good on your arm if you know what I mean.”

I frowned, and he winced again. “Oh God, I’m totally digging myself into a hole here, aren’t I?”

“It’s okay.” I shrugged. “Jameson’s a very handsome man. I’m not surprised that he’d date beautiful women too. Apart from me that is.”

“You’re gorgeous,” Lleyton countered, but a moment later it looked like he wanted to take the words back. “I mean, you’re perfect for him. Someone I could actually see him with. Those other women never seemed like his type at all.”

I folded my hands in my lap and nodded. I had to wonder if Jameson had so many women at his beck and call why he’d asked me to do this. Surely one of them would have done it for free.

“My brother’s a good guy,” Lleyton continued. “I just want to see him happy.”

I didn’t get a chance to answer, because a moment later, the man himself wandered around the corner.

He stopped short when he saw me sitting there with Lleyton, and something dark passed over his features. He was behind me in three long strides, and I was utterly shocked when he wrapped his hands around my waist possessively and pulled me back against his chest.

“There you are, vixen,” he murmured the words into my hair.

Oh shit. I was totally not prepared for this. He wanted me to take things up a notch, in front of his brother?

This was an interesting new development, but one I didn’t have time to think of just then. I spun in my chair and leaned into him until I was looking up into his eyes. And I did the only thing I could think of.