An Escort for Christmas

His gaze swung to me, travelling over my body as though he couldn’t help himself. My designer dress was now covered in flour, and I was certain it made quite the comical display. But there was no humor in his eyes, only a flash of hunger. It disappeared just as quickly as it had arrived when he spoke.

“What is it?”

Julia urged me to show him, and my nerves threatened as my eyes darted around the room. It was strange to be doing this in front of everyone.

“You want me to give it to him now?” I squeaked. “I thought we were doing that tonight?”

“No.” Julia grinned. “We usually just do it as soon as the cookies are done.”

Everybody’s eyes were on me, and I knew I had to do it. I swallowed and walked to the counter where my giant heart shaped pumpkin spice cookie sat. The shape was Julia’s idea, as was the message written in icing across the top. She told me to write something from my heart. Easier said than done in my situation. I ended up settling for:

To my handsome Jameson,

Merry Christmas!

Your vixen x

It seemed in keeping with our game at the time I wrote it, but looking at it now, I wasn’t so sure. Would he read more into it? Would he think I was trying to send him some sort of secret message?

God, this was confusing. This was exactly why I didn’t date. Well, that and the fact I hadn’t really had time for the last two years.

I walked back across the kitchen and offered up the cookie with shaky hands. Jameson glanced down at it for a long time without speaking. The room was so quiet you could literally hear his family breathing.

I fidgeted while I waited for his reaction. And then his eyes met mine, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

“Thank you, Harper. This was really nice of you.”

“It’s no problem.” I gave him an awkward shrug.

“Give her a kiss,” Julia encouraged. “She worked really hard on that. She even knew what your favorite cookie was.”

Jameson set the cookie on the counter and smoothed his palms up and down my arms for a brief moment. I shivered and closed my eyes when he leaned closer. This kiss was not at all like the one he’d given me last night in front of his brother, and I was both thrilled and disappointed at the same time.

Just a soft, gentle brush of his lips and then he pulled away again.

“C’mon.” He threaded his hand through mine. “We should go upstairs and get ready for the party.”

***

Jameson was in the middle of adjusting his shirt collar when I walked out of the bathroom. I glanced at him and tugged on the hem of my dress. It was the sexiest one in my suitcase, and he’d picked it especially for tonight.

He said he needed me to really sex it up, so I’d gone all out. I wasn’t at all comfortable walking around the party in this second piece of skin. It was a red bandage dress that hit me mid-thigh and showed off my ample chest. I could only imagine what his mother was going to think of me when she saw it.

But I had to keep reminding myself this was a job. This was what I was being paid to do. I was curious whether his request had anything to do with his ex-girlfriend being there tonight, but he still hadn’t mentioned it. I guess he didn’t plan to.

“You look perfect.” He gave me a tight nod, his gaze lingering on my lips before dipping down to my chest. “Exactly what I had in mind.”

“Thanks.” My skin heated under his appraising eyes. “You look really nice too.”

And he did. He was wearing dark wash jeans and a navy blue dress shirt that complemented his eyes perfectly. I almost told him as much, but then I thought that was being too forward. This was just a business arrangement, I reminded myself for the hundredth time.

He couldn’t hide his nerves as he turned and gestured towards the door. “You ready to go?”

“As I’ll ever be.” I nodded.

Chapter Eleven

The party was already in full swing when we got downstairs. The entire first floor was filled with guests, and by the look of enjoyment on their faces, the alcohol was flowing freely.

Gorgeous gowns and designer dresses draped every female figure in the room. The men were all smartly clad in casual designer labels. The entire room screamed money and refinement, and I was so far out of my league I may as well have been on another planet.