interested in her. He asked her questions about her job, her family, her social life. She asked similar questions in turn until the conversation headed in the inevitable direction. His job.
“So, tell me about your dating service.”
“Why? Are you looking?” Though he said it playfully, she sensed his hesitation to elaborate.
“Maybe.” She grinned and winked, the wine making her bolder by the minute. “I don’t meet a lot of men at my women-only gym.”
He folded his hands on the table. “No, I guess you wouldn’t.”
***
This was it. The deciding moment. Her reaction would help him gauge whether she was the same innocent girl he’d known in school, or if maturity had opened her up to more intriguing encounters.
“It’s not the matchmaking type of dating service. I run Hill’s Escorts. Have you heard of it?”
She sipped her wine and set the glass on the table. “I hadn’t, until yesterday.”
He tried to capture her gaze, but she stared at her wine glass, tracing her finger around the rim. What was she thinking?
“I guess you did some research. What do you think about it?”
“Apparently, you were right. Some of your clients are members at my gym.” She flicked her gaze toward him before focusing back on the glass.
He couldn’t read her at all. Did she disapprove? Did she care? “Yeah. I think we cater to the same type of clientele.”
“Like?”
“Wealthy, upper-class women who may or may not be married. Mostly the thirty-five and up crowd, with the occasional customer in her late twenties.”
With curiosity in her eyes, she finally focused her gaze on him. “That sounds about right. So you provide men to be dates for these women?”
“Essentially, yes.” He couldn’t help but notice the way she stroked the stem of her wine glass. He’d heard it was a woman’s subconscious way of signaling she’d like to be stroking something else. Hopefully, that was the case.
“Essentially. So...you also offer other services.” She folded her hands on the table and licked her crimson lips.
Thankful the table hid the bulge in his jeans, he cleared his throat before he answered. “If the customers are so inclined to take their escorts to a private location, my employees have permission to go as far as they feel comfortable.”
“That’s a well-rehearsed answer if I’ve ever heard one.”
He spread his hands. “It is what it is.”
Holding his breath, he anticipated her response.
“I see. But what if the customer wants to go farther than the employee?”
She was genuinely curious. Well, it beat the alternative. At least she was still at the table. “Each client fills out extensive paperwork, including a list of all possible desires. Escorts are matched to clients based on their needs. It’s a seamless system that’s worked well for a year and a half.”
“Interesting.” She put her hands in her lap and toyed with her napkin. “So, do you ever go all the way with your customers?”
“Never. I’m not an escort. I’m the owner of the company.”
Her posture relaxed as what seemed like relief washed over her. “That’s good. I mean...”
“I know what you mean.” He reached across the table to brush a strand of hair away from her face, but was interrupted by the waiter.
“Can I get you anything else?”
Trevor sighed and put his hand in his lap. “No, thank you. We’re good.” The waiter laid the check on the table.
“Have you ever been an escort? Or followed anyone else...to see what goes on?”
“I never have. I haven’t needed to until recently. But...” He shrugged and folded his napkin. Maybe he’d said enough. Let her get used to the idea of the tame stuff before introducing her to the new service.
Or maybe he should just lay it all out there.
“What happened recently? Did something go wrong?”
“No, not at all. It’s something new we’re offering. It’s...different.”
***
“Different how?” Jessica leaned forward, intrigued by