The Stand-In Read Online Free Page B

have you meet with Ava. She’s very experienced, but she’s had to cut down on her hours recently. There’s Ruth, but she doesn’t tend to get many bookings.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “She’s a little too gorgeous for most of our brides.”
    “Pretty doesn’t do well in this business?”
    “Pretty is fine. Drop-dead gorgeous, not so much. If you were a bride, would you want to be upstaged on your special day?”
    “I guess not.”
    She scrolled for another minute or so. “Oh! Winn. You should meet with Winn. She’s new, but very good.”
    “Just not drop-dead gorgeous.”
    Margie threw him a look, her blue eyes scintillating with good humor. “You’re a bit of a rascal, aren’t you? It’s no surprise you work for Player. ”
    “Yeah, well, I go where the work is.”
    “I’d imagine you have to now.”
    Shit. He was really kind of hoping the Kent woman might not have heard about his disaster at the Torontonian . Clearly, she had. “So you know my tale of woe.”
    “I make it my business to stay informed. Look, I’ve read some of the features in Player . They can be rather sleazy.”
    “I don’t write sleazy articles.”
    “I’m glad to hear it, Patrick. In fact, call me a fan. You’re the reason I agreed to this feature. However, if I find out you’ve given my girls and my agency a disrespectful treatment, I’ll sue you, Jake Fowler, and Player .” She smiled. “Understood?”
    “Understood.”
    “Splendid.” She glanced at her computer screen again. “Let’s see. Ah, yes. We’ll have you meet with Winn. And by the way, she’s lovely. She has the perfect look for this job. Accessible and fresh, but not intimidating. You’re in luck. She’s in the building right now.” She texted a command into her phone. “I’ll have my assistant send her right in.”
    In the time it took Margie Kent to flash her very pearly whites, a knock sounded on the door. These stand-ins were prompt. He supposed that was good in any business.
    “Come in, please,” Margie called.
    Patrick lifted his gaze toward the door and watched as a pear-shaped blonde entered. Christ . Margie had called this woman unintimidating. He knew a few dozen men who’d be intimidated into next year by her girl-next-door sex appeal. Chin-length golden hair framed her pleasantly round face. Amazing cheekbones. Bright blue eyes and a body that looked made for squeezing. Just the thought of pressing that luscious flesh made him hard. If she was a high-class call girl, and if he had to pay for love, he might be tempted to pull out his wallet. He cleared his throat and thought of the day Jason Dietrich fired him, just to make his boner disappear.
    Margie did the introductions in her singsong voice. “Winn Busby, this is Patrick Lincoln.”
    She stuck her hand out. “A pleasure to meet you.”
    As he shook her soft hand, Patrick waited for the old “ that Patrick Lincoln?” but it never came. Thank God. Someone who didn’t know of his ruin. “The pleasure’s all mine.”
    They all sat down, Margie at her desk, and Winn took a seat next to Patrick. She crossed her legs and her black skirt rode up her plump thigh. Jesus Christ . Surely this was a brothel of high-class call girls and Jake was fucking with him. He tore his gaze away from the stand-in’s leg.
    “Winn,” Margie began. “I have some exciting news. Patrick is a reporter and is writing a feature on what it’s like to be a stand-in bridesmaid. You’ve become one of our top employees, so I’d like him to shadow you for the next few weddings. You know, act as your escort and go behind the scenes to see you in action. Take him to your appointments and dress fittings, so he can see what a stand-in does. Sound good?”
    The blonde turned to him, her nose wrinkled in a quizzical fashion. “Are you sure about this, Margie? I’ve only worked alone so far.”
    “I’ll stay out of your way,” he assured her. “Silent partner, I promise. You just tell me where