I giggled. “Something like that.” As amusing as Craigslist Guy was, I tried to wrap up our call a second time. “Anyway, it was nice talking to you, but I should probably get goin—”
But he stopped me from hanging up a second time.
“Are you hot?” he asked, quickly adding, “’Cause damn. You sound pretty hot.”
I tutted. “What kind of question is that? Areyouhot?”
“Hell yeah, I am. Can’t you hear it in my deep, sexy voice?”
His voicewasdeep and sexy, but I wasn’t about to admit it to him; his ego clearly didn’t need the pump.
“And you’re so humble, too,” I said, poking fun.
He chuckled. “You’re funny. Hey, what’s your name?”
I hesitated. There weren’t too many other Ottavias in Las Vegas—best not risk it. “Olivia,” I said.
“Hi, Olivia. I’m Dakota.”
“Hi, Dakota.”
“So, Olivia, were you serious when you said you’ve done this job before?”
“Something like it,” I said guardedly.
“Can you tell me about it?”
“I’d really rather not.”
“Hm. You’re discreet. That’s good.” He paused. “And you were serious when you said you were a theater major, too, right?”
I sighed. Why was he trying to get information out of me when I told him I didn’t want to do his stupid job?
“Yes. I just finished my third year,” I said after a lull.
“Cool. Where do you go to school?”
“… Stanford.”
“Stanford, niiiice! Hey, I like you already.”
Because you think I have money?I thought, my eyes narrowing.
“What about you? What do you do, anyway?” I asked. “Twenty grand is a lot of cash for a single dinner.”
“Let’s save that for later. If you end up being the girl that gets the job, I’ll tell you.”
I snickered. “I like how you’re trying to dangle this job over my head when I already told you I’m not even interested in it.”
“I’m desperate here, Olivia,” he said, sounding sincere.
“I know. I could tell from your first email. The desperation is radiating off of you in waves.”
“God, ain’t that the truth …” he snickered.
Regardless of how desperate he was, I wasn’t his girl, and the night was getting late. I got up from my lounge chair, stretched, and headed indoors.
“Well, Dakota—” I let out a strategically-placed yawn. “It’s getting late and I’m really tired, so if you don’t mind—”
