Page 62 of Escorting the Player (The Escort Collection 3)
"Of course, Mr. Layne," the madam said smoothly. "Please keep me in mind for referrals for your friends. As you know, I have the best girls."
"Will do," I said, relieved that she no longer had the very best girl.
Now I just had to make her mine.
Chapter Twenty-Three
AVERY
Just as I was about to crack open another bottle of wine, Chase sent me a text.
CHASE: Get dressed for dinner. Picking you up in an hour.
AVERY: You don't even know where my apartment is!
CHASE: Chase is wise. He knows all.
Even though he acted like a fuckwad yesterday.
AVERY: I'm not up for dinner.
CHASE: Do you have plans with your real boyfriend?
AVERY: Just stop.
CHASE: I'll be there in an hour. I'll carry you to the restaurant if I have to. So you better get dressed, because you're going out either way.
I sighed and obediently threw on a dress, my emotions see-sawing. I didn't know what to expect. Was he going to say he was sorry? Was he going to tell me it was over, once and for all?
I felt as though I might throw up.
Precisely one hour later, a large SUV pulled up in front of my building.
"Hey," I said, as Chase got out to open the door for me. He looked dashing in a dark suit.
"Hey," he said, softly. His eyes were red and puffy, as if he'd been crying.
I wanted to reach out and pull him to me, but I didn't dare.
We slid into the back of the car in an awkward silence as the driver pulled down the street.
"How have you been?" he asked.
I shrugged in answer, afraid my voice would wobble.
"Am I taking you away from other plans? With you-know-who?" he asked.
I shot him a dirty look. I clearly sucked at lying.
"I didn't think so." Seemingly satisfied, he turned and looked out the window. "We're meeting another couple for dinner."
"Huh?" I asked, surprised. Company was the last thing I wanted right now.
"It's my friend Cole Bryson and his wife. He owns the Rhode Island Thunder. It's a Bruins farm team. Have you ever heard of him?"
I shook my head. "No. Why are we meeting him for dinner?"
"I want you to meet Cole's wife. I thought it would be good for you."
