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HUSBAND FOR HIRE
By
Christina Carlisle
© copyright by Christina Carlisle, April 2005
Cover Art by Eliza Black, © copyright April 2005
ISBN 1-58608-354-6
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
CHAPTER ONE
"I would like to hire an escort please." There! She had said it!
"Male or female?" The disembodied male voice seemed to be laughing.
"Male, of course."
"We get asked for all sorts."
"I would … err … like a tall, dark and handsome partner around the mid-thirties."
"Wouldn't we all!"
Cassie's nerves threatened to strangle her voice. "Can he be well educated, witty and … nice?"
"What is the occasion, madam?"
Cassie ploughed on. She couldn't give up this easily. "I'd like him to take me to dinner then I'll see if he's suitable for my future plans."
"We just arrange the escort, madam. The activities you choose to pursue are entirely between our escort and you--the client." Cassie felt the "voice" was putting her in her place.
She took a deep breath. "This is not sexual, Mr … Mr … it's strictly business."
"Quite so, madam." The "voice" was now polite. "When will you require our escort?"
"Next Monday. Can he please meet me in the foyer of the Madison Hotel in Smythe Street in the city at seven thirty wearing a yellow flower in his lapel so I can recognise him?" Cassie nodded, tracing the curved edge of the desk with her finger. She was almost there. And she hadn't let the "voice" intimidate her.
"Certainly, madam. We have an escort meeting your description that is free on that evening."
"And how much would that be?"
"Four hundred dollars for the evening, plus all expenses, of course."
"Four hundred dollars! He'd better be good!" Cassie cringed as the words tumbled out.
The "voice" almost chuckled. "Oh, I can assure you he is very good. His name is Lee Jones. Please pay him in cash on arrival at the hotel. May I have your name, madam?"
"Cassie Fraser." Cassie blinked as she said the first surname that came into her head.
"Thank you, madam. Enjoy your evening."
The phone went dead. Cassie stared at it transfixed. She had done it! She had taken another step towards her independence from Jack.
* * * *
Lee Osborne leaned back in his chair tapping a pen against his teeth.
That was extraordinary! It was very rarely that anything took him by surprise these days. Poor girl--she sounded so nervous but--nice. Yes, nice.
His daydream was interrupted as his assistant, Madeleine, came in with an amused expression on her face.
"I've just had a misdirected call," he said. "She thought this was an escort agency--and you can take that look off your face. Just check the answering message please." He allowed her to escape before she burst out laughing.
Lee absently drew a flower on the paper in front of him.
Yes--she sounded nice and very naive. She had a soft voice with a hint of Irish brogue. He smiled thinking of how she'd tried to put him in his place. He shouldn't have played along but he had enjoyed teasing her. He was intrigued. What sort of woman would ring for an escort to take her to dinner? Desperate and dateless, probably. And probably pure and plain. And probably wouldn't turn up.
Lee sighed and turned to his paper work. "Her face probably looks like a dropped meat pie!" He smiled ruefully. "What have I got myself in to?"
* * * *
Cassie carefully replaced the receiver and wiped trembling hands along her jeans. What a state to be in. It was so dumb--after all she was the client and it was her choice. Trouble was she'd never done anything like this before and it was demoralising. Still, it was part of her master plan and she was determined to go through with it.
* * * *
Lee had second thoughts about keeping the date with the strange sounding woman with the soft Irish lilt in her voice. But here he was on the following Monday propped against the bar in the Madison Hotel in central Sydney. He was tired and irritable after a long day in court defending a rather dubious client. It had been a particularly difficult case and Lee's usual good humour had all but deserted him.
He twirled a yellow rose between his fingers as he sipped a welcome whisky and soda. I must be all kinds of an idiot, he thought frowning into his drink--and yet the more he recalled his conversation with the unknown woman, the guiltier he felt. He didn't want to let her down and yet he didn't want to place himself in an awkward situation.
The main entrance was visible through the glass doors of the bar area and as seven thirty approached he felt the adrenaline mount. Two young girls appeared from the large revolving door. No--they strolled past the bar entrance to the elevators. An elderly robust woman hesitated at the door of the bar and then turned away. Phew! This is ridiculous. I have to get out of here. Lee gulped the remainder of his drink and, grabbing the flower, made his way to the foyer. This was a bad idea--a very bad idea!
He hesitated as the door rolled steadily around to suddenly reveal a vision with bright red hair cascading around her shoulders, clear green eyes, porcelain skin, a stylish leather coat and beautiful ankles. Wow! She was gorgeous! Surely this couldn't be her.
Lee hastily slipped the rose into his lapel and waited hoping against hope that this lovely woman was his date.
Cassie slowly lifted her head, her eyes absorbing shining shoes, an elegant dark grey suit, a silver tie against a dazzling blue shirt and--yes, a bright yellow flower in the man's lapel. A further swift appraisal took in the extraordinarily handsome features with smiling brown eyes and black, black hair. Wow! He was gorgeous!
"Ms. Fraser? I'm Lee Jones, your escort for this evening."
"Shh. Do you want the whole hotel to hear?" Cassie bounded forward and hurriedly linking her arm with his pushed him towards the bar.
"I don't want everyone to know that I've hired an escort!" she said in a fierce whisper as she made her way to a secluded booth in the corner of the bar area.
Lee quickly recovered from his surprise and allowed himself a congratulatory smile for keeping the date. "Can I get you a drink, ma'am?" he asked politely.
"Will you sit down," she hissed.
Lee sat opposite, a stunned look on his face.
"Come closer to me," she demanded and obediently Lee moved along the seat so their thighs were almost touching.
She opened her purse and after glancing around to make sure no one was watching, drew out some notes and quickly pressed them into Lee's hand.
"There's four hundred dollars for your fee and another hundred to pay for dinner and drinks. If it is any more, you had better let me know--quietly," she warned.
Lee hesitated and then giving a slight shrug of his shoulders pocketed the money. He could always give it back to her later, he thought, but this was unbelievably intriguing! Why would such a beautiful woman pay for a date--he needed to know more.
He put his head close to Cassie's. "What would you like to drink?" he asked in a similarly fierce whisper.
Cassie moved back abruptly. "There's no need to be so conspiratorial," she replied. "I'll have a lime and soda, thanks."
Lee gave her a bemused smile and went to the bar to order their drinks. Cassie breathed a sigh of relief. She had been petrified coming here and had almost put it off a dozen times. Her one fear was that people would know she was paying a man to date her. How dreadful! She would die of humiliation and yet the first thing he had said was that he was her escort. Grrrrrrrr! Still, he was very good looking. Tall and elegant--someone that she could feel proud to be with.
"Here you go, ma'am." Lee placed the drink in front of her and sat opposite her.
"You can call me Cassie." Her tone was decisive.
"That's fine by me, Cassie. They have a nice restaurant here where we can have dinner and then I thought perhaps we could go dancing if you wish and then…."
"No sex."
"Pardon?"
"I said I don't want sex with you."
Lee shook his head, his eyes widening in astonishment. Then he decided he had better act his part.
"Whatever you say, Cassie. But it would make a nice end to the evening--unless of course, you can't afford me."
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