e

all the right places. I ordered room service. Bought myself a swimsuit

didn't have time to run back to my apartment to find the building manager and pay it off before work. At this point, what

ct to work on. It's after hours, and everyon

I push Gina into my salon chair. I offered her a fre

ulder. "Yes. I trust you. But only if y

her. She's an adorable trans woman, who is barely out of high school and full of sass. She is literally t

Gina's shoulders. I already have a plan in mind,

gar daddy." Gina

drea flops into the empty

. Spill

ed me from Mr. sugar daddy wannabe idiot back by the bathrooms.

you mean?

uy who bought me drinks thought that meant I owed him something, and he was trying to drag me bac

an exaggerate

hot," Gin

med meant to be." I work the next section into foil, having long ago m

s out the "o" with

'm answering a yes or n

it? I want

." Ondrea spins the salo

sons, went down on me, fucked me ha

rself with her fingers, her tastef

stay?" Gina's dissect

ou sure he's

rea says. "I d

you–that's his thing. This is why you need him." Gina ta

left. I was feeling like I was in over my head and getting worried about what I was getting myself into. E

what? Was he

atement.

you sure about?" O

kind of financial arrangement for

t's not wrong to receive money just for being you. Just for

, I don

t? Is he going to call? Wha

r my number, but he said if I'm in

stew o

ith her that you did with me?" I did her hair last week for photos for the portfoli

mething a little more su

new portfolio pic

Color. If I get it, they will fly me all over the c

at sounds

the pay is $1

"W

ave no chance." I paint ano

deserve that kind of sa

tly cannot pin my hopes on this job. Bankruptcy won't help with the back pay for the apartmen

s the salon owner. I'll admit that paying her took a slightly lower priority to paying the rent on my apartment, bu

et my landlord paid off," I say, in case O

says, and I roll my eyes because I

*

Bo

my secretary, calls me

hered when I'm in the field, so the fact that sh

here. He's demanding to re

anc

. "Did you ask fo

one of our soldiers–and therefore someone I trust. Not that I ever let her become a party to anything. She

him whatever h

e you

money through the business, but the paper t

othing to worr

tally

oncern, but there's nothing t

will let him see

be a problem, he wouldn't like me keeping him in the dark about a

upting my golf game," h

et you know I have an IRS auditor demandin

g enough to make me sweat his r

nd the call and shove

ris

eve because if I bring anything down on the LaTorre

*

Le

, a combination of the money Bobby gave me and my earnings this week, which I hope is enough to get the eviction notice off my door. I unlo

y key in

oesn't

rknob to rattle the door as I try to jam the key in.

nstead of hanging out in the hot tub at the Four Seasons. I should h

it's not

lking my landlord out of booting me? I should've moved home with my mom after the accident and paid

hey didn'

I have no

when I get to t

t toget

pull out my cash an

aged guy named Gus, answers. "I

t least, and I can work on chipping down the debt on the rest. I'm so sorry. I meant to come by t

es regret turning me away. "It's not up to me. I just

you just let me in there for tonight, and I'll call the landlord in the morning to get it all paid off?

dred, and he says he has three people on the waiting list

as a couple of tears leak from the outer corners o

an't,

al things? An overnig

t thing in the morning and make arrangements to get you

gether tight and nod

he's sorry, and seeing me cry sucks for him. I almost wish he was more o

"bad girl" feeling I always get when I me

We

station. I take it to the stop closest to Swank. I can try to tal

'm not the kind of girl with rescue fantasies b

s around my waist and Bobby pulls me back against him. "Hol

tuation with Bobby stressed me

at a smile. "Just a bad day.

ke-charge way of his and leads me toward the bar. The moment

on my tab for the night. I want you to

es,

of Cazadore

es his brows

sery from my face but

w voice to me. "I had a great time last night, but there's no pr

. I m

bartender appears with our drinks, and h

." I pick up the second shot, but Bobby places his hand over mine to stop me from downing it. "And then I would love to

breath." He looks around. "

r ceases to amaze me that she can stand all night in three-in

" Bobby says smoothly, le

doing here? I thought

airstyle. I did a kick-ass job with it, and she look

eck to make sure Bobby's out of earshot. "

. "I'm sorry. Well, you can

Tha

want the

the high-top near the door where he must've been when I came in. There are a couple

he'd been waiting for me to look ove

looking away from Bobby, who is now headed toward me. My entire body

maybe you'll find

'm defending myself to some invisible person judging

care of you. I

He's comi

. "Lexi just gave me this cut and color." She sha

erested. But he can't be. No guy ever gives a crap a

aining job. It's posted nationally, so I probably

ook as good as yours and Gina's, I would say you do hav

ark lashes making the brown liquid pools look warm and

k." Gina tucks her tray under her a

told me to slow down, and for some reason, it

Me

whiff of Bobby's cologne. To feel the heat

dy thing. I think it could work." G

. I told you that last night. If you wa

he shame and despair over getting evicted lift

could solve my immediate problems if this is f

rm across the back of my barstool. "The mere fact th

nearness. I catch the pleasant scent of his cologne, an

beck and call, available any time I please. That doesn't mea

idea of being his sexual servant. "And

t a nice apartment where you can live. I'll take you out and

raveling up until my face grows warm. My

be living

luxe–my company renovated the place, so it has all the bells

all my problems. I mean, I'm literally homeless right now, and I may not

w. "I-I'd

"I'm glad. You seem perfect for me." He leans closer and speaks in a low, rumbling voice, "But you

n?" I ask, just to

sting. He quirks a smile.