Cole awakened out of sleep by an image of a woman. Her disappointed features, highlighted by the twinkle of blinking lights in her mammoth afro, was seared into his brain. All night he failed to get her image out of his head. She said her name was Elle and he wondered if it was an alias. She was an ebony goddess if he’d ever seen one and he didn’t even try to shake her from his thoughts.
Lara, the woman who stirred next to him, had fantasied about stealing a man from another woman. Elle made herself an easy target when she yelled her question. Frustrated and in need of something alcoholic to soothe her, he had been happy to oblige. His only regret was seeing her face when Lara arrived to perform her part in their role-playing exercise. He didn’t even get her number and he was sure that hearing from him was the last thing Elle wanted after the way Lara tongue wrestled him at the bar.
“I gotta go, babe. You were wonderful,” he whispered into Lara’s ear and kissed her cheek.
Lara’s figure stirred. “I’m sorry to see you go. Who’s going to accompany me to my events, now?”
It had been his intention to have a few naughty rounds with Lara, like they had in the past, but he had so much on his mind. Last night, he refrained from intimacy with her and only played out her fantasy at the bar. Lara wasn’t thrilled—especially since it was her final night with him—but he gently reminded her that she paid him for his time, and sex was not guaranteed. As a long-time client she understood, and they enjoyed a night on the town before they passed out drunk and exhausted at her condo.
“Harvey will take care of you,” Cole responded.
“You’ll be missed.” Lara stretched, twisting the sheets off her naked body. “But I guess it’s time for you to do something new, maybe even settle down.”
Cole scoffed.
“Really. You’re a great guy.” Lara snuggled back into a fetal position.
Cole knew the truth of it. In his business, he and his colleagues and their clients could date without commitment. But even though they all took a detached perspective, they were seeking fulfillment—he sought someone special, even if he pretended otherwise.
He showered, dressed, gave Lara one last good-bye embrace, and made a quick exit. She was his last client and though the escort business had been good to him over the years, he had been offered an opportunity to do deeper work with sex therapist Dr. Helen Ginger. All he had to do was get his consulting business in order so he could do contract work. And for that, he needed help.
He jumped into his ivory white Dodge Challenger. Black and ruby interior greeted him. The engine roared to life and he drove north to his boss’s house.
He arrived at Harvey Miller’s ranch home in Bedford Hills and was immediately met with questions about the night.
“How’d it go? Was she happy? Satisfied? Pissed that you’re leaving her?” Harvey’s spiked hair was in contrast to his pressed buttoned-down black slacks and polished brown shoes.
Harvey motioned him over to the bar where the housekeeper set out a carafe of coffee and a tray with all its amenities.
“Yeah, we had a great time, man. She’s well satisfied.”
“You’re sure you want to leave this business? What am I gonna do without you?”
They both already knew the answer. “Hire another escort and pimp the ones you have. Those guys pull-in clients, too.”
Harvey sat with him at the bar in his living room as they shared coffee. “I’m going to miss you, man. We had a good run and you’re still my best gigolo who brings in the most clients.”
At twenty-nine, Cole was the most coveted and the hardest to book. Harvey would miss him, but it wasn’t the only thing he’d miss. “You’re going to miss the income.”
Harvey smirked. “But I know you’ve been wanting to make this change for a while. So I wish you luck. Make sure you contact those people I put you in touch with.”
“Yeah, I got ‘em.” Cole was thankful Harvey had finally quit trying to sabotage his plans to leave the escort business. It was only until one drunken night, and a bar fight later between them, that Harvey got the hint that Cole was done.
“They’ll take care of you because I got your back.” Harvey puffed his body builder chest.
“You can keep my picture up to draw in clients and offer them another escort, but the expiration date on that is when Dr. Ginger’s show airs.”
“Hey, I know you aren’t taking clients especially this time of year, but someone new called. You can do whatever you want, but she seemed pretty desperate.”
“Aren’t they all during the holidays?” One too many times he’d seen his fellow gigolos escort women to Christmas parties, family dinners, and on holiday getaways, but not him. “What’s her name?”
“Noelle Rudolph.”
“What’s her fantasy?”
“She needs someone to play her boyfriend for eight days—ten including travel—in Lake Placid for the holidays.”
Cole almost choked on his spit. “Ten days?”
“What’s the matter pretty boy? Too long of a commitment for ya?” Harvey asked.
“Funny.” Cole ignored the bit of truth in Harvey’s statement. “I don’t work the Christmas holiday.”
“Well, you’re the only one available. Maybe you can make an exception, but like I said, it’s your choice. If you want to at least check her out, I’ll set up a coffee date.”
“I don’t know, man.” Cole grumbled. He was a fantasy provider, which meant he had to be “on” when he was with his clients. He could pretend for a long weekend getaway around the clock, no problem, but eight days? He was getting ready to start a new venture and the last thing he needed was something going wrong with his last client.
“Ten days total? That’s a lot of cheddar to leave on the table, man. Hell, I’d do it if I could.” Harvey was married with three kids and one more on the way. He had a short run as a strip club owner and an even shorter run as an escort, Now Harvey managed a global firm of elite escorts who provided fantasies to women worldwide. The business afforded everyone with a very nice lifestyle, but not without its challenges.
“Meet with her for coffee. It can’t hurt. Do something different for the holidays this year instead of being on your own.”
Harvey was setting him up to do one last gig. He was going to have coffee with this woman, but he was pretty sure he would decline the job. “Okay. Set up a meeting and I’ll see if it’s worth one more run.” Cole readied himself to leave.
“You bet,” Harvey grinned.
###
The next day, Cole sat at a coffee shop waiting to meet the client Harvey had mentioned. He had nothing to lose. He was done with the business, so he’d either want to help her or not. There was no pressure for him, but according to Harvey, she was desperate.
The bell on the door rang as it opened, garnering his attention. He couldn’t believe his luck. The woman he’d met at the bar the other night walked into the coffee shop. She was dressed in skintight jeans and a puffy white coat with brown UGGs. She scanned the faces in the coffee shop with tentative steps. She was looking for someone and despite his normally nonchalant approach to women, he hoped it wasn’t a man.
Her eyes found him, and her brows lifted, which pleased him. The expression was fleeting and replaced with a disgust filled grimace, reminding him that she hadn’t forgotten what happened the other night. She gave him a curt nod, ordered a coffee, and parked her curvaceous rear at one of the wooden tables by the window.
He was staring hard when his phone pinged. It was a message from Harvey.
Harv: How’s the client?
Cole: Dunno yet. Hasn’t shown.
Harv: Strange. Lemme check her email for any details and get back to you.
“Elle! Chai tea latte,” the barista called.
Elle sashayed over to the counter to pick up a steaming mug before returning to her seat.
He was sure she didn’t want to give him the time of day but that didn’t stop him from meandering over to her. “Hey.”
She sipped her coffee. “Hello.”
The silence was intentionally awkward. She kept her eyes cast on her steaming cup. Her slender fingers hugged the porcelain.
“What brings you here?” He marveled at the view of her bosom and the slight bit of cleavage peeking out of her wool sweater.
“I’m meeting someone.” She gave a wicked chuckle. He had given her the same line and half expected a man to come out of nowhere and make out with her right in front of him.
“So, you do remember me.” He ventured to squat into the seat across from her.
“No-no. Like I mentioned. I’m waiting for someone.”
He halted at her lack of permission. “Come, on. I want to make it up to you. Let me buy you a scone or something.”
“Don’t you have something better to do than stand over me being all smug or whatever?” Her lips pressed against the mug, accentuating their fullness.
He did, but when she strutted into the coffee shop, she made his day. His phone buzzed.
Harv: Client should be there. Said she’d be wearing a white puffy coat and sitting by the window.
Holy shit! In front of Cole was Elle who met Harv’s description to a T. She was the desperate client? She had an appointment with a gigolo. More specifically, she didn’t realize she was there to meet him.