Page 11 of Nova

“Yes, without digging up unpleasant memories, you broke up with your fiancee after finding him with your sister.” If I ever find him and the brother, I’ll fucking end them.

They give identical twins a bad name.

“Yes, well, the wedding proceeded, and now my sister is pregnant. My parents have insisted I attend the baby shower. I can grin and bear it, however, said ex will be there. No amount of alcohol will stop him from trying to mend our relationship.It seems he’s put my father’s job in jeopardy, and in turn, my family is encouraging the reconciliation.” Well, she just put that very politely.

“He’s blackmailing your father to get you back?” I can’t hide the shock in my voice.

“Yes.” Her voice turns clipped and annoyed.

“And your family is taking his side, not yours?” Her huff seems to be the only answer I’m going to get.

“Purely for clarification, how would I be helping you if I take the job?” A beat of silence followed by her exasperated voice.

“IF?” I smile to myself.

“Well, yes. I do not take every client that calls me. How would I ever get anything else done?” I mean it to sound like I’m extremely busy, but she flips it.

“Of course, you have women beating down your door,” I cut her off.

“And men.” She sucks in a breath, and I stifle my laugh.

“Glad to see you’re an equal opportunity hooker.” Nope, we are not playing this game.

“I beg your pardon.” I grit my teeth.

“You’re a damn hooker.” I sit up straighter when she repeats the insult and clear my throat.

“How crude. They’re called full-service sex workers. Regardless, I’m not.” She snorts.

“You are!” she giggles, but whether it’s from humor, I can’t tell.

“No, I’m an escort. I sell fantasies, Dove. I charge for my company. The fucking I do for free.” That shuts her up.

“I only take clients who respect who and what I do. So, if you want my help, I’d suggest you learn the correct phrase to address me.” I tap my fingers on my desk.

“I apologize for my misconceptions. It will not happen again.” I nod and grin.

She doesn’t sound like a person who likes to be proven wrong.

“Now, let’s talk business. What are you looking to hire me for?” She blows out a long breath.

“I need a new fiancee. I can’t marry Tyler if someone else is in the picture.” I arch my brow.

“When is the event?” I pull my calendar closer.

“Next month, the fourteenth.” I flip to that page and groan.

“Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement.” The irony of my wording is not lost on me.

“Can you reschedule?” It sounds like it cost her to ask.

“No, Dove, that is not how my business works. I can recommend a colleague of mine. He’s very good...” I stopped talking when a crash on her end of the phone startled me.

“DAMMIT! Can you hold on? Angel, are you ok?” I listen intently as she sees to whatever made the noise and whoever Angel is.

That’s a unisex name.

It could be a friend. Could be a lover. If it were a lover, she wouldn’t have called me to stand in as a fiancee, though. My mind whirls around a few dozen possibilities all that make me irrationally jealous to the point I snap the pencil in my hand that I’ve been holding ready to write her into my calendar.

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