Page 44 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“Nah, not for you she ain’t,” he said,slapping Jack on the back, causing him to stumble.
Bull had once tried to be a fighter, but hehad only ever had one match. They had found it nearly impossible tofind someone of equal height, as Bull stood nearly seven feet tall.Being so large, his footwork was disastrous and so he found work asprotection for the women at the brothel. Bull shut the door behindhim. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen yer bits around here,innit?”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, I heard yer boy Fredrick has a fightcoming up. You know, Jack, ifin’ you only taught me a bit of handwork…” The man put up his fists as he mockingly jabbed at Jack asthey continued. “I coulda been somefin’.”
“I’ve no doubt.”
“How’s yer lad then? Is he a winner? Or willhe fall?”
Jack followed Bull past the overtlydecorated parlor rooms, where several women in all manner of dresswalked around, observing Jack. It was rather early in the day tohave clients.
“No, I suspect he’ll win.”
“Gaw on!” Bull laughed over his shoulder ashe climbed a set of stairs and Jack followed.
Coming around the landing, Bull led the waydown the hallway, back towards the front of the house towards thelast door. He slammed his beefy fist three times on the cheap woodand Jack wondered if Bull had ever broken a door simply byknocking. He inhaled and was hit by the heavy scent of cheapperfume and herbs. This mixture made Jack feel nauseated.
“Yes?” A feminine voice called out.
“Jack Archer here for yer, m’um,” Bullyelled.
“Jack Archer?” the voice sounded as it gotlouder. “There must be some sort of mistake. Jack Archer hasn’tvisited me in months—”
Jack smiled at the short, buxom blonde womanwho opened the door, her words dying on her lips at the sight ofhim. She stepped into the hallway and her large brown eyes widenedas an eager smile curved her lips. Her hand went up to the collarof her mauve colored satin robe and let her fingers toy with theedge of the fabric, just above her breast.
“Hello, Lottie.”
“Jack! So it is you. Come in, come in,” shesaid, nodding to Bull as she closed the door behind him. “What areyou doing here? It’s been ages since I saw you last.”
Madame LaMont was a woman in her earlyforties, and while her life hadn’t been one for the faint of heart,Lottie, as she was known to her friends, had never once been bitterabout the hand she had been dealt.
She was petite and pretty, but sharper thanmost and her ability to handle herself as well as her business madeJack respect her from a professional standpoint. Lottie, who hadlong given up her trade, opting now to be a den mama of sorts tothe other girls, still took a client on from time to time, but onher own terms. Lottie only ever dealt with people she fancied now,the mark of a successful courtesan, and had once fancied Jack for awhole week before her interest waned.
No one ever kept Lottie’s attention forlonger than that.
“I’ve been busy.”
Jack came fully into the room, glancingaround as he noted the familiar shades of red that adorned her bedchambers. Lottie loved rubies, having once been gifted a necklaceof them early in her career and tried to emulate all the colors ofthe gemstone in her living space. Drapery hung from the walls, thefourposter bed, and the windows, giving the room an ethereal, ifnot erotic atmosphere. The counterpane on her bed was a deepcrimson velvet, a decidedly wicked looking place to indulge in thesexual act, and Jack knew she tried not only to exude elegance butalso fantasy. Still, having lived on the other side, Jack knew thatno matter the cost of these furnishings, the upper crust wouldnever see Lottie as their equal. Even if she were smarter than mostof the peerage and richer than a good many of them.
Jack wondered what Meredith would think ofthis place, but then pushed the idea out of his head. He had beensurprised when she had apologized for passing judgment onprostitutes, but then everything about Meredith seemed to surprisehim.
He shook his head, not wanting to think ofher here.
“Busy? Is that’s your excuse for notvisiting me?” Lottie asked, her voice like silk as she came towardshim.
“Yes, well, work has been commanding most ofmy attention as of late,” he said, toying with a box that sat on adesk near the window.
“Shall we?” she asked, peeling back the robethat held at her shoulders. Jack watched her, revealing her round,pert breasts. The fabric formed a wide V down the center of herstomach and being only a man, he felt a vague twitch in his loins,but then nothing followed. It was an erotic sight, one he wouldhave been very pleased to see almost any other day of his life.
Except today.
It seemed such was etched on his facebecause Lottie tilted her head, her blonde curls brushing againsther cheek as she angled her face. Her gaze swept over his face andhe knew she sensed something, for in the next moment, she coveredup.
“Oh, dear,” she whispered, her tone excited.“Who is she?”
“Who is who?” Jack asked, his eyes snappingto hers.
