Gents 4 Ladies (14 page)

Jordan’s eyes narrowed. So Tiana hadn’t just stumbled on his profile and picked him. Someone had told her about him. Jordan was sure he could get to the bottom of this whole fiasco if he could find out more.

“A friend? Could you tell me who it is? Someone I might know?” He gritted his teeth holding in his impatience for the facts. Dammit he wanted to shake someone! Why would anyone have thought this was a good joke? It was fucking up his freaking life. He’d met this amazing woman he’d have loved to get to know better but it was all messed up because she believed he was a flipping male prostitute!

“I’m sorry. She distinctly asked that I not mention her name. But you can at least know that she’s not a past client of yours,” Tiana said reluctantly. “Although she did hear glowing recommendations about you from others.”

Jordan stifled a groan. Great, just great! He had a bunch of women out there claiming they knew him as a commendable gigolo. That was doing a lot for his self-esteem right now. Not. Someone was having fun at his expense and he didn’t like it. One bit.

“I wish you could just give me a name,” Jordan pressed, his fingertips jabbing into his eyes as he winced. “Give me anything.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. Does it matter whom I heard about you from? Perhaps the women would prefer to hold on to their privacy the same way as you would.”

“You’re right,” Jordan said, calmly. He had to cool the fuck down. He could still get to the bottom of this but that was second place right now to what was between him and Tiana. That was all he could really focus on for the moment. “So what do you want, Tiana?”

“I was wondering if you were still free for Thursday. The charity dinner is at the Ursula Beecroft center. It’ll be for a few hours and it’s black tie. The event’s to begin at seven pm and is billed to end before ten.”

Jordan’s head flung back and he stared up at the ceiling. Moment of truth. What could he say? He paused a few moments and tried to think. Think, think, Jordan. You’re smart; you help your clients make billions of dollars every year on well-picked investments. You’ve got a foot-long list of clients to prove how smart and successful you are. What could be hard about thinking up a way to get through this mess you got yourself into?

***

Tiana held her breath as she told herself she knew what was coming. Jordan was going to say no; she could feel it. Had he sensed something the last time? Could he tell she was getting too personally attached to him already? She must have let something slip; something she must have said or done gave her away. Now he was having second thoughts, reluctant to continue any interaction with her since this was meant to be just business. He couldn’t have clients getting too romantically attached to him. That would complicate everything.

Tiana knew firsthand how complicated it had become. She had proof enough of that - considering she’d called to cancel the appointment. She’d planned to go alone after all, to end her dealings with the dashing, enigmatic gigolo that had managed to get under her skin. But then he’d answered the phone and another thing entirely had come out of her mouth. Pathetic. And damned complicated

“Tiana. About the charity dinner on Thursday,” Jordan began, and the pen Tiana had been doodling with on her notepad grew more agitated as she waited.

“It’s going to be pretty hard to explain,” he said with obvious reluctance. “I do want to attend this thing with you – but it’s not something I can possibly do as your gigolo.”

“I understand,” Tiana said calmly, not really listening. She’d put up a self-defense mechanism the moment she’d heard the finalistic note in his voice. She’d known something was up from the moment she’d found his profile gone from the escort website. And now obviously he was done being her gigolo and she should be glad he was coming right out and saying it.

She’d screwed up one way or another and being the astute man he was, he had been able to decipher that her feelings were getting involved. He wasn’t a fool; he was probably used to this kind of situation. A client acting too clingy and entitled – becoming too attached. He was wise for backing out and she had to respect him for that.

“Look, it’s fine,” she cut in when he started to speak again. “It would have felt weird anyway. I’ll just move on to plan B.”

“Plan B?”

She could hear the sharp ring of curiosity in his voice. Tiana hadn’t really had any plan B but her pride was at stake here and she found herself saying airily, “Oh, I just meant about someone I met two nights ago at this trendy bar and grill. It’s been fun messing about with a male escort but maybe I should try getting myself some real dates for a change. You know, one that could actually get to mean something.”

There was a silence and Tiana wondered why the hell she was going there. What would Jordan care? She was just being silly talking trash but the truth was she had met someone that night she’d gone out with Josie and he’d make a perfect date for Thursday. And he was well interested and kept calling her up to meet again. She hadn’t wanted to give him a second thought but now she was considering the possibilities.

Tiana didn’t expect Jordan to reply but then he was saying, “That’s good. I’m happy our brief time together has been enjoyable and I hope you feel you got your money’s worth. And I’m sorry you think it would have felt weird to continue.”

Tiana laughed, making it sound humorous and not as nervous as she felt. “You have to admit we make a peculiar match.” She was trying to be funny but she hadn’t really meant to bring up the race card. She had friends who were dating and even married interracially. She hoped Jordan wouldn’t notice the slip-up.

Looked like he did. “If you knew we’d look peculiar together, then why did you choose me to take to the wedding? You could have picked a black escort or anyone who wouldn’t look so conspicuously mismatched next to you.”

“Yeah well,” Tiana said, pen gripped tightly and scribbling gibberish on her pad. “I guess I felt like a white guy would really put my boss in her place – and I never thought it would go past the first night. Well, whatever the case it was fun, Jordan. I’m happy I had the experience. I wish you the best and nice knowing you.”

Tiana hung up with her face burning and her heart pounding sickeningly. She’d never acted like such an ass in her life! It was petty and unworthy of her and she wanted to ring up and apologize – maybe even explain. She was grown up enough to face her emotions and it would have cost her nothing to tell Jordan the truth: that she was getting way too attracted to him and she’d understand why he didn’t want anything more to do with her for professional reasons.

But the damage had been done. They were parting with him thinking the worst of her and maybe that was for the best. This would keep her from being tempted to call him up again, hoping to book a few hours more of his time. No way he’d ever be interested in getting involved with her again on any level.

Wow. Dumped by her paid gigolo. Now if that wasn’t just the bottom of low. Tiana shook her head and almost wanted to burst out laughing. She must have been out of her mind, harboring secret wishes that somehow, she could ever be with Jordan for real. Deep down, she’d had that hope; somewhere at the back of her mind she’d imagined he must have felt it too. The way they’d connected like only few people could hope to do. There had been those things he’d said, that last time...when he’d told her he’d never met a woman like her. That she made him want to drop everything each time she wanted him. Well, so much for
that,
Tiana thought twistedly.

And so much for him saying it was no longer about what she needed – but also what he needed too. He’d told her he
needed
her. And now this.

Damn, she must have read it all wrong. Maybe that was just the sex talking, Tiana told herself as she tried to get back to work. Well, to hell with that. She’d take someone else to the charity dinner and have the time of her life.

And, vowed Tiana, she’d go out there as soon as possible and find herself a real man to be there for her without her pay check having to get involved. She deserved better than this.

Chapter Nine

Tiana arrived at the venue of the event accompanied by her very handsome and charming companion – Bryant. He was more than a boost to Tiana’s ego with his dark-skinned good looks and polished personality. She was more than glad that she’d let him chat her up that night she’d gone to the bar with Josie. Both girls had ended up hooking up with two well-mannered hunks who’d been happy to drop the girls home with just a few chaste kisses.

Tiana had liked Bryant on sight; his smoothly bald head went well with his angular-faced gorgeousness and he was built like a basketball player. Tiana had never really gone for the overly tall types but something about Bryant’s endearing white grin had drawn her from the start when he’d offered to buy both girls a beer. She soon found out he was single, working in IT, and ready to mingle. With Tiana, apparently.

Now here they were, walking into the prestigious hall that was brightly lit in a sweep of colors that added an Oscars-night feel to the event. There were massive chandeliers dazzling from the ceilings, and elegantly set tables were spread all around the hall, with spaces cleared for dancing. Pillars and drapes dotted the corners, and as the venue filled with more elegantly dressed guests the night took on a glamorous spin.

Tiana was glad she’d taken a lot of effort with her appearance; she’d opted for a nude-colored gown that fell in Grecian folds to the floor, the bodice cut in a modest mono-strap design. She’d opted to forgo exposing any cleavage and instead, left one shoulder bare to reveal her buffed brown skin. Her hair was pinned up while some thick, wavy locks had been left to frame her jaw.

Her make-up was a little more dramatic, her eyes smoky and lashed thickly while her lips held a deep pink shade. Judging from the admiring glances she kept getting from her companion and other guests, she felt she’d hit the right note for the evening.

On their arrival there was a drinks reception to be followed by a three course dinner with wine. The organizers had planned for an after-dinner speech, awards presentation as well as a live auction to be followed by entertainment o close the evening. Judging from the buzz the event had received as well as the celebratory atmosphere surrounding them, Tiana told herself it was going to be a fun night. If only she could stop wishing she had Jordan by her side instead. She felt really dumb for saying they made a peculiar couple. She knew how well they fit together. He was just the right height, above six feet without towering over like Bryant did, making her feel like a dwarf next to him. He was a really nice guy, seeing to her every concern and looking as handsome in his tux as any other man in the room. But still. He was no Jordan.

And just as if she’d conjured him up with her thoughts, there he was.

Tiana could hardly believe what she was seeing. Jordan walked into the hall with an ebony beauty that looked like she’d stepped straight off the runway at New York fashion week. She stood almost as tall as Jordan and Tiana couldn’t help staring at her in her silky red dress that seemed sewn on her; every inch fit so snugly to her perfectly slim frame that it was a wonder how the woman could move. She had a face so beautiful you could spend a whole day looking for one single flaw and never find one. Cheekbones seemed almost diamond-shaped, with a small, blunt nose, wide brown eyes and lips shaped like a bowtie, and painted as red as a dress. She was fucking gorgeous.

Tiana couldn’t get over the shock that Jordan was here – and with some cover model on his arm. There was no doubt she was a model; it was in the way she moved and gestured as she laughed at something Jordan leaned in to say in her ear. Tiana had to blink several times to tell herself she wasn’t seeing things.

This time she was staring at Jordan and it was like she’d never seen him before. In his black tux, tie and dress shoes, he’d never looked hotter. In Tiana’s eyes he outplayed every man in the room with his whipping good looks. His dark hair seemed freshly cut, framing his head perfectly while his clothes looked every inch as expensive and well-made as they had to be.

Tiana looked at his face with an unwavering stare and it was almost like she was willing him to meet her gaze. She kept telling herself it had to be some clone or maybe Jordan had a twin she knew nothing about. Anything to explain how he could be here, with someone else. And looking like he fucking owned the room.

He must have felt her burning regard because he chose that moment to glance her way. Just like that, his dark and dangerous handsomeness smacked her in the chest, making her pulse pound and her pussy twitch just holding the line of his piercing grey gaze. In that moment, the hot hours of passion they’d shared sped through her mind like a flashing reel of film, leaving her breathless and weak-kneed.

He smiled thinly, inclining his head slightly in recognition even as Tiana gasped in utter shock and outrage. It
was
him.

Before anything more could pass between them, his attention was seized by a group of organizers who showed him to a vantage table close to the stage. Jordan didn’t spare Tiana another look as he placed his hand low on the back of the woman by his side, guiding her along as he returned the greetings of the other prominent guests as he walked by.

I don’t believe this
, Tiana thought stormily as Bryant found them their table and they were seated by one of the many waiters. Tiana’s eyes kept flying to Jordan’s end of the hall as she wondered how on earth this could be happening. Why was he here? She couldn’t figure out how come he was attending as an escort to his model-type companion. Was that why he’d stood her up? He’d had a hotter client to take to the ‘ball’?