Holiday Escort: A Christmas Novella Read Free

, why does he always respond with a question? Is this part of his master plan?
    Me: No we would not, especially when we have this big weekend ahead of us.

    Matthew: I didn’t think so either. Address?
    Wow. A bold one.
    I send him my address and drop my phone with a slight frown. He’s a cocky son-of-a-bitch.
    But cocky is good. It means there’s confidence, and a confident man is bound to blend in with my over-the-top family.
    My phone buzzes again, but this time it’s a text from Loser, a.k.a. Doug Lee. A beautiful, tall, Asian man. The only reason he is in my life is because he’s my occasional dose of dick when I need to let go.

    Loser: Any plans tonight? Got this movie from Redbox and no one to watch it with.

    Me: I will be busy.

    Loser: Oh really? Doing what exactly?
    H mm . Maybe this is my chance to get under his skin. I smirk as I reply.
    Me: I have a date.
    He responds instantly.
    Loser: A date? With?

    Me: You wouldn’t know him.

    Loser: This isn’t funny, Piper.
    I don’t respond… purposely.
    I laugh, scrolling through the messages, picturing how he’s reacting right now. He’s probably overreacting, knowing him, but he’s not going to do anything dramatic like show up on my doorstep or call me repeatedly just to get my attention.
    He doesn’t care. I don’t think he ever has.
    I don’t even know why I still put up with him. I could get someone else, but I got so comfortable and used to just screwing this one guy that I kind of stopped making the effort.
    He’s such a sucker to get upset about my text, and if he hadn’t blatantly told me to my face that I wasn’t wife material, I would feel sorry for him. I don’t.
    We only use each other for sex. It’s nothing more than that, and it only happens like once every two weeks. Nothing major—just a quick, fun, and easy way to blow some steam.
    I lean back in my leather chair, picking up my cup of coffee just as Jen knocks on my door three times.
    “Oh, Jen!”
    “Hey, Pipes. Did you finish editing that article?”
    I pick up the final printed sheet of paper quickly, holding it proudly in the air. “I did. All ready to scan and print.”
    “God, you are a lifesaver.” Jen marches forward in her flats, taking the paper from me. She then sighs, sitting on the edge of my desk. “So, are you going to your parent’s cabin again this year?”
    I roll my eyes. “You already know the answer to that.”
    “Alone?”
    “I have a friend coming with me.”
    Jen gasps and then gives me a shit-eating grin. “A friend? Who is this friend?”
    “He’s… no one you should be too concerned about.”
    “He?! A man! Oh, wow, my little Pipes is growing up!”
    I laugh out loud. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
    “Well, who is he? I didn’t even know you were talking to anyone!” She leans in closer, making me feel a bit uncomfortable.
    “He’s just a guy, Jen,” I laugh. “And he’s only coming so I don’t look like a total loser to my family for coming alone again .” I refuse to tell her I’m paying him to come along… or that he is indeed an escort.
    That’s like saying I’ve hired a prostitute to force-fuck me.
    “How does he look?” she inquires.
    I guess I can brag about his looks. “He’s fucking hot. Light brown eyes, slick brown hair, the perfect beard, and a really nice ass. He has it all, Jen. Full package.”
    “Ooohh. He sounds yummy.” She stands up again, making her way to the door as she says, “Well, I hope this guy can please your family. I, of all people, know that your family can be very difficult.”
    Yes, in fact, she does know that. She knows because when I was first hired to work at Inside Scoop, I invited Jen with me to come to the cabin. It was a huge mistake.
    My parents hounded her, asking her how she could hire me and even telling her they should let me go so I could find a “more appropriate” job. It was told to her in secret, but of course Jen and her big mouth told me every last