Hustlers Read Free

family business, doing what she loved.
Why does it have to change just because I grew up?
    Shaking her head, she forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand. She realized that she needed to treat this just like any other job. Just because the stakes were higher, it didn’t mean the rules had changed.
    She flipped open the laptop on the desk, about to turn it on when she heard a cough coming from one of the bedrooms.
Shit!
    She ducked down under the desk, closing her eyes as she heard a door open, followed by footsteps echoing on the marble floor.
    “No, I told her I’d call her, but you know how that goes.” She heard a man laugh.
    Oh great, Starling was in his bedroom.
    “She wanted more than that.” The man laughed again.
    She glanced up, rolling her eyes.
Please don’t make me listen to an old man talking about sex.
She paused and frowned at the underside of the desk, tilting her head to the side. There was a portable hard drive taped under the desk.
    If I was going to hide my dirt, where would I put it?
Using her thumbnail to remove the tape, she peeled it off as quietly as possible while listening to the man at the same time.
    “Nah man, I’m gonna chill out here. I need a day off from that shit.”
    She frowned. He was either talking on the phone or talking to himself. She peeled off the last bit of tape, and the hard drive dropped into her hand.
Gotcha!
    The man laughed. “Unless the hotel burns down, I won’t be getting off this couch for the next twenty-four hours. I need some R and R after last night.”
    Shit.
    Ellie slipped the hard drive down the front of her dress, wedging it under the side of her bra. Even if they patted her down, they’d probably miss it there.
    Closing her eyes for a moment, she listened to the man talking on the phone. For a Manchester gangster he had a sexy voice and no discernible accent. He just sounded English with a slightly southern lilt.
It’s probably part of his front. Let’s see how nice he sounds when he’s talking to the staff.
    She ignored her thumping heart and gripped the bag inside the wastepaper basket while quickly standing up holding it.
    Her plan had been to appear surprised, which worked out wonderfully when she widened her eyes at the man on the couch with actual surprise. It wasn’t Jerry Starling. It was a half-naked young man with blond hair and bright green eyes.
Is Starling gay? That guy’s too hot to be straight.
    “Oh! Sorry sir, I thought the room was empty,” she mumbled when he jumped up from the couch in surprise. She headed for the door, trying not to stare at his bare chest, which was lightly tanned and had muscles in all the right places.
    He frowned, standing up from the couch. “I’ll call you back, Jake,” he muttered into the cell phone before dropping it on the couch and striding toward her.
    She stopped when he came to halt between her and the door. She glanced up at him. There was an expensive fragrance of aftershave emanating from him.
    “I er, can clean the room later,” she said, feeling a blush heat her skin. He was standing awfully close to her. Since he was half-naked, she was finding it difficult to concentrate on anything other than his bare skin.
    “You’re not the usual maid,” he said, frowning at her.
    “I er, just got told to start on this floor.” She stepped back, trying to control her racing pulse.
Who is he? He’s a bit bold for a rent boy.
    “By who?” He tilted his head to the side as he studied her.
    “My team leader, I’m sorry, I’m new. I can go and ask her…” She tried to ignore the bubble of panic that seemed to be expanding in the back of her throat.
    His eyes trailed down her body from head to toe, and his mouth turned up at one corner in a wicked smile that caused a shiver to tremble down her spine.
    Okay, he’s definitely not gay.
    “Nah, carry on. It’s okay.” He folded his arms and continued watching her.
    “What?” She widened her eyes.
    “You can finish cleaning the