Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(2)
He watched her make her decision, she released her lip, the tip of her tongue slid out to wet the upper one as she pressed and held a button on her phone. Once it was turned off, she thrust the mobile back in her bag, tossing it on the chair with her coat.
At that instant the bartender gave him her wine, Cash paid for it and walked back to the table.
When he came close, she looked up at him over her shoulder, her shining hair gliding along her back, her graceful jaw jutting out, her full lips slightly parted, her warm, hazel eyes locked on his.
She’ll do, he thought as he set the wine in front of her.
“Thank you,” she muttered politely.
He sat opposite her and as she looked at him he noticed there was something in her eyes, something he couldn’t exactly read. It was something deep and intriguing, something she meant to hide but was not quite successful in doing it. Something that, Cash thought as he kept his eyes on her, looked an awful lot like pain.
Nevertheless, his decision was made and as usual he didn’t waste any time.
She was taking a sip of her wine when he asked, “How much?”
His bluntness startled her and it looked like she had difficulty swallowing as she blinked at him.
“I beg your pardon?” she enquired.
“James explained things to you?”
Her gaze held his and she replied, “Yes.”
“How much?” Cash repeated.
Her eyes slid to the side and Cash didn’t know what to make of this. It would disappoint him if she tried to be coy. It would irritate him if she tried to fleece him.
Her eyes came back to his. “You want what James explained?”
He wanted more than what he knew James explained but he’d get to that in a moment.
“Yes,” he answered.
Without hesitation she said, “Ten thousand pounds.”
Again she’d surprised him. He’d expected her to ask for more, indeed he knew without question she was worth more. He’d definitely pay double that. He’d even consider paying triple.
Not one to let a good deal slide by, he nodded immediately, “Agreed.”
He watched with no small fascination as her composure slipped and several emotions one after the other chased across her face.
They went by so fast he couldn’t read them all but he could have sworn he caught disappointment and even alarm before she gained control so swiftly it was as if it never happened at all.
“Done,” she held up her wine glass, “shall we toast on it?”
“I’m not finished,” he replied.
She regarded him a moment, her eyes shuttered. Then she took a sip of her wine, set it on the table, sat back in her chair, her gaze returning to him and she waited.
He didn’t make her wait long and he didn’t sugar-coat his question.
“I’d like to know how much more to f**k you.”
The minute he’d finished his query, with interest he watched her jaw get tight as did her entire body and her obvious negative reaction surprised him yet again.
He continued calmly with the raise of an eyebrow, “Is that not part of the service you provide?”
“I’m not a prostitute.” Her low, soft voice now held a hint of displeasure.
“I’m sure James explained to you that this deal includes you sleeping in the same bed with me,” Cash reminded her.
“Sleeping,” was her quick retort.
Cash thought about her hesitation at the door, remembered her teeth catching her lip in indecision, the fleeting loss of poise when they started talking money and he had an uncomfortable suspicion.
“Do you have other clients?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered promptly.
“In the U.K.?” he pressed.
Her eyes locked on his “No.”
“The States,” Cash pushed.
“Are you needing references?” she returned, her tone slightly sharp and he nearly laughed.
Abruptly he leaned toward her and repeated, “How much to f**k you?”
He watched as her stare turned into a glare and realised immediately there was fire behind that ice.
Cash found this very interesting.
“How much?” he asked again.
She frowned and her eyes started to narrow.
“I’ll double your fee,” he told her.
“I don’t think so,” she replied with disgust.
“Triple,” Cash returned.
“Absolutely not,” she snapped, her eyes fully narrowed.
She was, it appeared, getting angry.
And he knew immediately he liked it.
She was also not making a single move to leave.
“I’ll give you fifty thousand pounds,” Cash said.
He didn’t have to wait for her response to his generous offer.
She leaned toward him and he knew she’d lost her temper even before she hissed, “You couldn’t afford me.”
“Then James didn’t explain who I am,” Cash retorted.
“I know who you are,” she bit out. “Everyone knows who you are.”
“Then you know I can afford you.”
She didn’t reply.
He got closer and she held her ground, something which said a lot about her. He was close enough to smell her perfume again and close enough to see there was a slight peach sheen to the gloss on her lips.