Dark Escort Read Online Free PDF Page B

hook-ups?”
    How did he jump to that conclusion? “No…when I told him I had a date he acted weird. That’s all.”
    Cato sipped his glass again and held his silence.
    I tugged him along and made introductions to people I worked with. As the inheritor of the wine company, I had to make a good impression to everyone my father was connected with. People were nice, for the most part, but they were also fake. If my family lost everything we had, they wouldn’t still call us friends. They would ride in the limo with us, but the second it broke down and we needed a cab, they would bail.
    Cato had impeccable manners, and like he was a completely different person, he was charming and funny. He had a quick wit and easily made everyone adore him. He was making such a good impression I wasn’t sure if I was paying him enough money.
    When we walked away from the crowd, I spoke quietly to him. “Why don’t you use that charm on me?”
    His happy countenance disappeared the moment there wasn’t an audience. “It didn’t seem like it worked.”
    “You haven’t tried.”
    “Actually, I have.” He headed to the bar without telling me what he was doing. He ordered a scotch, downed it with a quick swallow, and then slowly made his way over to me.
    What was I missing? He was so vague and said all these ominous things. What was the deal?
    He returned to my side. “Now, where are your parents?”
    “Do you have a problem with me?” I blurted.
    He lowered his hand from my waist for a moment and regarded me coldly. The look was icy and covered in frost. I didn’t even need him to answer the question at that point. “I’m doing my job and I’m doing it well. So, what does it matter? You don’t strike me as a kind of woman with deep emotions.”
    Again, he was subtly insulting me . “If I did something to offend you, I’m sorry.”
    He looked away and put his arm around my waist. Let’s meet the parents.”
    The subject seemed to be dropped. I couldn’t figure out why Cato was being so disgruntled toward me. What did I do to him? But he was right. He was doing what I paid him to do, and he was already causing ripples through the crowd. Now it was too late to back out and switch him with a different escort. I’d have to deal with him and his odd prejudice.
    Mom and Dad were talking quietly together. Dad wore an Armani suit, and his slightly gray hair matched the color. His mustache was the same color, and he wore slightly large eyeglasses. Mom was seven years younger than him, and their age difference was obvious. She was good-looking for her age, and she still ran marathons religiously. She was a typical trophy wife, someone my dad married solely for her looks. When they spotted us, Mom’s jaw was practically on the floor. Dad did a double take, clearly surprised I brought a man to the benefit.
    “There they are,” I said quietly to Cato.
    “I could tell she was your mom without you pointing it out. You look a lot alike.”
    “Thanks…I think.”
    “It was a compliment.” He pulled me close to him then approached my parents. “Good evening, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Cato shook his hand and introduced himself.
    Dad was impressed from the beginning. “I didn’t realize my daughter was bringing a date, and such a charming young man.”
    “She’s the charming one, sir.” He turned to me and gave me an affectionate look. It seemed genuine to everyone else, but I knew it was just an act. He made it abundantly clear he didn’t fancy me.
    I gave him a fake smile in return and acted like I adored him.
    Then Cato approached my mother and swept her off her feet. “I would have thought you two were sisters.”
    She blushed and waved his comment away. “I’m much younger than my husband, but it worked out well.” She rubbed Dad’s shoulder. “He gets more handsome as he ages.”
    “You guys look really happy,” Cato noted. His arm snaked back to my side. “I can only hope I’ll have something like