Perfect Ten Read Online Free PDF Page B

up and leave a whirlwind in their wake. “Next weekend. They’ve already booked the Beverly Hills Hotel. Do you believe it? Throw enough money around, and you can buy the impossible.”
    “Yeah, but even with the money, how did they get into the Hills without two-years notice? It’s not possible!
    “Easy. One of their ballrooms has been undergoing renovation and won’t be ready until next month. But when Matt gave them an obscene amount of money to get it ready in two weeks, they concurred.” I personally think it’s disgusting the way the rich throw their money around. My family has money, and they do it, too. I guess I’m the odd one out.
    Susan , who I’d known since we met in home-economics class at Beverly Hills High, piped up with perhaps the most important question of the night. “Who are you taking? I know how much you hate to be around your sisters. You need a fan-fucking-tastic date on your arm to parade around.”
    This was an age-old argument that I didn’t feel like having, but saw no way around it. “I’m not taking anyone.” I held up my hand to stop them from speaking. “Look, I know you guys love me, and I love you all to death, but let’s face it—I’m just not date material right now.”
    As usual, my remark made Gracie mad. She ’d been my staunchest supporter ever since she’d stood up for me in middle school when the mean girls called me fat. She even shared half her lunch with me after seeing the celery sticks and wheat crackers that my mom packed for me every day. “That’s bullshit, Faith!” She slammed her book down as she let out a big gush of air. “I really don’t get you. You’re gorgeous! Jesus, look in the mirror sometime, won’t you?”
    I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. I got more love and support from these three girls than I would ever get from my blood relatives. “Thanks, Gracie, but just the same, I’m not taking a date.”
    “You know…”
    It scared me when Gracie did that. She got this look in her eyes like she’d just found the cure for cancer. “What?”
    “My sister had this big banquet she had to go to for her firm the other night. The senior partner didn’t want her going alone. He wanted to show her as a normal , everyday woman, instead of a powerhouse attorney. Keith was out of the country doing God knows what in Iraq, so she hired an escort.”
    I was absolutely not going to do that. “She cheated on Keith? Oh , my God, Gracie. That’s horrible! I don’t believe it.” I was shocked. An escort? Aren’t they just one step away from male prostitutes? Who did that?
    “She did not cheat on her husband! She just hired an escort to take her to the dinner. And that’s what you’re going to do.”
    “Oh, no way. I’m not hiring some pretty boy to take me to my sister’s wedding. They’ll see through that right away. Those escort guys are hot. No hot guy is going to want this.” I indicated my disgusting body, waving my arms around. “Who would believe that? And besides, he’ll probably think I’m hard up for sex and want him to be my stud for the night!”
    Susan was shaking her head at me. I knew she had more to say on the subject too, bless her.
    “Oh, he would not. He might want a crack at you though. Faith, I really wish you could see what we do, but if you can’t, they have all kinds of guys at those escort services. You can get an average Joe to take you if that’s what you really want. But the best part is that they’re professionals. They know how to act at all kinds of functions. I think it’s a great idea.”
    “I don’t know.” I guess it could work, but the idea scared me to death! I don’t do well with guys that I do know, let alone a guy I’ve never met before. On the other hand, did I really want to go to my sister’s wedding alone? “I’ll think about it.”
    ***
    The next day, as I was sitting at my desk running expense reports, my cell phone rang. It was a call from Perfect Ten escort