Rent-A-Stud Read Online Free PDF Page A

this type of business in the first place. “Have you done this for a long time?”
    “Done what?”
    “Escorted women.”
    “About ten years.”
    It surprised her to hear he’d started as a rent-a-stud so young. “You were twenty?”
    “Twenty-one.” He stopped at a red light before looking at her. “How do you know my age?”
    “Breanna told me.”
    Zach didn’t say anything for several moments. “Does my age bother you? It shouldn’t. Age is a number. It’s no indication of who you are as a person.”
    “That’s easy for a thirty-year-old to say. It’s a bit different for a woman pushing forty.”
    His gaze passed over her hair, her face, her breasts, before he looked into her eyes again. “You’re a lovely woman, Jade. You’ll be lovely no matter your age.”
    A warm glow filled her at his compliment. He certainly knew all the right words to say. But he should know all the right words after ten years of practice.
    Realizing he’d probably used those same words on countless other women deflated her attraction a bit.
    Face it, Jade. Whatever he says to you is memorized. He’s the same as an actor, and has been for ten years. He’ll say whatever he thinks a woman wants to hear.
    The light turned green and Zach passed through the intersection. He’d paid compliments to other women, even when they weren’t true. It was his job to make his date feel special, and sometimes that included some exaggeration. He’d never felt guilty about “fudging” a little. As long as he made his date feel good about herself, that’s all that mattered to him.
    He meant every word he said to Jade. Somehow, he had to convince her of his sincerity.
    Another red light gave him the opportunity to face her again. “All women are beautiful, Jade. Some are more physically appealing than others, but each woman is special in her own way. She becomes even more special as she ages. I truly meant what I said about age being a number. Yes, it’s a cliché, but it’s true.” He draped his left wrist over the steering wheel. “You’ll be forty soon?”
    Jade nodded. “On May 13.”
    “Does turning forty bother you?”
    “No. Getting older is better than the alternative.”
    “That’s true.”
    “There’s another cliché about life beginning at forty. I guess I’ll find out in a couple of weeks.”
    “Are you where you want to be? Job, home, family, that kind of thing.”
    “In some things, yes. In others, no.”
    “What’s missing in your life?”
    A sharp beep from the car behind him startled Zach. He’d been so focused on Jade, he hadn’t noticed when the light changed to green. Pressing on the gas pedal, he drove through the intersection.
    He noticed she didn’t answer his question.
    The hotel where the gala would be held sat on the next block, so Zach didn’t have the chance to question Jade further. He assumed her marriage was one of those things that hadn’t worked out the way she wanted. No one got married with plans of getting a divorce.
    He wondered if she still loved her ex-husband.
    He followed Jade’s directions to the parking garage. After traveling up three levels, he found a parking space within ten yards of the elevator.
    “How often do you get a parking place so close to the entrance?” he said after putting the gearshift into Park. “My luck is good tonight.”
    “You haven’t danced with me yet.”
    “You’re still determined you’re going to step on my foot?”
    Jade raised one hand, palm toward him. “I so solemnly swear.”
    Zach chuckled. The more time he spent with Jade, the more he liked her. He couldn’t remember ever feeling such a strong connection with a woman. “I’m still willing to take my chances. After all, dancing will give me the chance to hold you in my arms.”
    He watched her gaze roam over his face as she bit her bottom lip. He waited for her to speak. When she remained silent for several moments, Zach spoke. “Is something wrong?”
    “No. I was