Page 9 of Killer Body

“You?” Jesse shook his head as if trying to clear it of a dream that had suddenly become real.

“I hope me,” she said.

“Of course it will be you. He’s setting it up so that it will be you. You’re going to be the next Julie Larimore, babe.”

“I could be, yes. Not that I wish her any harm.”

“You hate her guts, and you know it.”

Hate? No, that wasn’t the right emotion. She said it the way she hoped Julie would. “Whatever our personal differences, I hope she’s okay. But I want this job. It’s my chance to reinvent myself.”

“You’ll get it.” He crooked his finger and rubbed the bulge in his pants. “Now, come to Papa.”

Something stopped her. No, more than that, chilled her. She couldn’t do this, not one more time.

“I might need a little space, honey.”

He rolled his eyes. “The space cadet needs space.”

“I am not a space cadet. I’m not stupid, Jesse.”

“Whatever you say.”

“I mean it.”

“You too smart to get naked?”

“I’ll get naked. Will you?”

“Fucking A.” He began unbuttoning his shirt. “We can do it right here, on this great table.”

She went to him, let him slide her down on the table. He stood, running his fingers beneath her. “You’re skin and bones, but you still have a great ass,” he said, beginning to knead it. “Maybe just a little on the fleshy side.”

She jerked away from him. “My ass is perfect, and there’s not a damn thing about me that’s fleshy.”

“Take it easy. I was just kidding. Hey, what are you doing?”

She pushed him away and swung off the table in one smooth gesture. “I’m out of the mood.” Damn, she wanted a cigarette, but she couldn’t do that. She could already detect tiny vertical lip lines when she pursed her mouth in the mirror.

“Baby, come here,” Jesse called in a singsong voice.

“I need some exercise. I’m going to take a run on the beach.” She dug through the open suitcase and pulled out a pair of white shorts.

“I’ll give you some exercise.”

“I mean it, Jesse.”

“I was just kidding about your ass.”

“That has nothing to do with it.” Damn, he was irritating today. She put on the shorts against her smooth skin. Yes, it was still smooth where the tan abruptly went white. And there was nothing wrong with her ass.

“Then, come back here.”

“Later.”

She sat on the bed and started putting on her shoes. Jesse stood before her. “You’re really sensitive about your looks lately.”

“You’d be, too, if your looks were the way you made a living.”