Page 42 of Rum & Coke

“And you think I’d be okay with that?”

He smiled and shook his head. “No. That’s exactly why I want it to be you and not someone else. I’ve already made the mistake of bringing the … easier girls, and while I don’t want you to go home with me, I don’t want you to go home with anyone else.”

My mouth hit the floor again. “What?”

“You know how it is for bachelor parties—”

“This is for a bachelor party?”

“No. It’s to be my arm candy, but I need someone who won’t run their mouth about what happens here at Red Diamond.”

“I don’t understand. What happens here at RD that I’d talk about?”

“Just say yes, Tessa. I’ve always told you that if you ever need anything to come to me. That goes for your safety. I want to protect you, and I want to give you money to spend a few hours with me so I can brag to my friends that you’re mine.”

“But I’m not yours,” I corrected.

“They won’t know that.”

“So, I’ll be like an escort?”

His grin widened. “If that makes you feel better about this. I’m just looking to hire you to be on my arm. That’s it.”

“Okay,” I agreed. I was going to treat it as though it was a bachelor party, but this time, I wouldn’t have to take my top off or grind on someone’s lap. I hoped.

“Thank you.” He turned to the stack of cash on his desk. I watched as he pulled out a few hundred dollar bills and then handed them to me. “You’ll need to get a nice dress to wear. Our seats are ringside.”

“Wow, really?”

Sebastian smiled. “I only sit in the best seats, Tessa.”

“I had the wrong idea about boxing,” I admitted. I’d assumed people went in jeans and a nice shirt with heels.

“It will be the funnest way you’ve ever made a grand.”

True to his word, Vinny was waiting for me when I got off at two. He’d texted to say he was coming and would meet me in the parking lot, but he didn’t want to freak me out when I saw a man standing by the door. I’d told Galen my friend was coming and to not think he was my stalker, so when I walked outside, I saw Galen and Vinny laughing and talking like they were best friends. Vinny stopped talking and immediately turned his gaze toward me and smiled. My belly dipped. I’d never get tired of the way he made me feel when he looked at me.

“Hey,” I greeted Vinny as I stopped in front of him.

“Hey, Candy.” He immediately wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me to him for a hug. He’d said I smelled like cotton candy, but he equally smelled good—like citrus, mint, and a hint of lavender, which calmed me. He smelled like my Vinny.

“Ready to go?” I asked.

We broke apart. “Yep, but first …” He dug his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled a business card out. Handing it to Galen, he said, “Call my boss, Mark, and tell him I gave you my card to look into setting up a meeting with him.”

Galen took the card and smiled. “I will. Thanks, man.”

“No problem.”

“Keep our girl safe,” Galen said.

“Always.” Vinny wrapped an arm around me and started for my car.

“You gave Galen your card to become an escort?”

“Yeah. He was out here when I arrived, so I introduced myself, and we started shooting the shit. Told him about S&R and he was interested.”

“Dang. You work at a place a little over a year, thinking you know everything, and then everything starts to change.”