Creek stared at the disgusting man standing in his kitchen. “Excuse me?” he growled, wanting to punch him for the words.
George crossed his arms over his chest. “No need to get all nasty about this. Just a business transaction, my man.”
“I’m not your man, and I don’t transact illegal business.”
The fat man only raised his eyebrows. “Oh really? So what’s different about this time versus the first time?” When Creek had no response, George chuckled, almost salivating at the windfall he was about to receive. “You’ve been with Violet for the past several nights, ain’t ye?”
“That’s none of your business,” Creek snapped.
George tilted his head. “Well, now that’s where you’re wrong. See, I’m her business manager. The pretty woman doesn’t like to get her fingers dirty, so to speak.” He laughed at his own joke before continuing. “You’ve received the services, now it is time to pay.”
Creek could barely speak. Surely this was some sort of joke. Done in bad taste, but still…
“I’m not paying you, George. And I don’t believe Violet sent you. I refuse to believe that Violet is a call girl.”
George’s eyes flickered, but he rallied. “You don’t pay, you don’t get to play.” He watched Creek carefully, but the man seemed unmoved. “You really going to ditch all of her services on some silly little thing like morals?”
Creek was disgusted. “Get out!” he growled. “Violet is not a prostitute,” he asserted again.
“Hell, man! Why do you think I’m here? I don’t get any of the money! She keeps it all! Like I said, I’m just her business manager!”
Creek shook his head. “I don’t believe you.”
George rubbed his lips. “Violet sent me here with the message. You don’t pay, you don’t get any more dessert.”
Creek thought about all of the brownies and cookies Violet had been baking for him over the past week. They’d been delicious and…well, hell. Exciting! He loved walking into her place every night and finding out what she’d baked. She was an awesome cook and…
Damn!
“Tell her I’m not paying, and I won’t be requesting her services again,” Creek ground out through his clenched teeth. And with those words, he hustled the man out the door. He was furious that Violet would send the man, disgusted with everything right now.
Not to mention, his chest hurt from the realization that he couldn’t ever see Violet again. He just…nope, he couldn’t do it.
He….loved her.
Damn, his friends would burst out laughing if they ever found out that he’d fallen so hard for a prostitute.
Even as he said the words in his mind, he didn’t believe them. He couldn’t believe them.
But they were true. Somehow, he would have to stay away from Violet.
Or maybe…
No. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t save her from the life she’d chosen.
Nothing made sense though! She’d never asked for money, never even implied anything close to financial issues.
And she’d been a virgin!
Hadn’t she? He would have sworn that she had been that first night but…
Hell, what did he know about virgins? He knew there were ways to fake that. Had he just been played?
Obviously. He slammed a fist down on his kitchen countertop, but the only damage was to his fist and his pride. The granite didn’t give way.