Devin and the Playboy Read online

  “Most people do not. I loathe publicity.” Jack took his refreshed drink from Stephan.

  “I would think it would help the cause for you to be more in the public’s eye.”

  “Well, there is that.” He sipped on his whiskey. “Let me put it to you this way. If you were to go to events to proclaim about your line of work, would you?”

  Devin laughed. “Certainly not. What I do isn’t exactly legal. Discretion is my favorite bedmate.” She noticed the small smirk on his face. “Point taken. So what role am I to play?”

  Jack motioned to Stephan. His assistant passed a thin envelope to Devin. She tentatively took it, smoothing her fingers over the metal clasp.

  “Open it.” The ice cubes in his glass clinked together as he swirled them around.

  Frowning, she did as instructed. Her jaw dropped as she gazed on the photos within. They were pictures of a younger version of herself in the shelter helping a small child tie his shoes. Her heart fluttered in her chest before tight bands squeezed. “Where did you get these?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “You’re damn right it does. Are you trying to blackmail me, Mr. Monterey?” She shoved the pictures at him, thankful that none contained the precious few moments with her mother at the same shelter.

  “On the contrary, I’m offering a profitable business venture.”

  She snorted, crossing her arms. “I’m already in a business that pays well.”

  Jack nodded. “Indeed, you are, but what happens when your beauty fades, Devin? How many women does your employer woo into the field that have considerably less mileage?”

  “How dare you.” Her hand came around to smack him for the insult, but he caught it before she could land a blow.

  “I dare, Devin, because I’ve always trusted you and no one else. When your employer offered a younger model, I stated quite clearly that it was you—and only you—I desired and at any cost. Cherry or no one. I have kept the fact you gave me your real name so please listen to what I have to say.” He released her. “You have many years to come in your field. I, however, do not have that luxury any longer. I will be frank, Devin, because I feel I owe you as much. I need a bride or I must give over part of my business to my sister. She owns considerable stock in our European division and has been itching to take hold of but a fraction stateside. Unless I marry and have children of my own to pass my legacy on, she will gain it all because she has already provided an heir.”

  “No offense, Jack, but you’re over a decade older than me.”

  “And what better showcase for one of my reputation to take a young and beautiful woman to be my wife?”

  Devin couldn’t think. Was he asking her what she thought he was? The limo stopped, saving her from answering right away. Her heart thundered in her chest. She adored Jack on many levels, but the commitment he offered scared her. And babies? The variety of her lifestyle would surely dry up. She had no idea what kind of predator Jack was when the lights turned down. Shivers crawled their way down her spine as he helped her out of the limo. Gone was the confident woman she exuded and out came the little insecure dove she’d thought she’d squashed so many years ago. Jack held her tight, easily guiding her through the throng of people begging for his attention.

  Inside the convention center, she slowed her steps. “Jack. I need to freshen up.”

  “Of course. Stephan? Would you be so kind?” He gave her a light peck on the cheek. “I’d escort you myself but the committee awaits.”

  Handed over to Stephan, Devin quickened her steps to urge him to walk faster. She’d heard dozens of proposals from men over the years, usually after a wicked session between the sheets. Their dedication to love was more of an effect of the afterglow from the mind-numbing gratification she’d just given them, but Jack? She hadn’t so much as given him a hand job on the way home from one of their events. Of course, Stephan had always been present. Maybe tonight would be her first time in Jack’s arms.

  Or maybe she was over-thinking this whole night. Either way, the thought of settling down scared her more than she would admit. Could one man ever satisfy her appetite after years of having a chocolate box of variety between the sheets?

  She pushed the door to the ladies’ room open and headed for the sitting room off to the side. The plush couch called to her and she sat. She fished out her compact and opened it. Her makeup was still flawless but Devin decided to apply a little more lipstick. In the back of her mind, she knew she was stalling. So many butterflies danced in her stomach. No matter what the age difference was, she had to admit she had a soft spot for Jack Monterey. He broke through her defenses like no one else. Was she willing to see what kind of hunter he was when the lights were off?

  “I can’t do this.” She snapped the compact closed and threw it in her clutch purse. Slipping away or feigning not feeling well shouldn’t be hard for one of her talents. A gasp escaped her lips as she almost ran into Stephan. “What are you doing in the ladies’ room?”

  Stephan took her hand, placing a kiss on the back of it. “First, apologizing again for my less than gentlemen behavior. Two”—he brushed a strand hair out of her face—“Jack is waiting for you.”

  “I changed my mind. I can’t do any of this. Tell him to find another piece of ass to be his arm candy.” The bravado in her voice didn’t match the tremor starting in her legs.

  Stephan moved closer to her, his breath hot on her neck. “It’s time you got out of the business, Devin, before it wrecks you.”

  His voice, low and seductive, pulled at her core. Who really wanted her? “I can handle myself.”

  “Really?” His lips barely brushed her earlobe. “When is the last time someone took care of you, Devin?”

  Her head swam. Although Stephan did nothing overtly sexual in his movements, a fire like she’d never felt welled inside. It took all of her will not to drag him into the first stall.

  “Let Jack take care of you like you deserve.”

  “What’s in it for you?” She cursed her easy arousal at being so near him. Her lace panties dampened at the tenor of his voice.

  “Seeing him happy with a woman at his side for the first time in his life.” He caressed her cheek. “Only you’ve been able to do that.”

  He backed away from her and a sense of loss cooled her skin. Fear replaced the desire Stephan had kindled. Monterey could have his pick of women in the city yet he chose a girl who slept with more men than the papers claimed he’d seduced women. Her thoughts went back to what he’d said about Mrs. K trying to toss him another fish. Devin had plenty of clients, but as she counted off her jobs over the past years, her heart stilled. The only ones she’d been given were the men who wanted a girl who could handle the hardcore kink. Innocence never worked for the bad-girl routine and a good number of the younger girls wouldn’t dabble like Devin.

  Stephan was right. If she didn’t get out now, she’d just end up as some washed-out whore taking whatever job got tossed her way. She took a deep breath.

  “What do I have to do?”

  Chapter Two

  Devin hadn’t slept much since Jack Monterey had proposed to her. While she hadn’t said no that evening, she avoided the subject when he brought it up. Stephan had made many valid points and tried to hammer home her options on the elevator ride up to her apartment. Three days had passed since then and her phone hadn’t rung once. At first, she’d thought Jack was playing a game with her and blocking any clients. A phone call to Mrs. K confirmed that wasn’t the case. Her employer brushed it off as a slow week. Devin hadn’t had a slow week in years.

  Not wanting to dwell on the depressing voice inside her head, she donned her jogging attire and decided a run would clear her head. Physical fitness was something she prided herself in. Her job in itself was demanding and to be in top form on her cardio meant going for hours if her client preferred. Her compact music player set to shuffle, she inserted her earbuds and pressed play.

  Not too long ago, she’d used kickbox
ing as her main form of exercise. That stopped when her instructor became a client. While he didn’t recognize her under the makeup and wig, she did. Concentrating on a high kick or sparring, knowing that the expression he made while encouraging her matched his orgasm face, was something that would lead to an unprofessional giggle attack. Even the words out of his mouth—an enthusiastic, “Oh yeah, that’s it, harder,” made jogging her new form to keep in shape. Thank goodness one of the other girls had taken the account off her hands.

  The sun shining above her head and not a cloud in sight, she started her steady pace along the sidewalk. The hustle and bustle of the downtown crowd was at a minimum, the office jockeys long finished with their lunch. She waved to the man at the corner flower stall. He blew her a kiss and waved back. Devin made a mental note to stop on the way back for a bouquet to brighten up her apartment.

  Her path turned into the park. The shade of the trees pixelated the trail and almost sparkled on the concrete. The crisp air filled her lungs. Her skin prickled down her back. She stutter-stepped at the next fork and kept to the path closer to the fencing surrounding the small park. Something didn’t feel right and she picked up her pace. One lap around, she decided, and back onto the busier side of the concrete jungle.

  Unable to shake the sensation of being stalked, she pivoted to turn around the way she came—and ran straight into Stephan. With a squeak, she tumbled into him and they both landed on the ground. Her earbuds fell out.

  “What are you doing?” She smacked him on the leg and staggered up.

  “Jogging?” He rested his arms on his knees.

  “Bullshit. You don’t live anywhere near here.” She paced back and forth, trying to calm her pounding heart.

  “Okay, okay.” He held out his hand for her to help him up and she crossed her arms. Shrugging, he got up on his own. “You haven’t given an answer and Jack’s a little on edge.”

  “How is that my problem? Do you know what he’s asking of me?” She walked briskly away from him, angry at herself for engaging in a conversation with him. The jog was supposed to relax her, not send her into another tailspin. He jerked her by the arm and pressed her close. If she didn’t know better, his dick was rigid against her.

  “That a hard cock I feel, Stephan?” She smirked. “Or are you just carrying a banana around for later?”

  “Both.” He released his hold.

  “Tell Jack I’m still looking over my options.” Devin stepped off the path by an empty bench and stretched her legs. “Right now my choice is a round of tacos.” She walked away and out of the park. Down the street, her favorite food truck peddled their delicious taco platter. If the jog wouldn’t cheer her up, a plate full of meat and cheese would do it.

  Halfway there, her phone rang. Mrs. K was finally coming through with something. “Hello.”

  “Devin, darling, I have been trying to reach you all week.”

  Sure, you have. “I guess it’s time for a new phone. The battery isn’t what it used to be.” If little white lies were going to be the name of the game, Devin would play along.

  “I’ve had to shift some of your regular clients to the other girls but I have a few that are looking for someone who dabbles in kink.”

  “What kind?”

  “Objectification. He wants to book for the day after tomorrow. Five grand for two hours.”

  The world around Devin ceased to be colorful. The sky, once bright and cerulean, faded to gray. Dark clouds prevailed no matter how she tried to chase them away. Her profession had many types of clients, but she’d been in control and never on the other side of the coin. Mutual respect took several sessions for her to trust the client with the rougher side of the job. Even with Victor, their exploration developed over five sessions. Now Mrs. K was booking her with someone who wanted her to obey without question, but five thousand would hold her for a good long time. She glanced back at Stephan lingering at the entrance of the park. She motioned him to her.

  “I’ll give it a think, but go ahead and book it. I have time to prepare.”

  “That’s my good girl.”

  Devin tucked away her phone. “Have you ever tried the tacos at that truck?” She thumbed toward her previous destination.

  “I don’t live around here.” He smirked.

  “Always the comedian. Come on.” She crooked a finger. “My treat.”

  “You know what I’m going to ask again, right?”

  “Yes.” She nodded but couldn’t glance in his direction. The heat of the sun burned her exposed neck. An invisible weight twisted the muscles in her back, but she managed to make the distance to the truck and order their food. Fear of her desperate words over the phone lingered. How could she even agree to meet with that client? Why her?

  The answer was obvious and Stephan had slapped her with the words not too long ago. When was the last time someone truly took care of her? Devin needed to find out how that felt even if she failed miserably to only feel something beyond the raw animalistic tingle of sex.

  “Excuse me one moment.” She redialed Mrs. K’s number, playing with her bottom lip.

  “That was quick.”

  “Listen. You’re going to have to get someone else for that job. Something’s come up.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m not taking it.”

  “May I remind you of the arrangement we have, Devin?”

  “I’m through.” She ended the call and turned off the phone. Sighing, she glanced at Stephan. “Tell Jack he has a deal.”

  ****

  After a two-week whirlwind of activity at Jack’s side, Devin officially terminated her relationship with Mrs. K. The calls from her former employer were not pleasant and sometimes threatening. Mrs. K did have quite the folder on what Devin was, and in the wrong hands, being on the arm of the most eligible bachelor would go up in smoke. Her employer was none too happy to see her deviant sex mistress quit the business but after a huge sum of money ended up in her bank account for the trouble and forfeiture of all incriminating evidence, what could she say to the future Mrs. Monterey? After that, Mrs. K never called again.

  Stephan had come over with a rather lengthy premarital contract which she skimmed over more than she should have. There was nothing the great Mr. Monterey could make her do that she hadn’t dabbled with in her past. If he had a new kink, she was open to try anything. Stephan pointed out the most important passages. No matter what happened in their relationship, she would be taken care of for the rest of her life. No adultery of any kind and any of Jack’s secrets she found out would be her cross to bear and not a meal ticket back to her old lifestyle. As if she wanted to go back. That Devin was dead in her book. Besides, Jack had the key to her past locked securely in a safe she didn’t have the combination for.

  She flourished the fountain pen across the paper with a smile.

  “Jack wants you to keep this condo for when he’s away on business and your new home is overwhelming.” Stephan put the contract in his briefcase.

  “Isn’t that just tempting me to cheat on him? I mean, my own little getaway?” She glanced around her place. Inside, she was glad he didn’t want her to give it up. The condo was her first big purchase and she loved the cozy little unit. The contract she signed was probably littered with ways for him to dump her for the next big thing.

  “No. We’ve established that Jack has his own infidelity problems. So why wouldn’t his wife demand to retain her former residence? This agreement—the one you didn’t read thoroughly, I might add—isn’t one-sided.”

  “I saw that part, Stephan, and I trust Jack. As crazy as it sounds, I do.” She walked through her closet. The rainbow of colors she employed in her previous profession seemed cheap compared to the lifestyle she would now lead. “Besides, I’ll have plenty of time to read it when he goes on that lengthy trip overseas to stick it to his sister.”

  Stephan appeared near the entrance to her walk-in closet. “Are you going to miss it?”

  “My former jo
b?” She shrugged. “I’m sure Jack will make me forget all about that on our honeymoon in the Bahamas.” With one last look, she stood toe-to-toe with Stephan. “I believe that Jack said I had a few hours of luxury at the spa before the wedding?”

  “Of course.” He offered his arm and she hooked hers through it.

  As her door shut for perhaps the last time, any burden she had with her decision flew away.

  Chapter Three

  Stephan leaned against the doorjamb of Jack’s bedroom, holding a large sealed envelope, watching Jack expertly finish his Windsor knot. The man had impeccable tastes in every aspect of his life yet the woman he chose to be his wife had none of the breeding a man of his stature should woo.

  “I assume you have the papers?” Jack glanced Stephan’s way.

  “All signed, sent to the lawyers, and copies made.” He shook his head. “You must be crazy to try and pull this off.”

  “I saw something valuable to keeping what I’ve built and I snatched it. Obviously, she had no qualms about the arrangement. She did sign the papers.”

  “Without reading them thoroughly, though I implored her several times to do so.” Stephan slammed the packet down on the table just inside the dressing room.

  “Temper, temper.” Jack wagged a finger at him.

  “You never seemed to mind before.”

  “It has no place here.” Jack picked at his sleeves before gesturing to the room. “And shouldn’t you be watching over my bride-to-be?”

  “The spa is private, per your request, and isn’t one to allow a man to traipse through its halls when their clients are barely dressed.” Stephan was in no mood to be lectured by his boss. He knew his job and saw no reason to stalk the lobby of the spa. Bringing over the signed contract was a much better use of his time. “Please stop this before it’s too late. If you care about Devin, you’ll let her go.”