Page 82 of At His Beck & Call

“Well, have a nice lunch,” I say, and she pats her pocket.

“I think I might order a bottle of very expensive champagne now that I have your card.”

I snort, knowing she wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing. “You do that. But you won’t be able to walk straight after half a glass.”

“I’ll have you know,” she says cheerfully. “I managed awholeglass of wine at my sixtieth without falling down even once.”

“I’m proud of you, Addy.”

“Stop calling me that,” she mutters as she leaves, and I can’t fight the smile on my face as I get back to work.

My thoughts return to Lissa and Adelaide several times over the next few hours, imagining them at the restaurant, Lissa’s face relaxed and calm.

The idea of her letting loose and enjoying herself sticks in my mind, and as the afternoon progresses, another thought occurs to me.

Picking up my phone, I call a company I’ve used before as a little surprise for her. She might not be amenable, but I’d like to gift her a little something.

She may be an escort, but that doesn’t mean I can’t treat her to something special every now and then.

By the time five o’clock arrives, I’m sitting patiently waiting for Lissa to walk through the door. I’m nervous, which is unlike me, but I don’t want her to get the wrong impression.

Sure enough, when she opens the door, she freezes, staring at the woman opposite me as her mouth falls open.

Felicity, the woman I’ve hired, smiles at her warmly, but Lissa gives her an awkward smile in return, her eyes quickly moving to me.

“It’s alright, come in,” I say gently. Lissa lets go of the handle, walking in with her usual silent steps, and doesn’t take her eyes off Felicity the whole way as the door swings shut.

“Uh…”

“What do I always say?” I ask, taking her hand. “Everything happens with your permission, remember?” She relaxes, but not by much.

“This is Felicity, she’s a massage therapist,” I say as Felicity steps aside, lifting the fold-out table from where it’s propped up against the shelves and setting it up.

“A massage therapist?” Lissa asks, as if she’s never heard of one before.

“I wanted to give you something today that is just for you. To relax.”

My stomach tightens as I glance at Felicity. We’ve already discussed what I want, and I’m desperate for things to go as I’d like, but I won’t follow through with my plans if Lissa looks the least bit uncomfortable.

“Felicity will give you a massage, and I can leave the room,” I say slowly. “Or, she can give you a massage, and I can stay and watch. It’s up to you.”

Lissa’s shoulders lower as she glances down at me.

I continue. “Or she can leave altogether. I’ll still pay her for the massage, so no one has been put out; it’s your choice.”

Her throat bobs, and my worry spikes when the concern doesn’t leave her face.

I rise from my chair, pulling Lissa behind my desk to talk to her, and to my surprise, she keeps going, giving Felicity a nervous smile as she opens the bathroom door and goes inside.

I close it behind us, waiting to see what she has to say. She looks totally uncomfortable.

Fuck I’ve misjudged this.

“Are you wanting her to do things with you and me?” she asks, her mouth set in an angry line.

“No,” I say firmly. “That’s not?—”

“Because if you want to get another EA, then you can,” she says awkwardly. “I’m not?—”