Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Yeah, sure. A martini would be nice.”
She places the order before looking at me again. “I want to assure you that this is a safe space where you can explore and live out your fantasies. There are cameras everywhere, and we have a zero-tolerance policy should a member break the rules the other party has put in place.”
I nod and glance at the other people, wondering which man I’ll be talking to.
“Do you have any questions?” she asks.
“Not at the moment.”
“I’ll leave you then to enjoy your evening. Should your request change during the course of the evening, just notify any of the staff members, and they’ll assist you.”
Nodding, I watch as she gets up and leaves, and feeling more anxious, I start to nibble on my bottom lip.
I glance at the other members again and find everything…normal.
I expected a raunchy vibe. People getting it on wherever there’s an empty space, but this place is pretty decent.
The server brings me a martini, and I murmur, “Thank you.”
Needing all the liquid courage I can get, I take a couple of sips, and just as I pop the olive into my mouth, a man approaches me.
Shit. Here we go.
He seems to be in his forties, his salt and pepper hair graying at his temples.
When he reaches me, I stand up and say, “Hi, I’m Samantha.”
A crooked smile tugs at his mouth, and he looks just as nervous as I feel.
“Hi, I’m Doyle. It’s nice to meet you.”
When I take a seat again, and just stare at each other. When it’s clear he’s not going to talk first, I clear my throat and let out a nervous chuckle. “This isn’t awkward at all.”
His smile widens a little. “Yeah. Is this your first time coming here?”
“Yes. I thought I’d give it a try. And you?”
“I’m a virgin as well.”
Alrighty then.
We smile awkwardly at each other before I take another sip of my drink.
Doyle relaxes back against the couch and glances around, and I take the moment to stare at him.
He seems harmless. The man has zero body muscle, so there’s a good chance I can beat him in a fight.
The thought helps me relax enough to ask, “What do you like to do in your spare time?”
His eyes snap back to me, and he thinks for a moment before he answers, “I never miss a chance to go camping. I love fishing and hunting. Do you like being outdoors?”
No. I don’t do bugs and wild animals.
“I’m not much of a camping and fishing gal. I love spending a weekend in a cabin up in the mountains or going to the beach.”
“Oh. Okay,” he replies, not sounding impressed with me. “So, what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a PA, and you?”
“I’m an accountant.”
He glances around us again while I finish the rest of my martini.
I expected to have a panic attack, but instead, I might die of boredom. It’s a good thing.
Smiling, my muscles relax, and when Doyle looks at me again, he looks a little bewildered as he stammers, “Y-you’re pretty when y-you smile.”
His face goes beet red, and it makes me feel sorry for the guy.
“I think we’re doing great as first-timers,” I say, hoping it will help him relax.
“Yeah?”
Nodding, I chuckle. “We haven’t made a run for it yet. I’m totally taking it as a win.”
“Right.” He waves at a server and orders a beer.
The server picks up my empty glass and asks, “Would you like another martini, Miss Blakely?”
“Please.”
When we're alone again, Doyle asks, “Why are you here?”
To regain some of the control I’ve lost and to learn to trust men again.
My smile wavers as I answer, “Just to have a conversation. And you?”
“Even though we live in a city with a population of eight million, it’s hard meeting like-minded people, and dating apps aren’t my cup of tea.”
I glance to the side and lock eyes with one of the staff members who’s standing with his arms crossed over his chest while watching us.
Wow. They really take security seriously here.
Even though he’s dressed the same as all the other staff, it’s clear as daylight the man spends a lot of time in the gym by the way his clothes fit his body.
I’m still staring at the staff member when he walks away. There’s something familiar about how he moves, but then the server pulls my attention away as a martini is placed on the table between Doyle and me.
Chapter 5
Franco
Walking toward the main section of Paradiso, my thoughts are filled with Miss Blakely.
The woman actually impressed me today.
From the moment I got to the office until we left, she worked so fast I struggled to keep up. It became a fucking competition, and the pace was relentless.
A smile threatens to tug at the corner of my mouth because today Miss Blakely was the kind of PA I’ve been looking for since I started the company.