Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Let me ask you this? Are those women at the Devil’s Den free to come and go as they please?”
Tamryn crinkled her forehead as if his question gave her pause. “Yes, but—”
“And are they given comfortable living quarters and a generous monthly allowance on top of what they bring in for entertaining clients?”
“Well, yes, but that’s not—”
“And is anyone being forced, beaten or being threatened with harm?”
“No.”
“And that’s the difference between me and Darrius. Sweetheart, for someone who’s lived on and off the streets as you have, I’m surprised you haven’t realized that we’re all prostitutes in our own way. The only difference between the women who sell their bodies for money and everyone else is that they’re honest about what they’re doing. Now I understand why you may think that I’m no better than a pimp, and some may agree with you but to do things in exchange for something is essentially what a prostitute is. She gives her body in exchange for money. Her john gets sex or a thrill or whatever else it is they’re looking for. And wives they want a ring in exchange for a respectable title, while husbands are willing to give it to them for unfettered access to said wives’ bodies. Everyone is, for lack of better word, a whore for something.”
She raised a brow. “And what are you a whore for?”
“Freedom,” he answered simply.
That night had started something Seamus had not intended. He and Tamryn had somehow formed a silent bond that he couldn’t quite explain. They’d sat in that diner well past closing and when Roy finally kicked him out so that he could lock up, Seamus and Tam had walked along the docks and talked. She told him about her ambitions to get her degree and to be independent. Her eventual goal was to work with at-risk kids so that they wouldn’t end up on the street like her. He surprisingly found her a great conversationalist and highly intelligent. He confided things in her that he’d never told anyone and she listened. Not just pretended to but he could tell that she actually took in everything he said from her responses and how when he just wanted to vent, she never interrupted.
Despite where he was now in life he’d struggled, and Tamryn seemed to understand and empathize because she’d had her own trials. Around her, he could let his guard down. He was certain it wouldn’t be long before his heart would be engaged and he couldn’t allow that to happen. If life had taught him anything it was that people and women, in particular, would let him down, which is why he’d made up his mind.
He’d have to cut her off. Or whatever it was between them. It was bad enough that he’d allowed things to go on this long.
By the time he entered the club there was a lot of activity buzzing around him. Tamryn was by the bar, taking a sip from a colorful drink as she chatted with the bartender. Seamus pushed away the twinge of jealousy he felt seeing her talking to another man. That fleeting feeling only firmed his resolve. He had to do what he had to do or risk losing his head over someone who would eventually be his downfall.
She must have noticed him staring because she smiled at him. When Tamryn looked as if she would walk toward him, he purposely turned his back to her and scanned the room. He saw an attractive redhead saunter his way. She must have been new because he didn’t recognize her or she wasn’t someone Seamus had ever noticed.
“Mr. Haggerty. How are you tonight?” She boldly placed her hand on his chest and offered him a seductive smile. It left him cold but that didn’t matter. She would be perfect for what he had in mind.
He smiled back. “Better now that you’re here. How about we get a drink at the bar?”
She linked her arm through his. “I thought you’d never ask. I’m surprised you’re even talking to little ol’ me.”
“Oh? Why is that? You’re a beautiful woman. Why wouldn’t I be talking to you?”
“Well, maybe because you seem to have a type.” Her green gaze strayed toward the bar and Seamus realized she was looking at Tamryn from the self-satisfied smirk that curved her painted lips.
“Well, you’re my type tonight and to be frank, I’m not interested in beating around the bush. How about we take this upstairs?”
His companion’s grin widened. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Seamus didn’t bother to turn to see if Tamryn was watching as he led the redhead out the room.
Tam had prepared herself for this moment but she didn’t think it would happen in such a humiliating way. It didn’t help that she felt several pairs of eyes turned in her direction. She was well aware that a lot of the hostesses were inwardly celebrating the fact that Seamus had shunned her. What was worse, he’d gone off with one of the very women who made her time here miserable. Truth be told, she probably would have left the Devil’s Den a few months back. Julie was the only one who talked to her with regularity and a couple of the other girls were civil but the rest were downright bitches. They seemed to go out of their way to exclude Tam from anything they did together. They’d talk behind her back and whenever she would approach them all conversation would stop. It didn’t help that Natalia seemed to hate her guts, getting her sly digs about Tam’s past in whenever she could.