The Escort: BBW Romance (The Escort Series Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Other Books By Harmony Raines

  The Escort

  ***

  The Escort Series

  Book One

  Note from the author: My book (or the book's title) was written, produced and edited in the UK where spellings and word usage can vary from U.S. English. The use of quotes in dialogue and other punctuation can also differ.

  ***

  All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.

  This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.

  © 2014 Harmony Raines

  Silver Moon Erotica

  Kindle Edition

  Chapter One

  "I feel sick."

  Robin laughed down the phone. "Don't you dare bail. Do you know how hard I worked to fix you up with Drake?"

  "I know. And I appreciate it, but now I'm here, I don't think I can go through with it."

  “It's what you want isn't it? Or are you going to turn up tomorrow night on your own?"

  “You know I can’t do that. I would look such a fool.”

  "Listen Max, pull your big girl pants up and do this. You’ll have a blast, he’s a professional.” She paused, and then asked, “You don’t have your big girl pants on do you?” Doubt etched in her voice.

  “No. Not that it would matter anyway. This is dinner, that’s all. So we can get our stories straight for tomorrow.

  Robin snorted down the phone. “You tell yourself that, but once you see him you’ll want him to whisk you off to bed. Screw dinner, there are much more enjoyable ways to get to know a person.”

  “Not happening, Robin, there is no way I am ever going to pay a man for sex.”

  “Maxine?”

  Max spun around, he was early. She spluttered into her phone, vaguely hearing Robin say something along the lines of “I told you so”, and laughing, before Max cut her off. Her face flushed a nice shade of fuchsia, and she tried to remember what she had been saying about sex, and whether he might have heard her.

  “Maxine?” he asked again.

  “Oh, yes. You must be Drake.” She held out her hand, keeping it formal. “And please call me Max.” Yes, very formal, but god he was handsome. Tall, broad, with fair hair, cropped short around his neck. He reminded her of a soldier, muscles earned through real work rather than inside a gym. Not at all what she expected, and wondered if Drake was a stage name, or pseudonym.

  “Max.” His hand enveloped hers, and a tingling sensation threaded it’s way through her body, waking up feelings and emotions she had long thought buried for good. “How are you? You look beautiful.”

  “Oh, thank you.” She grinned like a fool, then her expression changed, she was a fool. He was being paid to be nice to her. This was purely business and the sooner she got that into her head the easier this was going to be. “I’ve made reservations at Brantana’s.”

  “Wow. Expensive.” Then he checked himself, and said, “Shall we go?”

  He offered her his arm, and she took it, although her body stiffened. He frightened her. Not in the way men usually frightened a woman, there was nothing overbearing or thuggish about him, it was the opposite. He made her feel like a woman, worse, he made her feel special, and that was one thing she knew for a fact she wasn’t.

  With a round face, and equally round bottom, her curves were the first thing you noticed. Many people didn’t look any further than that, especially men. Women often treated her as though she were a lesser human being because of her plumpness. It was a battle she fought every working day.

  It was also the reason she had gone along with Robin’s idea to buy a boyfriend for the evening.

  Yes, that’s right, she was going to pay Drake a big wad of money to pretend to be her boyfriend tomorrow night at an important charity dinner thrown every year for employees of the bank where she worked. Not attending was out of the question, attending alone wasn’t much better. So this was her solution, it sounded sensible before tonight, but only now, with him escorting her across the road, did the enormity of her decision hit her. If this backfired she would be laughed all the way out of her career. A career she had spent all her life fighting for. She should let him go, tip him handsomely and tell him she had made a mistake.

  But in her head she could hear Robin’s voice telling her to go with it, take a chance and live a little. So she made a deal with herself. See how tonight went. If it was a disaster, then she would call it off, no damage done, and she would at least have some company for a few hours. She only wished she were more outgoing like Robin, who could laugh and flirt, charming everyone she came into contact with. Carefree, the opposite of Max, in so many ways. It was why they were best friends.

  The idea of hiring Drake had materialised, on the Friday evening Max had come home with the news the date of the annual charity dinner being announced, and that she was expected to take a guest, having bought two tickets. When she had invited Robin, she’d laughed out loud.

  “They’ll think you’re a lesbian.”

  “No they won’t.” Max insisted.

  “Yes. They will. Everyone else will be there with their significant others, and you’ll have me.”

  “I’ll explain you’re my flat mate.”

  “Your live in lover.”

  “Robin. They’ll never think that.”

  “Why not? When have you ever taken a man to one of these things?”

  She had a point, but Max had given up sex for her career, or sex had given up her, she couldn’t decide which way it worked.

  “You need a man to accompany you.”

  “Obviously, I’ll just call and order one from the local dating shop.”

  “That is an excellent idea. Online dating.”

  “No. There is no time to vet a potential date before the dinner. And I am not going to risk my career taking someone I’ve only just met.”

  “Then pay someone.”

  “No!”

  “I know lot’s of women who do.”

  “Name one.”

  “Mary Henderson.”

  “Oh, is that who I remind you of? That woman is a fifty five year old spinster.”

  Robin raised her eyebrows.

  “I am never going to turn out like that.”

  “Really. Because if you don’t get out there and sell yourself soon, you’ll be stuck on the shelf.”

  “This is the twenty first century, not the dark ages.”

  “Look at how much competition there is. If you don’t do something soon all the good ones will be taken.”

  “So your advice is to buy a husband?”

  “No.” Robin came and sat down beside her. Picking up her hand she turned her palm over and ran her thumb along the lines. “See this. It’s your life line. Each day you hide yourself away in that office of yours pretending you don’t need love, this line gets thinner. You need to live, and to love.”

  “It’s not easy. Men fa
ll over themselves for you, but not for a woman like me.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re perfect as you are. But you need to build up your confidence, so why not kill two birds with one stone. Hire a man who knows how to make you feel good, and take him to this dinner.”

  She wasn’t sure how, but she’d admitted it was a good idea, and then forgot about it until Robin dropped a bombshell.

  “Right, Maxine.” Robin had announced matter of factly. “I have the number of a very discreet escort. A couple of my friends have used him, for all his services.” She smiled at the red glow in Max’s cheeks. “So what do you want to do?”

  “I can’t Robin. Really I would be too embarrassed.”

  “OK. What if I ring him, and see what he says?”

  “I’m going for a shower.” Max headed for the bathroom, Robin right behind her.

  “Come on, Max. Let me at least call him.”

  Max poked her head back round the door. “If I say no, I’m never going to hear the end of it am I?”

  Robin shook her head, smiling. “You shower, I’ll call him.”

  Max went into the bathroom and shut the door. She sat on the toilet, head in hands. What should she do? Live a little, take a risk, or carry on with the life she had carved out for herself?

  Robin knocked on the door, and eased it open, coming inside she knelt down in front of Max. Listen, why not meet him for dinner, my treat if you like. Then, if you get on, he can take you to the dinner. If not I’ll go with you.”

  Max nodded her head. “OK.”

  Robin gave her a quick hug, and disappeared out of the door. While she undressed, Max could hear Robin talking on the phone. Her fate was sealed.

  Then something surprising happened, for the first time in a long while she felt excited. It had been so long since she had launched herself into the unknown. This could be good, or a disaster. But she would never know unless she tried.

  That was how she found herself standing outside one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city, with a stranger.

  For a woman who had always played it straight, always done the sensible thing, this was crazy. However, when she looked at him, it didn’t feel wrong. He wasn’t the spray tanned gigolo she was expecting. If anything he looked as nervous as she felt, maybe that was part of the act, she didn't care, it put her at ease.

  “If I’d known we were coming here I’d have bought a new suit.” He straightened his tie, looking at her for reassurance, but then remembered himself and squared his shoulders.

  It was quite an act, he must know how devastatingly handsome he was. Max knew that every woman in the restaurant would be looking at him, as they walked in. She also knew that the only reason he would ever go out with a woman like her was because she was paying him.

  Not allowing this to dampen her spirits, she walked up to the door, jumping back a little when his hand reached in front of her.

  “Ladies first,” he said, holding the door open for her.

  “Thank you.”

  An old fashioned gentleman, she hadn’t met one of these in a while. “Paid to do this,” she reminded herself again. Even so, she appreciated the gesture, and walked into the dimly lit restaurant. Very exclusive, and not the place she normally ate at, it had taken a phone call to the owner, one of her clients, to beg a table. In the end he had only been too happy to help her. Although Max knew she would probably pay for it at their next meeting.

  Whatever, it was worth it to see all the barely concealed looks of interest they attracted as they were swiftly and discreetly seated.

  “Thank you,” Drake said, when the waiter handed them the menu.

  Max glanced up from her own, and watched his face pale when he saw the prices, but he kept his mouth shut. He intrigued her, surely women had taken him to dinner at places like this before. Or did they just use him for sex.

  Wrong thought, her mouth suddenly became very dry. Reaching for the glass of ice cold water in front of her, she took a big gulp to dampen her ardour, and nearly choked. People turned and looked, but Drake didn’t notice, only showing concern.

  “Are you alright, Max?”

  “Fine. Sorry.” She placed the glass down on the table, carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was compound her actions with clumsiness. “I’m a bit nervous,” she admitted, when the waiter, frowning with distaste, moved away to allow them time to make their selections. Max thought the stuck up little man wanted to distance himself from her awkward display.

  Drake reached over and placed his hand over hers. “Relax, I’m not going to eat you.”

  More’s the pity. She pushed the thought away, far away, and the need escape took over her. This was wrong. Anyone could see it. He was too perfect for her, everyone in the room would know she was paying him. There was no way she could go through with this for a minute longer.

  And then the impossible happened. Phil Draper, a work colleague, and the kind of man who knew exactly how good looking he was, walked in. His arrogant stare hit her full in the face, there was no where to hide, he had already spotted her, her face paled.

  Drake gave her another concerned look. “Are you sure everything is alright, Max?”

  But before she could warn him, Phil was making a beeline for their table, his trophy wife trailing behind.

  “Hello, Maxine. So you do have a man. We were all taking bets you would turn up alone tomorrow. Nice to meet you...” Phil held out his hand to Drake.

  As he opened his mouth to speak, Max saw her career rushing past before her eyes. With no time to get their story straight, she knew that this might be the end of everything she had ever worked for.

  Chapter Two

  “Dan.” Her escort shook hands with Phil, and smiled at his beautiful wife.

  “Hi Dan.” They shook hands warmly, while Max tried to keep her mouth from hanging open. “Will we be seeing you at the dinner tomorrow?”

  “I sure hope so, Phil.” He looked behind Phil, and held out his hand to his wife. “Hi there, I hope I will see you there too.”

  Phil’s wife took his hand, and introduced herself. “Amy. Good to meet you Dan.”

  There was an unmistakable frisson in the air. Phil looked frostily at what passed between his wife, and Max’s boyfriend. Out matched by Dan, he steered his wife away, saying, “We’ll catch up tomorrow, if we don’t get seated soon they’ll give our table away,” as he walked away.

  Dan took a sip of water, grinning to himself.

  Max fumed. “I didn’t know I was paying you to make eyes at other people’s wives. Dan” She emphasised the last word.

  He placed the glass on the table, before looking at her. Max tried to stop her eyes been drawn to his mouth, which she wanted to kiss more than anything else in this world. His tongue slipped out and he licked a droplet of water off his lips, and she had to clasp her hands together to stop herself reaching out and wiping it away with her fingertip. What would his lips feel like, soft, or would the stubble on his chin feel coarse against her skin?

  “I’m sorry, Max.” His voice pulled her back to reality. “I thought Dan might fit better than Drake. And if you want to have an in depth conversation about our relationship in front of Phil, I’ll call him back over.” He turned towards Phil’s table.

  “No,” she said sharply.

  He’d called her bluff. “I’ve found that quickest way to get rid of a man is to threaten him.”

  Of course he was right. He had read the situation perfectly, and avoided any embarrassment. So she let it go, instead picking up something else he’d said. Dan, if that was even his real name fascinated her. “But you didn’t say anything threatening.”

  “Oh, I think I threatened his ego. And I believe Phil has a big ego. We all have our vulnerable sides. Phil’s is his wife, who he knows is only with him for his money.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  “No? Look at their body language. She trails around after him, he makes it clear who is the boss. They might love each other,
but it’s not the foundation their relationship sits on.”

  “Do you meet a lot of married women?”

  He smiled. “I am not going to answer that. Like you said, I am here for you, and you deserve my undivided attention. So let’s just say I have met my fair share of people, and you get to know how people react, their motives, things like that.”

  She relaxed. “Sorry. I over reacted. Phil’s always so superior, even though we’re colleagues, on a level footing, he thinks he’s more valuable than me. Most men do.”

  “And is that what you believe? That they’re more valuable than you.”

  “No. I know my worth.”

  “You’re a strong woman, Max, and a beautiful one. But I think deep down you are insecure.”

  “OK. I didn’t invite you here as my shrink.” She picked up her menu, and hid behind hit, stung by the truth of his words. “Shall we order?”

  “If you’re ready,” he said, and picked up the menu to study.

  She wanted to ask him what he liked, to know everything about him, but that was probably a closed book too. So she made her own choice, and placed her menu down while he continued to look at his. When the waiter returned they ordered, only later did she realise he had gone for the cheapest things on the menu. Although she had no idea why, unless he thought she was going to ask him to pay for the dinner out of his fee.

  Dinner was more awkward than she ever imagined, the sensations travelling through her body, seemed to have one purpose, to turn her brain to mush. Despite having spent her life perfecting her small talk, it made up for her lack of attractive figure, she could think of nothing to say to him.

  The topic of the weather was soon exhausted, and the silence between them stretched.

  Risking a glance at him, he didn't seem to show any tension at all, but then she guessed he was used to this. Taking desperate women out for dinner, listening when they wanted to talk, and kissing them when they didn't. Wrong thought, heat crept through her body, and not only the good kind. What if there were damp patches under the arms of her dress? Now she wished she hadn't gone for the sapphire blue. It would give her away pitilessly.