Free All I Want For Christmas Is You by Dahlia Rose Page B

timbre that could turn a woman’s legs to jelly.
     
    “Okay, then is Casey here?” Ileana tried to keep the irritation from her voice. “It’s getting a bit nippy out here.”
     
    "Oh . . . Oh, I’m sorry! Come on in.”
     
    He opened the door wider, and Ileana stepped inside. She reached in her bag and pressed the instant message button she had set up to send to her friend. The code was set to let her know she reached her destination and was inside and safe. In this job, Ileana knew that she could never to be too careful. The guy who opened the door had turned on one of the hallway lights, and now she could see the full features of his face. Damn, he’s sexy . Ileana studied his features, rugged with a hint of stubble. Dark hair fell over his forehead, and her fingers itched to smooth the stray lock back into place. Those green eyes held a hint of sadness, and his face was so serious, she knew he had to be the old man’s caretaker or son. Another bout of guilt hit her. He probably knew exactly what she was and why she was here.
     
    Ileana tried to sound casual. “So is Casey here?”
     
    “Why do you want him?”
     
    “Um, his friend Jeff sent me. My name is Ileana . . . Ileana Dupree.”
     
    One sexy eyebrow rose curiously. “Did he now? What exactly did Jeff say?”
     
    “Aren’t you being a bit nosy for someone who isn’t Casey?” Ileana demanded to know. Hell, she felt bad enough having to be here, but now to be interrogated by the old man’s help made her feel lower than low.
     
    “Humor me. I look out for his interests, so to speak.”
     
    Ileana sighed. “He said I was to keep the old guy company for tonight because he gets lonely over the holidays.”
     
    “What makes you think he is an old guy?” her sexy conversation partner pointed out.
     
    Ileana looked at him warily. “What do you mean?”
     
    “Hi, Ileana. My name is Casey.” A small smile curved the very appealing lips, but the light never traveled to his eyes.
     
    “Oh drat,” Ileana said softly.
     
    They stood in the foyer of the huge mansion staring at each other, and Ileana had no idea what to do next.
     

Chapter Two
     
    Casey looked on as his uninvited guest stared at him in shock. Obviously Jeff didn’t tell her his age in the least. He took her surprised silence as a good time to study her. She was gorgeous and he had seen some beautiful women. Something about her made her stand out from the rest. In his life, he had dated supermodels who had walked the catwalk and movie stars who had graced the silver screen. She could match and beat them all. But that was his former life, and now he preferred his solitude. Preferred or had to accept it? he wondered. Would he be the same man that he was if the last two years had not happened?
     
    He brought his thoughts back to the moment at hand. “So Jeff sent you, huh? How much did that set him back?”
     
    “Two thousand dollars for the night.” She raised her chin, and those gorgeous brown eyes stared back at him in defiance daring him to talk down to her.
     
    Casey took the silent dare. “What does that get me, a blow job next to the fireplace or a roll in one of the big beds upstairs?” There it is! Anger flared in her eyes, and Casey waited for her response.
     
    “It gets you neither. I am an escort nothing more, arm candy if you want to call it that. If you want that kind of night, I suggest you get into one of your fancy cars and hit the back slums of New York City. I am so not the one to be pulling this crap with!” Her voice was controlled, but he could hear the anger beneath her tone. She pulled the envelope out of her bag and threw it at him. It hit him square in the chest with a soft thump. “Here, take the money and give it back to your friend. He obviously made a mistake, and so did I. I’ll wait outside for the car.”
     
    Wow! That was all Casey could think of. Her eyes were lit with emotion, and he could see them well up with tears before she