Free Proposition Book 1, EROS INC. by Unknown, Mia Moore Page A

paled in comparison to the man looking at me. I guess that was the
difference—the others were just boys, while this was a man.
    “You look like you could be in high school. How’d you even
get in here?” Dev’s green eyes danced. His wide grin showed that he was teasing.
He picked up the glass of whisky the waiter placed before him.  “Cheers. Here’s
to meeting pretty young things after a day of boring presentations.”
    I returned Dev’s grin and noticed the gold stud earring and
the top of a bluish tattoo that crept over the collar of his shirt.
    “Thank you. But I’m actually a college grad, looking for a
job.” I picked up my glass and finished the wine, ready for the next. The
butterflies in my stomach had landed and now were fluttering their wings. I
needed more liquid courage to go through with this.
    “Oh, what was your major? Maybe we could help you find work.
We own our own firm. We’re always on the lookout for talent.” Nick’s eyes bored
into mine. Was there a hint or proposition in that question?
    “Physiotherapy. I can tell you about your muscles and
tendons but not a thing about building structure, so I’m not sure you’d want to
give me a job. Unless of course, you’d like a demo. I could probably help you
with any aches and pains, muscle tension.” I sipped my wine and looked from one
to the other. Yeah, that had an effect. Dev shifted his body in the chair and
leaned forward.
    “I’m having some discomfort with a muscle right now. Think
you could help me? I’ve been to chiropractors galore, gave them bundles of
money. If you could fix me up, I’d sure appreciate it.” Dev’s hand drifted
under the table and grazed against my knee causing me to jump a little.
    “Would you like to dance, Cerise?” Nick stood and extended
his hand to me.
    Wasn’t he interested in what I had just offered? Dev sure
was. Maybe this was part of the pick-up game. I’ll play along as see what
happens. I smiled and took his hand feeling my own so small in his. He escorted
me to the dance floor, placing his hand gently in the small of my back.
    “Cerise, you’re pretty young. I’m getting the impression
you’re kind of inexperienced in this sort of thing. His lips whispered against
my ear lobe as he held me close on the dance floor. A tingle vibrated down my
spine and I shivered. Was that desire or fear? I didn’t know and I didn’t care.
    “It’s that obvious?” I nuzzled into his neck inhaling the
sharp, clean smell of his cologne.
    “If I wanted a full body massage, I could get that on any
street corner. You need money, right?” He pulled his head back and I melted in
his cerulean blue eyes. My hand drifted lower on his back. I could feel the
muscles even through his suit jacket.
    “Yes. The bank is hounding me. I’ve always had a thing for
older men and thought I could kill two birds with one stone.” I could feel the
brush off coming on. What am I going to do now? My throat tightened. I placed
my head on his chest to hide my disappointment. He was turning me down. A small
part of me was relieved, but that was overwhelmed by worry. The worry was
overwhelmed by disappointment, being passed over by a guy. Damn.
    My breath hitched when his groin brushed against my stomach.
He was hard. My eyes must have been wide when my head jerked up to look at him.
    He smiled between a smirk and a full-fledged grin. “Hey, I’m
only in my thirties—not an old man!” He drew me in closer, pushing his
stiffness against my belly. “I wasn’t saying I didn’t want to be with you.
You’re beautiful and young, who wouldn’t want you?”
    I breathed a sigh of relief. And resignation. I’m a hooker
now.
    In the middle of the song he took me off the dance floor by
the hand. He put his fingers on my shoulders and looked directly at me, his
face close. “If I’m going to pay you to be with me, you need to be able to take
direction. Do you know what I’m saying?” His knee pressed between mine as