Free Bound To Him: Three Dates with a Billionaire by Emma Lyn Wild Page B

own life. If it ever started.
    I checked the clock. It was still only eleven. I’d tried for an early night because of the heavy day I had tomorrow. Maybe that was the problem. I paced some more, and stared out of the window at the lights of the cars going along Madison. My apartment was in a sidestreet, but it was high enough for me to see the signs of life outside. The night was just beginning for some people. Maybe I should just give up and join them. With my face I could get in anywhere I wanted.
    The memory of that sweet face, and that luscious built-for-sin body haunted me. That was the trouble. I couldn’t get that image of Cassie out of my head, whatever I tried. It clung to me like a bad smell. Or a really, really good one.
    Revelation came in the flash of lightning it sometimes was. I caught my breath. I was blaming her for something I did. That was it. Sure, I was mad when I found the card. I’d genuinely thought I’d found her for myself, that she was attracted to me. When I’d kissed her in the museum, I’d done it on impulse, urged on by the dirty pavement, and I wasn’t talking dust. Then, when I got a good look at her body, I was gone, and I honestly thought I’d discovered somebody special. That’s why it had hurt so much.
    But I’d used prostitutes before. I was known for it, since the latest expose and that fucking bust. Because I wasn’t alone when they’d flagged me down, I’d had one of Hollywood’s most notorious call girls in the car with me, and I’d been looking forward to a long session with handcuffs.
    Which they’d discovered, but they’d laughed off that part. I was still in trouble, though.
    Maybe I should go with the flow. If Cassie was working for Madame X, then I could have her again. Not that Madame X ran a call-girl business. Perish the thought. But I knew of one high-ranking police officer who employed her. She was discreet and safe, as long as she was paid in time. For a madam, without the e, she ran a straight business. And she looked after her girls. Cassie could be in worse hands.
    As an intern at the museum, she must be short of cash, especially in this town. So I’d put a little more her way. Better me than some filthy slob like Witley pawing her. I shuddered, and turned away from the view, heading for the bedroom and my phone. My mind was made up.
    “Madame X? It’s Troy Cooper.” I disdained the use of pseudonyms. In any case, one look at me and they knew who I was, so there wasn’t much point.
    “Ah, it’s good to hear from you! I heard about the fracas at the museum.”
    I could do Cassie a solid here. “Witley was pawing Cassie and calling her a whore in front of everybody. I take it you don’t want that kind of publicity?”
    She sighed heavily. “No, we don’t. We pride ourselves on our discretion. Reluctantly, I’ll put Witley on my blacklist. He won’t find any girls available when he calls again. He called me after the gala at the museum, ranting and raving. Said you had something to do with it?”
    “I took Cassie away from an increasingly embarrassing situation.” That was putting it mildly.
    “So you had a date with her?”
    “Not one on agency time.” Madame X would have her ass if I let her. She’d got her fee from Witley, presumably, so that would have to be enough.
    Madame sighed. “I guess. But thanks for the help. I owe you one.”
    That was the opening he wanted. “Then you can repay it right now. Get me a date with Cassie for tomorrow night.”
    A pause, then, “Consider it paid.”
    “One more thing. Don’t tell her it’s me.”
    “That good, eh?”
    I chuckled. “Sure it was. I just want to talk to her. I’ll take her to dinner at Ravel’s. Nice and public.”
    I could hear keys chattering. She was entering details as we spoke. “What time?” Her voice echoed. She’d put me on speaker. There’d better not be anybody else in that room with her.
    “Nine.” Ravel’s was pretty much booked, but he knew the owners,