...AND SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH A HOOKER

Chapter 9

Adrian knew he would have to be careful, though; Rose was trouble. Adrian could feel it in the amount of energy he was putting into having the girl surrender to his suggestive hints. There was no way of knowing how the night would transpire or where it might lead, but Adrian would very much regret it if he didn’t at least try to have Rose moan his name or get to kiss her properly before the night was over. He would have to worry later about why he felt that way.

****

The sounds of swing jazz filled the air as a band played and some guests had paired off to sway together on the dance floor on one side of the grand ballroom. Occasionally sipping their wine, Adrian and Rose strolled from one display table to the next at a leisurely pace, viewing the prizes up for auction.

The rest of the dinner sitting had been filled with an easy flow of conversation between Adrian and the rest of the guests at their table. But Rose had remained a bit subdued, only answering direct questions and never adding anything when she didn’t have to. Adrian, however, had felt right at home since being a social chameleon came with his work description.

Keeping up a conversation with someone who wouldn't initiate any topics on their own was difficult for Adrian, though, and it left a silence enveloping the two of them now that they were alone. But it wasn’t an uncomfortable one. They were still exchanging a few words every once in a while to comment on the items on offer.

The small smile on Adrian's lips never dimmed as he kept catching Rose glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, probably thinking that Adrian didn’t notice. He knew Rose was itching to know more about him, especially the whole escort thing, and it was quite amusing to watch her trying to gather the courage to begin the, no doubt awkward for him, conversation. Adrian could practically see the wheels turning in Rose’s head.

Once they’d finished looking at the display of more valuable items, Adrian nodded towards the bar, silently asking Rose if she wanted a refill. Rose nodded and followed Adrian as he stepped in between two of the group guests chattering amicably by the high-countered bar. Rose finished the last of her white wine before reaching for another, while Adrian helped himself to another glass of red.

‘’Alright, just go ahead and ask me already,’’ Adrian said, deciding to end the silence, and he peered at Rose, who looked back at him in confusion.

Swallowing the sip he’d taken from her glass, Rose answered with a question of her own. ‘’Ask you what?’’

Adrian couldn’t help but let his eyes follow the fleeting glimpse of Rose’s tongue as it peeked out from between her lips to collect the wine residue gathered there. ‘’About what I do for a living,’’ he said, lifting his eyes back to Rose’s, making sure his smile was gentle.

Rose cleared her throat and glanced around the room distractedly before turning back to look at her own feet. ‘’Jenny told me to not focus on what you are, so that’s what I’m trying to do.’’

Adrian chuckled and shook his head. ‘’That’s very polite of you, but I don’t mind.’’ He waited for Rose to meet his gaze again before continuing, ‘’Go on, ask me. I know you want to.’’

Seeming to think about it for a few moments, Rose eventually nodded. ‘’Okay. Let’s just take this somewhere a bit more private first,’’ she said, looking pointedly at the bustle of people surrounding them.

Adrian couldn’t resist the smirk he felt tugging on his lips and answered, ‘’I like the sound of that, gorgeous.’’ He was pleasantly surprised to find Rose ignoring his comment in favor of scanning the room to find them a quiet corner. She didn’t tell him off. That’s some progress. He smiled to himself.

Rose led them towards a spot along the stretch of wall to the side, where the lights were sightly dimmed, and Adrian fixed her with an expectant look as she turned around to face him. Rose reached up and rubbed her neck as if considering how to begin.

‘’Okay. So, um…. How long have you been doing this for?’’

Adrian leaned his shoulder against the wall casually, sipping his free hand into his pocket. ‘’Nine years, give or take,’’ he answered with a shrug, watching as Rose’s eyebrows shot upwards.

‘’Nine years?!’’ Rose exclaimed, her voice slightly aghast. ‘’Wait, how old are you?’’

Adrian sniggered at Rose’s reaction. ‘’I just turned twenty-nine.’’

Rose frowned. ‘’So you were just twenty when you started? That’s a long time….’’ she trailed off. ‘’Are you going to be doing this for the rest of your life?’’

‘’I was eighteen. And no, I didn’t plan to, but I’ve tried other things for shorter periods of time,’ in between jobs’, so to speak. None of them ever work out, though, so I’m comfortable for the time being.’’

The frown on Rose’s face deepened a fraction, and she peered curiously at Adrian. ‘’But how did you end up like this? This couldn’t have been what you dreamed of doing when you were a kid.’’

The question caught Adrian off guard a bit, and he bent his head to stare at his glass.

‘’Wow,’’ he chuckled. Although he knew his laugh came off as anything but amused as he looked down at the wine in his hand. Swirling the burgundy liquid distractedly, he continued, ‘’Going for the hard-hitting questions quickly, I see!’’

He stayed focused on his glass while trying to think of how to word his answer. Adrian usually didn’t let anyone in on the details of his past, but he was willing to share just a smidgen of it with Rose. It felt almost like she deserved as much, even if Adrian didn’t know why that was.