Risk Taker - Kelly Collins Page 0,1

in a big hug. “Kat, you’re the best friend ever.”

“You’ll owe me big time for this one.” I give her my most intimidating look, which isn’t scary at all. I need to work on that. “Let me jump in the shower, and when I’m done, you’re up because I have just over an hour to get ready.” I walk toward the bathroom, removing my clothes along the way.

“I’ll have you ready in thirty minutes because that’s how good I am.”

“Whatever.” Looking down at my toes, I smile. “You’re lucky I had a mani-pedi yesterday. Otherwise, I’d need an outfit that goes with boots and gloves.” Stopping, I turn to ask her a question that has bounced in my brain for a few minutes. “Why do I get this guy instead of the one you’re escorting tonight?”

Taking a deep breath, she answers. “I know Damon will be a gentleman. The other guy is an unknown.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I’ve never accompanied him. I imagine he’ll be nice, but since I don’t know him personally, I don’t feel comfortable having you escort him.” She waves her hand at me dismissively. “Go take your shower so I can get you all dolled up.”

I shampoo my hair, shave my legs, and ready myself for “work.” My body wash smells of coconut and mango and makes me think of somewhere exotic like Fiji. Wouldn’t it be nice to escape somewhere else for the night?

A tropical island sounds good right now. I’d love to be anywhere but here. Covering for Emma petrifies me because I’m way out of my league. I mean, I don’t even date regularly. Who has time between work and school?

My life is barely in balance as it is, and tonight the scales will tilt toward pure chaos.

Chapter Two

“Kat, you look stunning—truly beautiful.” Em stands back to look at me. She walks around me, smoothing my hair, and wiping a smudge of mascara from under my eye. “Everything is just perfect,” she declares.

“You really know how to turn a duckling into a swan.”

I saw myself in the full-length mirror before I made my debut into the living room. The results were nothing less than miraculous.

Cut on the bias, the red dress clings nicely to my figure. Emma pulled my hair up into a French knot she secured with a pretty bejeweled hair comb.

My makeup looks elegant and soft. The lipstick is too bright for my taste, but since I’m wearing a red dress, I can see where she was going with it.

“Who are you going with, Em?”

“I’ll be accompanying Anthony Haywood.”

“Anthony Haywood, the restaurateur?” My mouth drops open in shock. “That Anthony Haywood?”

Anthony Haywood owns a chain of upscale restaurants all over the world. He is a mega-millionaire, reported to be one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. I recently read a fascinating article about him. A real rags-to-riches story.

“Wow! That’s some date you have.”

“It’s not a date, Kat. It’s a job. But yes, I think he’ll be an interesting companion. You, my dear, will accompany Damon Noble.”

My jaw drops at the mention of his full name. He’s the owner of a chain of exclusive nightclubs called Zenith.

“Close your mouth. I told you I have an elite client list who just want an educated, attractive woman on their arms. Relationships and romance don’t interest these men because they’re too busy conquering the world to have time to date. You know how this works.”

“I know how it works for you, but I’ve never considered your line of work for myself.”

“I’m just a pretty face for hire. And tonight, so are you.”

Em darts out of the room to ready herself; she’s used to this lifestyle and has her routine down pat. She emerges wearing a navy-blue gown cut obscenely low in the front. I’m not sure how her breasts are staying inside the dress, but I’m so glad I didn’t ask to wear blue.

I don’t have the courage or cleavage to pull that dress off. Her hair hangs in waves around her shoulders. She reminds me of Jessica Rabbit with her red hair and curves in all the right places.

The sound of the doorbell interrupts my thoughts, and my heart beats out a frantic tattoo as Em glides slowly to the door.

“That should be Damon. I didn’t want there to be a bottleneck at the door, so my client will arrive at seven-fifteen. Let me look at you one more time.” She gives me a once-over before she smiles and tells me I’m flawless.

There’s