“Oh, that’s rich, coming from you who has just been shagged and was brazen enough to brag about it to us.”
“The male escort?” Cherry probed, knowing that if she didn’t interrupt the two girls would go off on their own tangent.
“Oh yeah.” Susie grinned. “Why don’t you just hire a male escort for the night?”
“Oh.” Cherry pursed her lips. “Hire one for the night, huh? Are you crazy?”
“Not at all. Cherry, you’re the one who’s unhappy with being thirty five and a virgin.”
“Wrong!” Cherry scowled. “Thirty five I can handle. A virgin…it’s not the virginity, Susie, it’s…it’s…” She searched for the words.
Maxie took pity on her. “Being held, kissed, and made love to?”
Cherry sighed. “You heard every word I said to the cats, didn’t you?”
“Yep.”
Susie raised her brows. “You can’t find a man to do that, so hire one to do it.”
“Damn, that’s cold,” Maxie retorted when Cherry could only stare at her friend.
“Bare facts, Maxie.” Susie shrugged. “This is not the time for sweetness.”
“You’re not kidding,” Cherry finally managed. “Stick the knife in a little deeper, why don’t you?”
Susie refused to be embarrassed. Instead, her expression was determined. “Cherry, you’re a grown woman. This is no time to be modest. You want what no man has yet given to you. Why not buy it?”
“How desperate do you think I am?” Cherry snapped.
“I thought you were looking at Ducks Arse a little hungrily the other day.”
“I’d call that by-passing desperate.” Maxie shuddered.
Cherry glared at her.
“Now think about it,” Susie said. “A lot of professional women hire male escorts. They’re busy, they don’t have time for relationships. They hire a male for a few hours, get that companionship—”
“Have a bloody good shag,” Maxie interrupted.
“Have a kiss and cuddle and make love,” Susie finished. “What’s wrong with that?”
“What could possibly be right with it?” Cherry demanded. She couldn’t believe she was hearing this idea.
“Everything,” Susie replied. “You can ask for the kind of bloke that makes your panties wet. Short haired, dark-haired, long-haired, blue eyes, well-built.”
“Well hung,” Maxie added.
“Hung like a horse.” Susie nodded. “You can hire your dream lover for a few hours or the whole damned night.”
Cherry shook her head. “Look, I really don’t—”
“Yes, you do.” Susie had a small smile on her face. “They’re expert at their jobs, they don’t care about your build or anything. Their job is to please you. You, Cherry. You can have that closeness.”
“I don’t think it’s quite the same.”
“It’s what you want. Kissing, holding, love making.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“So what’s the problem?”
Cherry stared back at her two friends, who looked right back at her.
“Diseases?’ she finally suggested weakly.
“Health checked. Condoms.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Have your own supply in,” Maxie said. “Besides, you have no guarantee with any bloke nowadays.”
“What about Ben?”
“Ben’s been around, trust me. A lot of blokes have.”
“And women,” Susie added.
“You’d know,” Maxie said. “Listen to Susie the Mole, Cherry.”
“Up yours.” Susie gave Maxie the finger.
“Charming.”
Cherry shook her head. “Look, I know you’re trying to help but I’m not so sure this is a good idea.”
“Come on, what else could you possibly object to?”
“How about someone finding out?” That was something of which Cherry couldn’t stand the thought. “What if my sister and brother-in-law found out? Good God, what if my parents found out?”
“Male escorts are discreet.”
“How do you know that?”
Susie pursed her lips, then shrugged. “Oh, bugger it. I’ve hired a male escort before.”
Cherry and Maxie stared at her.
“You what?” Cherry’s mouth fell open. “You?”
“Hey, I was in-between relationships and I was lonely. I only wanted a bit of companionship, pretty much what you want.” She crossed her legs nonchalantly. “That’s why I’m in the position to give you this information.”
Cherry stared at her. Susie was beautiful, with thick blonde hair, big blue eyes and an hour-glass figure. She had men panting over her wherever she went. And she’d hired a male escort?