“To afford a weekend at La Mariposa? Only young guys who can afford that are insufferable nepo boys and tech bros, and you wouldn’t be into either.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t be.”
“That said, I was thirty the first time I went to La Mariposa.”
“I bet you were.”
Liam put both hands on her leg. “You let me know if he’s not treating you right. At all.”
Was he suddenly being serious? That was the thing about Liam. He could be hot and cold like that.Joking around one second and talking about the meaning of life the next.Eden liked it, but she wasn’t sure if the serious chat came from somewhere deeper than surface level. She supposed it was something she would figure out as the weeks and months went by.
Assuming they lasted that long.
“Now, tell me…” He leaned in over her, his breath touching her face before she knew a kiss was coming. “Am I the first guy you’ve ever brought back to your place?”
“Tothisplace?” Eden needed confirmation between kisses. “I’ve only been here a year.”
“Yes or no, love.”
“Yes, Liam.”
He cupped both hands around her face. “Beautiful. Please, let me be the first to break in that bed for you.”
“You’re calling dibs on that, are you?”
“I’m calling dibs on a lot of things.”
She would hold him to that.
“I haven’t been here in forever,” Benson said outside of the club entrance, where finely dressed people in dark coats and designer shoes descended a short staircase to be greeted by the impossibly polite bouncer. “Even longer since I had a date. I reupped my membership for you.”
Eden, who had been here more recently than he, shivered from the cold. She wore the skimpiest black dress she could find beneath her coat, and it was stillwaytoo frosty at night. “It’s an honor,” she said with a two-finger salute. “To be your sexy date in a sex club, sir.”
“I didn’t have to pay for it.” He popped a mint into his mouth. “Unless you count dinner.”
“How many escorts do you date in The Dark Hour, Ben?”
“It was a joke, angel.”
“No,I’mthe one joking, Ben.”
They both rolled their eyes at each other while linking arms and approaching the bouncer. He nodded to them, the door already open before they made it all the way.Ooh, full service when I’m with an older hotshot.Either Bensonwasa regular the bouncer recognized over the years, or he was just so damn good looking that the bouncer thought,“Yup, he belongs here. Especially with a lady like that on his arm.”
The club checked his membership inside. Since Eden had been there before as her friend’s guest, she didn’t need a tour or to have the rules explained to her. And since she had been there in the past year, her NDA was up to date. Benson was impressed until she reminded him that she had been scouted here at The Dark Hour.
“That’s gotta go to a girl’s head,” he said once they entered the club, Eden slightly in front of him and taking in the sights of well-dressed people hanging out at the bar and at intimate bistro tables. The theme that night – which Eden wished she had known about – was a black light party, and many women came with luminescent makeup and jewelry. One wore a bright orange tube dress that almost blinded Eden as her date guided her to a hostess.
Benson wasn’t the kind to forge his own path in the club. He wanted the full hosting experience, including being shown to a private corner with a good view of the main stage. The hostess knelt beside them to take their drink orders. Benson ordered them a bottle of Champagne to share, but didn’t hesitate to ask if Eden wanted anything else.
“Soda water with lime would be great,” she said. “I had that wine at the restaurant.”
Benson didn’t say anything as the hostess walked away with a heavy sway in her step, as if she had trained herself to walk with maximumbuttin everyone’s line of sight.Probably.Eden looked around, noticing that most of the staff in their black dresses and jackets held themselves to certain posture standards. And that included the women who were clearly there looking for a different kind of work that night.
I don’t think I know anyone here.This was Eden’s first time not coming with a friend who also worked in the industry. Not only was her hostess friend off that night, but Blair had assured Eden that she was not performing on stage that night.Eden blissfully did not know any of the names of the couples and singles on the list. Benson likewise admitted that he didn’t recognize anyone, but that “was how he liked it.”
Their Champagne came quickly, the hostess popping it with a little flair before pouring two flutes for the happy couple. She told them to flag her down or any of the other waitresses available that night if they needed something. Once they were alone, Benson put his arm around Eden and pulled her back against the couch.
“You certainly feel in your element here,” she said, walking her fingers up his chest and resting her chin against his shoulder. “Been here a few times, Ben?”