Fire and Desire (BWWM Romance) by Rebecca K. Watts Page A

was he wasn’t bad looking. Along with protection for her girls Emily wanted descent looking men as eye candy for the club. They’d gone round and round about it but she stood firm.
    After the other three interviewees, Dwayne looked like a shining star. He was one of the few who’d bothered to complete the application, aptitude test, and provide references online. Antonio called the number for the apartment complex Dwayne provided and the woman spoke highly of him.
    “I don’t have a problem with it.” Dwayne shrugged his shoulders. “I mean I know I can’t touch them or try to get with any of them.”
    Antonio crossed his arms. “No you can’t. You need to be focused and do your job.”
    “Understood.”
    “Good. Provided you can pass a drug test you’re hired.”
    Dwayne nodded and smiled. “Cool."
    “Tasha, my receptionist, will give you all the information you’ll need. It was nice meeting you.” Antonio stood.
    Dwayne followed suit. He held out his hand for a shake instead of a fist pump. Antonio smiled and accepted. He watched Dwayne walk out his office before checking the time. Four-thirty, plenty of time to stop and grab flowers for Emily before surprising her with a small celebration dinner.
    ***
    Emily was hooked. Though it was she who posed the challenge, it was Antonio who bested her. Never had she met a more skilled lover and friend. It seemed as if she known him for years. He was so easy to talk to, and he actually listened to what she had to say. They’d become almost inseparable after the night she won the bet. She’d become so used to his company over the following weeks, she started to include him in on her plans for the club. He’d become her confidant in the cutthroat business.
    Antonio surprised her with a night on the down to celebrate her success. She drank way too much and didn’t hear him when he left. When her alarm went off, she hit the snooze button four times before realizing she was supposed to have a phone conference with a potential club investor. Reluctantly, she got out the bed dragging her weary body to the shower, desperately trying to wake up. If coffee didn’t upset her stomach, she would’ve injected herself with it. Her business line rang as she stepped out the shower.
    “Emily speaking,” she said, straining to sound chipper. Drinking Tequila had made her voice raspy.
    “Good morning! This is Edmond. I’ll get straight to the point. I love your business plan for the club. You have impeccable business sense, and your vision can be a huge success with my help. I’ll be willing to front all of the money, and you can just follow through with those brilliant ideas of yours.”
    She was finally able to get a word in. “Why thank you, but I don’t need someone to pay for my business. I just need a small investment to put a credible name behind my project to bring in more white-collar clientele,” she responded, now fully alert.
    “That’s exactly what I have in mind. You wouldn’t have to worry about such thing. That’s for me to do for you.”
    “Thank you. I have several investors interested. I’ll have to get back with you.” She hung up the phone.
    There were no other investors, but she had a gut feeling there was something off about Edmond. People too willing to throw their money around often had alternative motives. Emily didn’t want to risk Edmond trying to take over her dream. She refused to be like other businesses—a person has a vision but not enough money, so they get an investor who lets the idea person start up. Once the business takes off, the investor takes over, and the person with the vision is left in the cold.
    Instead of going back to sleep, Emily watched a few early shows. Security wasn’t due to arrive until two when Asia was scheduled to work. She watched as Desire, a Latina goddess, put on a show, imagining the man she was performing for was in the room with her. She was wearing a black sheer gown with a plunging neckline and