Hooked

sunglasses hiding her eyes, she acted as if she didn’t see him. When they met at the entrance, Cooper held open the door.
    “Thanks,” she said, flashing a smile. “Who said chivalry was dead?”
    Cooper smiled back. “Chivalry could never be dead when there are lovely ladies like you to open doors for.”
    His eyes were definitely riveted on her chest. Some things never changed.
    “It’s been awhile. How are you, Tawny?”
    Tawny cocked her head slightly, lifted her gl asses, and squinted, as if trying to conjure a name from her mental Rolodex. She stepped inside and turned toward him. “Benny? Benny Cooper?”
    “I’m flattered you remember me. How long has it been?”
    She didn’t excel at small talk―her business had entailed mo re listening than talking—but if ever a situation called for aimless banter, this was it. “Years, I imagine. Still in the same business, Benny?” she said with a flirtatious tone.
    “Join me for lunch, and we can talk about it.”
    “Hmm, I don’t know.” She checked her watch. “I have an appointment downtown at two thirty. I was going to grab a quick salad.”
    “Plenty of time.” Without giving her the option to refuse, he took her arm and waved at the owner for a table.
    “Got better company today, I see,” the man said, directing them to an empty table in back.
    “I can talk to you any day, Gruber. Dining companions like this lady come along once in a decade.”
    The owner laughed and placed a couple of menus on the table.
    Tawny slid into the booth, pressing her upper arms against the sides of her chest, swelling her breasts over her demi-bra. True to form, Benny did everything but drool in the complimentary sauerkraut.
    The waitress arrived in a flash with two glasses of water, two cups, and a thermal pitcher of coffee, which she left on the table. Benny made no effort to hide his lasciviousness and ordered corned beef on an onion roll and a cream soda without shifting his gaze. No doubt, if he had some mustard, he would have slathered her chest and gobbled. Tawny ordered a house special salad, hold the meat.
    “Heard you quit the business,” Benny said, finally tearing his gaze away from her chest to concentrate on her face. “Tell me New York isn’t losing one of her star ladies.”
    Tawny added cream and sipped her coffee. How did Benny know she’d quit the business? “Where did you hear that?”
    “We share some of the same customers. Wall Street types make the rounds.”
    “Should’ve known. I’m getting too old, Benny. Can’t compete with the young girls coming up. A woman should know when her time is up.”
    “If you don’t mind my saying, you still have a lot of years left, if what I’m seeing today is any indication. Still eye-ball knocking gorgeous. How old are you, Tawny, twenty-nine, thirty? Not too old where I come from.”
    She wouldn’t tell him she was thirty-two, heading fast for thirty-three, and she’d been in the life since she was eighteen. That’s fifteen years of turning tricks. Fifteen years of keeping in shape. Fifteen years of dealing with the Benny Coopers of the world. “Thanks. Maybe I’m going through a period of self-doubt. But what you heard is true. I’m out of the game. Gonna relax a while until I decide what I want to do.”
    “How could I entice you to come out of retirement? I’d guarantee more money than you made as an independent, for one.”
    Tawny laughed. She didn’t think he could have made her more money per engagement, just more engagements. She’d never wanted to work that hard. “I made enough money. Besides, I don’t need your clients. You could do even better with some of mine.”
    The waitress set down the lunches and refilled her empty coffee cup.
    “Come work for me and bring them along. Then when you leave for good, they’ll have a place to go for the best ladies in town. Not your caliber, to be sure, but right up there. Everyone knows that.”
    “If everyone knows, then my ex-clients will find you. I don’t divulge names. They trust me to protect their privacy.”
    “My places are private. I’ve been off the radar since I started.”
    Since Tawny knew his place was more than a blip on the radar screen, she wanted to disagree. But that would defeat the purpose of her accidental meeting.
    “You know what’s always been the sticking point of working for you, Benny.”
    “You mean a little sursy?” Benny’s playful tone didn’t hide his lecherous smirk. “What’s