I glanced at the screen and it was from the fake profile I remembered Geoff had set up. He was someone I’d been thinking of at the back of my mind for a while, it had seemed that since he’d set me up with Brad he’d possibly been avoiding me. But then it was still only last week and, unlike Tom and Jim, he was a man with a wife, a job and, presumably, lots of other things to do other than just trying to persuade me to take my clothes off again. I can’t say I hadn’t had moments where I resented his not having been in touch, but I had tried to be philosophical about it. I’d also had several pretty big distractions.
All that flashed through my mind and I even had a slight moment where I wondered if I should take the call. Although we’d only really had one proper encounter things had always felt a little more intense and out of my control with Geoff. With Jim or Tom it felt like I was voluntarily giving up control sometimes, with Geoff it was more that he was taking it. I did get the impression he was being fair to me and, in his own way, had my best interests at heart. Or, at least, what he thought my best interests should be.
Although I let it ring a little longer than usual I did tap the green button and a split second later Geoff’s cool, assured voice came through.
“Claire, is that you?”
“Hi, Geoff, it is me. I’m just in the car.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“And are you alright to talk for a moment?”
“I think so.”
“Great.”
It was a usual style, clam and measured but no small talk.
“I’ve got another proposition for you.”
My stomach fluttered again, this was exactly what I needed. I told myself to keep calm, the last time with Geoff had lead to me getting instantly flustered and agreeing to become a restaurant stripper before I really knew what had happened. I can’t say I regretted it, but I wanted to be able mirror the way he was able to approach these situations.
“I see.” I forced myself to pause slightly before I carried on. “Has Brad been back in touch?”
“No, no, nothing like that. He was very pleased with your work but I don’t think he makes too much of a habit of hiring, ah, people like yourself.”
It was a very rare occurrence, Geoff had stumbled over the end of the sentence clearly not quite knowing how to refer to me and perhaps worrying he’d say something wrong. I tried to capitalise.
“Strippers like me?” I said the words coolly but with what I hoped was a hint of amusement. It was fairly easy as I did find his reticence at least a little amusing.
“Well, perhaps not quite what I meant.” He sounded genuinely slightly contrite.
“Don’t worry, Geoff, I knew what you meant.” There was a small silence before he continued.
“Good, where was I? Ah yes, a proposition. Well, it’s really just me asking if you’d care to meet a few friends of mine.”
“Right.” I waited, it seemed clear that it was in fact more than that and I wanted Geoff to spell things out for me.
“Yes, just people I know from the street actually. Fellow neighbours of ours, two other men about my age.”
“I see.” This time I decided to carry on myself. “You think I need to meet some new friends?”
“Well, no, not quite friends. Let’s say they could be fellow admirers of yours. Ones who would be happy to give you a helping hand.”
I really wasn’t sure where Geoff was going with this at all, but a more worrying thought occurred to me.
“What have you told them about me, Geoff?”
He must have heard the slight alarm in my voice as he answered with uncharacteristic quickness.
“Nothing to worry about, I can assure you.”
“I hope so.” I could feel myself start to get nervous but I tried to keep calm, at least in my voice.
“Well, firstly as with Brad and the rest, I can assure you of complete discretion on their part. I wouldn’t have said a word to anyone if I wasn’t completely certain of that. Secondly all I’ve told them about is our first meeting.”
“Our first meeting?” It took a moment for me to remember it in detail. “You mean on the drive, when I was in that bikini?”
“Indeed. It was delightful at the time, but obviously pales next to what has happened since.”
“Right.” I took a moment to take it in, but it was still clear to me I didn’t have a clue what he was asking. “I’m sorry, Geoff, I still don’t really get it.”
“I told them I’d met a young college student who lived on the street. One who looked incredible and who had been wearing an exceedingly small bikini.”
“That’s the sort of thing that interests them?”
“I think you realise pretty well it’s the sort of thing that interests most men.”
I smiled to myself but waited for him to continue.
“I also told them you seemed to get a kick out of the fact that I was obviously checking out your body, and that you’d seemed to be open to an invitation to come by and use my pool. I also said that it seemed pretty obvious you knew why I’d asked, that I wanted to see you in a bikini again, and that you were fine with it.”
“Did I really say I’d come use your pool?”
“That’s how I remember it.”
“You’re probably right. It sounds like me.” I hesitated briefly before getting back to the main topic. “I’m still somewhat lost.”
“Well, how about this? Please don’t get offended by this question, but have you heard of the term Sugar Daddy?”
Another jolt of alarm shot through me. “Yes.” I must have sounded pretty cold.
“Now, rest assured that’s not quite what I’m suggesting. Well, not in the usual sense. But I suggested to them that an arrangement between some men with money and a beautiful college student who was possibly a fan of a bit of showing off was likely not the most complicated thing in the world to sort out.”
“So, you guys would pay me to.” My sentence faded away but then another flash of anger inspired me. “Well, what exactly do you think you could pay me to do?”
“Ah, I can hear I have offended you. I assure you it was never my intention and the only thing we would be proposing would be that you tried on some clothes for us.”
“Try on some clothes?”
“Yes.”
“And they’d pay for that?”
“I wouldn’t say pay, nothing as tacky as that. We’d give you some gifts.”
My anger was gone. I was well and truly intrigued. Geoff obviously interpreted my silence correctly.
“You see, Claire, I really don’t think you quite realise just how remarkable you are.”
Whatever else Geoff was, he was definitely someone who knew how to press my buttons.
“So, you want me to meet them?”
“Yes, absolutely. And no pressure, if the idea doesn’t appeal to you then that will be the end of it.”
“When?”
“Well, what are you doing now?”
“I’m driving home. Wait, are you saying they’re round at your house right now?”
“They’re having a drink in the lounge.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What if I said no? Or if I was out somewhere?”
“I was fairly sure you’d agree to meet, but it didn’t have to be today.”
“But if I could come now?”
“It would be for the best.”
“OK. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“Excellent. I’m looking forward to it.”
I really didn’t know what to think about Geoff’s proposal. On the one hand it seemed almost mysterious and too good to be true, but on the other it struck me as dangerous waters indeed. It was never quite stated but it did seem like these neighbours of mine, all around the same age as Geoff, would know exactly who I really was. I’d be Claire the girl who lived a few doors down and who was probably about the same age as their daughters, not some character like Yvette who appeared in their lives for a night and then was never seen again. Still, between my mood and the way Geoff had made his proposition there was no doubt I’d be turning up, and a little while later I was approaching our houses. I decided to park at mine and then walk round.