“Hey, Jess. How’s it going?”
“Hey, Kylie. Same shit different day, I guess.” Jessica laughed and Kylie chuckled as well. Vegas from the point of view of those who worked there was less glitz and glam and more routine boredom. If this wasn’t the closest large city to her gran, she’d be anywhere else.
The spa’s welcome liaison escorted the clients into the room. Jessica and Kylie made their introductions, gave them some instructions, and popped out of the room to let them get undressed and situated.
“Are you coming out tonight? I think you should; it will be fun,” Kylie said as they waited.
“I’m thinking about it,” Jessica lied again. God damn, what is with people today? Am I the only person in the world who just wants to change into comfy clothes, pour a glass of wine, and watch bad TV? I can’t wait to not be surrounded by these people throwing money into a pit like it was trash, not go out after work and join them.
Kylie looked like she didn’t quite believe her, perhaps her thoughts were written all over her face per usual. She knocked on the door. “Are you two ready in there?” she said brightly as she eased the door open. They were met with an affirmative sound in response and headed into the room.
Throughout the session, Jessica’s mind kept returning to Marnie and Kylie. Maybe I’m just not interested in dating, like anyone, at all; why is it everyone’s business? I’m so sick of the assumptions that I want something more… well… I guess I do want something more, but I’m a hundred percent sure it’s something, not someone.
“Um,” the person on her table cleared their throat, “that’s just a little too hard; you’re hurting me,” she said.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, ma’am. Yes, you wanted medium pressure. How’s this? Is this better?”
“Yes, thank you.” Jessica could feel the woman physically relax a bit more as she provided a lighter touch—a touch that should have been requested as “light” to begin with, but people always assumed they knew what they were talking about when they didn’t.
Jessica was sure she just pressured her tip right out the door. She looked over at Kylie who dramatically rolled her eyes and made a face that caused Jessica to try to hold in a laugh and had to cough a little to cover it up.
Her next client was a spa regular who had every person attracted to men drooling over him. As she worked on Sam without sharing any of her coworkers’ enthusiasm—except that he was usually a generous tipper, and she could make up for her earlier blunder—Jessica started to wonder if maybe there was something wrong with her.
As much as she was bitching about her day to herself, she really did love making people feel better; through her hands, she felt like she got the sense of easing someone’s life, even just a little bit, by soothing out the tight spots and lessening some pain. Wouldn’t a partner provide that for her?
Why don’t I care about dating? Well, it would mess up my already perfect life, she joked to herself. For a little while, when the topics of gender and all the various possibilities of sexual orientation and expression were trending, Jessica really wondered if she fell in the asexual category. It would really explain so much, and this idea stayed floating around in the back of her mind; however, she was too busy to worry about it.
“I mean, who cares whether Sam is hot anyway?” she absently mumbled to herself—out loud.
“Excuse me? I don’t think I quite caught that,” Sam said.
Jessica had never been so thankful for a client to be facedown and unable to see her face which was now so flaming red, it matched her hair. Oh my god, she thought.
“Oh, um, I was just wondering if the temperature was alright in here or if you’re too hot?” She awkwardly tried to recover.
“No, I’m good,” Sam said.
At the end of the session, Sam approached her before leaving. “Hey, so this is probably inappropriate, but I was wondering—”
“Let me stop you there,” Jessica said with a strained smile. “Anything that starts with ‘this is probably inappropriate’ probably is.” She winked and continued, “Thanks so much for coming in today, Mr. Miller. Find Your Muse Spa is grateful for your patronage.” This was not the first time she’d said something similar.
Sam smiled and thanked her for her services.
The day turned out to be the type that fell into the category of “if it could go wrong, it did.” She was so ready to leave and return to the sanctuary of her measly apartment, which was as dull as a rock compared to the shiny gem that was Muse.
At around eight, just as she was heading to the locker room to take off, her manager, Sean, let her know about a last-minute late booking.
“Hey, Jessica. We have another one for you. A VIP client, personal friend of the owner. In-room, platinum tier, nine o’clock.”
“Oh, I was just about to leave… platinum? That would be a three-hour job. I didn’t think I was eligible for those just yet.” Jessica was torn between what a great opportunity this would be, both for experience and money, but damn were her sweatpants calling out to her.
“Correct, newbie, but everyone else is either booked up or otherwise unavailable. You’re the only one we have, and as this is a personal request from Mr. Novik, it’s not optional. Plus, you’ve had amazing feedback from the client surveys and some of the highest tips for the spa. You’ll do a fantastic job.” Sean gave her a slightly stiff reassuring pat on the shoulder and continued on his way.
Jessica sat on the bench and sighed. Well, at least this day has some potential to end on a high note now, she thought as she tallied up the money plus a possible, and hopefully probable, tip from a high roller. Maybe he’d even appreciate her talent so much that she became his regular massage therapist. Adding a returning platinum customer would help her tremendously. Please don’t let him be a prick, she wished.
For the rest of the hour, Jessica did some prep work for the spa morning staff, restocking rooms, rolling towels, refilling lotions and oils, and filling eye mask sachets with fresh lavender. When it was time, she grabbed her cart that included a portable table and everything she’d need for an in-room client, including a few extra items in case they wanted to add on any services while she was in the room, and headed to the staff elevators.
CHAPTER 2
“Ahhh, yes,” Roman said as he leaned against the tile of the steamy shower enclosure. The tile was just a little bit cool, providing a sharp contrast to the hot water which felt heavenly on his back. He could probably have stayed in that warm cocoon for hours but knew his massage therapist would be there any minute.
He shut off the water, ran his fingers through his blond hair to remove excess water, opened the glass door, and wrapped a plush, white towel around his hips. Roman heard the door to his suite open and a woman’s voice.
“Mr. Smith, I’m from Find Your Muse Spa and here to provide your service,” she called out as she came into the suite’s entryway. Roman went to the touch screen embedded in the bathroom mirror and used the intercom feature.
“Hello. Please set up; I’ll just be a minute.”
Roman put on a luxurious robe, barely noticing the quality, and grabbed a small towel to continue drying his hair as he left the bathroom. He absently noticed a woman with a poofy but neat red bun atop her head with her back to him setting up by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Roman’s hair towel partially obscured his vision as he continued forward, and he again noticed the incredible soreness he was having difficulty shaking, which was also causing him increasing concern. What the hell is up with my shoulder blade? he wondered. Hopefully this massage will—
Roman ran into the outstretched hand of the masseuse.
“Oh, my apologies, sir,” the woman said and quickly pulled her hand away.
Roman couldn’t move; he was pinned to the spot on the carpet, towel paused in fluffing motion, staring at the most captivatingly beautiful woman he had ever seen. The longer they stood there locked in awkward eye contact, the more every feature of her face almost became alive with crisp details.
