When they were back in the office, Zack noticed a bunch of people hanging around the door to one of the back rooms, which almost always meant a photo shoot was going on. Some of the entertainers were cool with letting others observe their technique, and it always drew a crowd. “Is someone having a session this late?”

“We’re just recording some new samples for the website. Our live cams haven’t been getting as many hits this month, so it’s time to spice things up.”

“How’s that going?” Zack asked, partially because he was curious and partially to delay their conversation.

“Fairly well, I suppose. It’s a new venture for us, and I’m willing to give it time. I’ve been in this business long enough to know that you should go where technology leads.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you been in the biz?”

“Circa the Behind the Green Door era. I’ve seen a lot in my day.”

Zack glanced at Colette surreptitiously. He’d never asked how old she was and likely wouldn’t still be alive if he had. She didn’t look much older than forty but some of the things she said made him think she could be his grandmother.

Zack shivered. That was a terrifying concept.

Colette moved to face him. “As it just so happens, the company is precisely what I want to talk to you about. Reconsider my offer.” It wasn’t a question.

Zack shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in working with anything other than the phones. I know the live cam girls make a lot of money, and some of our new films have seemed . . . titillating, but I don’t want my face plastered all over the internet.”

“Why not? You’re not the shy type, and from what you’ve told me, your parents don’t even know how to turn a computer on, let alone use it to watch porn.” Colette looked him up and down, but there was no heat in her gaze. She was merely assessing a potential product. “If I had your body, I’d take my clothes off every chance I got. Plus, you have the whole bad-boy look down pat, and I’ve actually heard women around the office describe your eyes as ‘stormy.’ That is a bad-romance-novel level of hotness.”

“True,” Zack said cheekily, “but I’m still not interested.”

“You’d be a star,” Colette cooed seductively. “If you’d broaden your horizons a bit and market yourself to women, you could double your audience.”

“I’m not exactly into women, though. It’s hard enough for me to fake the phone stuff sometimes, and that’s with other men.”

Colette shrugged. “It was worth a try. The offer’s there if you ever change your mind. Think about how much money you could make.”

“I know, I know”—Zack held up his hands in surrender—“and it’s about time we as a society gave the ladies their due, but I’m not your man.”

“Then you need to step up your game on the phones,” Colette snapped. She’d gone from simpering solicitation to business mode in two seconds flat. “Your average call lasts just ten minutes. That’s half as long as my other employees, including the new kids. Everyone else has at least five regular clients. You’re lucky if you can keep two for a month at a time. I don’t know if you think this job is beneath you or if you’re just not trying hard enough, but with a voice like yours, you should have a steady following by now.”