Zachary Cooper whistled the chorus from "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" as he strolled into the office of Coopers' Companions. The sun shone brightly on this beautiful spring morning. He had his youth, his health, plenty of money in the bank, and he loved his job.

Life simply didn't get any better.

"Mornin', bro," he said.

"Hey, Zach." Brent glanced at his watch. "You're here early."

"Lots to do today. Plus Michelle has something she needs me to sign. I wanted to get that done before I head out to pick up more supplies."

"Still buying materials for your house?"

"Yeah," Zach said with a grin, "and loving every minute of it."

"I'll let you be Stanley Homeowner. I like my apartment. If the plumbing needs fixed, I just call the landlord."

"You have no sense of adventure, little brother."

The telephone's ring put an end to their conversation. Brent picked up the receiver. "Coopers' Companions, this is Brent... Yes, Ms. Talmage, how may I help you?... We have several escorts available Saturday evening. I'm sure you and I can find one to please you." He opened a file folder on his immaculate desk and withdrew a sheet of paper. "I have a few questions to ask you, Ms. Talmage. We want to find the perfect escort for your mother."

Leaving Brent to complete his conversation, Zach wandered across the room and gazed out the window. The house that he and his brother had remodeled for their business was located in an affluent area of Fort Worth, complete with oak, willow, and pecan trees. The trees shaded the house as well as made it eye-pleasing.

The large tree directly outside the office was starting to bloom with fluffy white blossoms. Zach didn't know the name of the tree, but his sister would. Michelle knew the name of every tree, every flower, she'd ever seen. He would swear she could make silk flowers grow. She kept the outside of Coopers' Companions landscaped with a wide assortment of flowers, shrubs, and trees.

She kept the inside of Coopers' Companions as neat and organized as the outside. He and Brent had gladly handed over all the bookwork to Michelle. As COO of he company, she kept the business humming along efficiently and productively.

Plus, they made a shitload of money.

"That sounds great, Ms. Talmage," Zach heard Brent say. "You can be assured your mother will be very pleased with her escort... Thank you for calling."

Zach turned to face his brother when he heard Brent end the conversation. "New client?"

"Yeah. One for you."

Sitting on the wide windowsill, Zach crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh?"

"Breanna Talmage asked specifically for you. She said a friend of hers hired you a couple of months ago and was very impressed with your... attention. I take that to mean you fucked her brains out."

He frowned at Brent's choice of words. Sometimes his younger brother's lack of respect for women grated on Zach. "Not every date ends with sex. You know that from personal experience. Sometimes a woman simply needs an escort, not a stud."

"I know from personal experience that most of them do end with sex because that's what the woman wants. No matter the reason for hiring an escort, these women fantasize about a young man fawning over them." He tapped the piece of paper on his desk with one long forefinger. "This one is right up your alley, big brother."

"Who is it?"

Brent turned the paper so he could read it easier. "Her name is Jade Talmage."

Jade. Zach liked that name. It made him think of a sparkling jewel.

"Her daughter is hiring you to escort her mother to some fancy-shmancy shindig at North Texas Highland Hospital." Looking up at his brother, Brent waggled his eyebrows. "Breanna says her mom is a fox."

"All daughters think their mothers are foxes."

"Maybe, but she convinced me her mother really is hot stuff. Thirty-nine years old, chin-length auburn hair, full lips, big green eyes, great legs, voluptuous body." He shivered playfully. "Damn, I'm getting a hard-on." Brent leaned back in his plush leather chair and hooked his hands behind his head. "But since you like the older broads, and since the daughter asked for you, this one is yours."

Zach frowned again. Brent had always thought the best place for a woman was on her back with her legs spread. Zach knew a woman was so much more than just a piece of ass. Rising from the windowsill, he walked to one of the large leather chairs before Brent's desk and sat down. "An older woman is not a 'broad', Brent. All women are beautiful in their own way. They deserve respect and consideration."

"Which is what you give them, and that's why Coopers' Companions is so successful. You're a natural at this, Zach. Tall, good-looking, charming, great sense of humor. The ladies start to salivate as soon as they see you." He grinned. "The fact that you have a big dick doesn't hurt either." Brent leaned forward and picked up the form. "Breanna said her parents divorced almost two years ago. Jade's gone out a few times, but hasn't been involved with anyone since she and her husband split. She should be really horny by the night of your date."

Zach studied his brother. Although only eighteen months younger, Brent had a long way to go before he grew up. Zach knew several twenty-eight-year-old guys who were much more mature than his younger brother. "Do you ever see the inside of a woman, Brent?"

"As long as she's gorgeous and a good lay, I don't give a shit what she's like inside. Neither do you. You like sex as much as I do. That's why we started this business."

"I never said I don't like sex. I love sex. But I also happen to know there's more to a woman than tits and a pussy." He held out his hand. "When?"

"Saturday night," Brent said, placing the form in Zach's palm. "The daughter's home and cell numbers are on there, too, if you have any questions."

A quick glance at the piece of paper showed him where Breanna's mother lived. He knew the classy, quiet neighborhood in Fort Worth well. "No problem. Jade Talmage and I will get along just fine."

* * * * *

Jade frowned as her daughter held up a silky green thong. "You aren't serious about me wearing that thing."

Breanna's eyes twinkled with a devilish light. "C'mon, Mom, be adventurous. You can't have panty lines in that gorgeous emerald gown."

Jade had bought the emerald gown two weeks ago on her and Breanna's last shopping trip. Now she had second thoughts about it. She wasn't sure if the hospital's Board of Directors would approve of her wearing a dress so revealing. "I'm not sure about that gown, Bre. It's so...low."

"You have incredible cleavage. Show it off."

"I'll be forty in two weeks. I'm a little old to be showing off my cleavage."

"You're a long way from old, Mom. Besides, a beautiful woman is never too old to show off anything, and you're a babe."

Jade laughed while her daughter grinned. "A babe?"

"Babe, fox, hot stuff. However you say it, you're it."

Jade wrapped her arm around Breanna's shoulders and gave her a quick hug. "I must be doing something right if my twenty-one-year-old daughter thinks I'm hot stuff, even when I need to lose thirty pounds."

"Where?" Breanna's gaze slid over Jade from head to toe and back. "You're perfect, Mom. I wish I had some of your curves." She looked down at her small breasts. "I got your eyes, your nose, your mouth, and Dad's boobs."

Jade's heart swelled with pride when she looked at her stunning daughter. Tall and slim with dark brown hair and olive skin like her father, she turned men's heads wherever she went. "Bre, as slender as you are, you wouldn't be able to stand up straight if you had my breasts."

"That's probably true, but I'd like the chance to find out." Breanna waggled the thong by the elastic straps. The shiny fabric shimmered in the lights. "Speaking of chances, at least try this on, and the matching bra. They're almost the same color as your gown."

Jade wrinkled her nose as she studied the tiny thong. "Those things have to be uncomfortable. Don't they ride up your... You know."

"The word is ass, Mom. It's okay if you say it."

"Hey, I'm old-fashioned. Get used to it."

Breanna chuckled. "I wouldn't have you any other way. But for your information, thongs aren't uncomfortable. I love 'em." She bobbled her eyebrows. "And your date will love it too."

Jade bristled at her daughter's implication. "Breanna Renee, you get that notion out of your head. I let you talk me into having a strange man escort me to the gala tomorrow night--and I still haven't figured out why I let you talk me into it--but that's all it is. It isn't a date. Besides, I don't think what he does is even legal."

"There's nothing illegal about being an escort."

"And you think all he does is escort women? There's no sex involved?"

"I didn't say that. There's probably sex involved with some women."

"Well, not with this woman. I have no intention of having sex with a man who's paid to pleasure women."

"Maybe you should."

Jade's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe what her daughter had just said. "What?" she squeaked.

"Dad left you two years ago. You get asked out all the time, but I'll bet you haven't had half a dozen dates in that time."

"For your information, I've had several dates in the last two years."

"I doubt if any of those included sex." She tilted her head. "Did they?"

"Breanna!"

"Well, have you had sex or not?"

"No, I haven't," Jade huffed. "There, are you satisfied?" Groaning, she covered her eyes with one hand. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with my daughter."

Breanna pulled Jade's hand away from her face. "Mom, I'm not a virgin. You know that because I told you about my first time."

"Yes, and I wasn't exactly thrilled with that confession."

Breanna shrugged. "I can't apologize for liking sex. I like it a lot. I inherited that desire from someone."

Her ex-husband was a louse for leaving her for a woman fifteen years his junior, but he'd been a wonderful lover. Sex had always been pleasurable for Jade, and she missed it greatly. That didn't mean she'd fall into bed with a man who's had sex with dozens of other women.

"Two years of celibacy is long enough. Go for it. Do something totally out of character and jump his bones. With all his experience, he's probably incredible in bed."

"He's probably mechanical in bed, making the same moves he believes women love but really loathe." Jade shook her head firmly. "No. He'll be my escort, nothing else. And that's the end of this discussion." She pulled her purse strap higher on her shoulder. "I need shoes and Foley's is having a sale. Let's go."

"What about the underwear?"

"I'll...think about it."

"Which means you'll chicken out."

Jade frowned. "You know, you're not too old to spank for being rude to your mother."

"I'm not being rude, Mom, I just want you to have a good time." She took one of Jade's hands and squeezed it. "I want you to be happy."

The love and concern in Breanna's eyes brought a lump to Jade's throat. Her ex-husband had been a louse, but he'd given her a wonderful daughter. Jade returned Breanna's squeeze. "I appreciate that, and if I meet the right man, I won't have any trouble jumping his bones, okay? But this rent-a-stud isn't the right man."

a