Ambrose raises his eyebrows. “Solely that?”
“And some other work. I discovered a little firm called Sterling House. I wanted to have some no-strings sex. You understand, I’m sure.”
“Si`. As long as the lady is willing and in agreement.”
I frown at him. “That’s the point.”
“Hm.”
“What?”
“Nothing, she just did not strike me as such.”
“You met her for five seconds.”
“True. But I have read many people in less time and been correct. I knew, for example, that you and I would be friends the moment you collided with me and spilled your coffee all over my shirt on our first day at Morganstern.”
“Yes, well, if you will insist on walking at a hundred miles an hour, that’s your own fault.”
We share a smile of happy familiarity as our food arrives, but I can feel him watching me as I pick up my steak knife.
“So, how does it work? Do you pay her only when she is with you?” His gaze moves to the windows of the restaurant. “She is not waiting in your car right now, is she? I would abandon our meal immediately.”
“No,” I say, my irritation rising. “It’s eight to five only. Strict rules apply.”
“How traditional.”
I eye him carefully, but the interest in his eyes is enough to reassure me that he isn’t judging me for my choices.
“What are you doing later?” he asks.
“Going home,” I say lightly as a pulse of heat rushes through me. “Why?”
“Perhaps we could ask her for a nightcap, no? Only if she is agreeable, of course.”
“I won’t share her.” I wince at the anger in my tone and lean back in my chair with a heavy sigh. “She’s not like Megan.”
“Hm. I find that most interesting, but it is not a problem, my friend. I would bemostcontent to observe as I have done before. You are so exquisite as a lover.”
I huff out a breath. “You’re an idiot.”
“Is that a yes?”
I hesitate, wondering what Amelia would say if I called her now and asked her to come to my place.
Am I comfortable with her coming to my home? I haven’t had a woman there for a long, long time.
“I’ll ask her, but she has every right to say no at any point. If she gets there, takes one look at your ugly mug, and says she needs to go home, she can.”
Ambrose’s smile grows. “Excellent. What a turn for the better. I think we will work out the tension in you tonight in the best way, my friend.”
He raises his glass, and we chink them together as I contemplate what the hell I just agreed to.
Chapter 18
Amelia
Idecide to take Annabelle to the movies as a treat. It’s a ‘90s film night—her favorite.
