I grab my purse and stand to leave. I’m not doing this.
“Sit down.”
“I’m not your plaything, Ryder. This is my job. You don’t get to come in and fuck it up for me.”
“You really shouldn’t swear. Your mouth is too beautiful for such profanity.”
“But it’s fine if it is wrapped around your cock? Make up your mind, Ryder. You want me to do unspeakable things as long as it’s on your terms. I can say whatever the fuck I fucking-well want to.”
As I move to pass him, his hand brushes my wrist. “Sit down… please.”
I extricate myself from his grasp. “Why? It’s not okay for other men to pay to have a nice dinner and chat with me about their lives, but it’s fine when you want to buy me? You don’t get to have it both ways.”
“We need to talk. Please, for God’s sake, just have a drink with me.”
“Don’t worry, they won’t charge you for the evening when I decline the date.”
“Well, I already paid them double to make sure the only person you go out with is me.” He’s got to be shitting me right now.
“You’re messing with my livelihood.”
“You’re earning twice as much. How is that screwing with you?”
“Well, clearly my agent is pocketing the other five grand. It doesn’t even matter because I’m not going to be bought by you, Ryder Stevens. You’re a dick for trying.”
He clutches my chin before planting a raw, primal kiss on my lips. “If ‘dick’ is in your mouth, I’d rather you be choking on it rather than saying it. Now, do as you’re told, baby girl, and sit down.”
I hate that every cell in my body reacts to him, and I hate that I find myself sitting down. I should walk away. He doesn’t deserve another minute of my time, and yet he paid ten grand to have a conversation with me tonight or to keep other men away from me.
“Thank you,” he says as he takes the barstool next to me.
“What do you want, Ryder? You can’t just buy me every time I want to work.”
“I can, and I will… Danielle.”
“It’s not your place to make that choice. We’re not married. We’re not even dating. We fucked a few times, and you made it perfectly clear that you didn’t want me past that. I’m doing this job so I have enough money to buy my own restaurant.”
“How much do you need? I’ll write you a check.” Is he serious?
“I don’t know what kind of caveman you are, but I’m not for sale. I would never take your money. This ismydream, and I’ll get there on my own.”
“That’s all well and good, but you better find another way to finance it.” Now I’m just angry.
“You’re not the boss of me. I may work for you in that den of iniquity, but once I step foot outside, what I choose to do is not your concern.”
“Except it is, because I can’t stop fucking thinking about you.”
“That’s not my problem. Go live out your fucked-up kinks with someone else.” The deep knit of his brow has me wishing I could take those words back.
“I know I’m fucked up. That’s why I didn’t drag you into my world. I would’ve given it up for you, Aspen. But you lied to me, and that’s not something I can get past.”
“I didn’t fucking lie! How much do you know about your other employees outside of work?”
“Cut out thefuckingswearing, or I’ll put you over my knee and show you how fucked up I can be.” A thrill courses through me.
“Do you even hear yourself? I’m a grown woman. What gives you the right to ‘put me over your knee’ like a goddamn child? And answer the fucking question. What do you know about your other employees?”
“It’s not a fair comparison,” he rumbles.
