“I don’t think your dad wants a CEO who will spend all his money. Companies like employees who can save them money so they make more profit.” That’s what he said. I am inclined todisagree because most of the men I know in this business love to spend money on things they or their properties don’t need.
Speaking of properties, I should probably touch base with Marta today, just to see how things are going back in LA. I make a mental note to text her later.
“It just doesn’t seem like a lot,” I say, looking at our cart full of supplies.
“We’ve got enough for the sandwiches and salads and the shark-cuterie trays,” he says.
I laugh at his play oncharcuterie.It’s childish and cute, but it’s also kind of creative.
“And we still have to pick up the seafood for the boil. So there’s that.”
I nod as I push the cart while he loads some cases of soda pop and seltzer water into the cart.
“And we have to get your suit,” I say with a smirk.
“My what, now?” He turns to raise an eyebrow at me.
“Tonight’s party. You need a suit. I’m pretty sure you didn’t pack one.”
His expression turns panicked. “Shit, I forgot about that. You don’t have to buy me a suit, you know. I have dress pants and—”
“It’s okay, baby. I got you covered.” I wink at him, and he blushes, and I have to focus on him and not the fact I’m suddenly getting hard in the damn grocery store.
Seriously, this man is going to kill me. It’s like I can’t keep anything together when he’s in the same room with me. I love it.
I love him.
I meant what I said. I know I hired him, and in just a few days he’ll be done with this job, but…
What if I want more than this job? What if I wanthim? For good?
I know I have to tread carefully. Jacob may have said those words, too, but they were in the heat of the moment, and I’mnot entirely sure he meant them the way I did. People say lots of things when they get all keyed up in the middle of sex.
He didn’t say those words last night, at Daisy’s. Even after I poured my heart out to him. He hasn’t said those words since we had sex, so I’m starting to think maybe they were just a heat of the moment thing.
Which is why I should probably reel my heart in a bit with Jacob. I don’t know how he feels about this.About me. Us. I don’t think it’s just a job to him anymore, but I’m not sure if he’s all in on the idea of more, either.
For starters, there is still the issue of the forty grand hanging between us. I intend to give him every penny, and a tip, of course, because this is his job, but…
Will Jacob want to spend time withmeafter the check cashes? Off the books completely? If money is off the table, will he still wantme?
We should probably have a conversation about that, but every time I think about it, I can’t breathe. Like the words are choking me.
Because what if the answer isno?
What if he’s no different from the men I’ve dated over the years? The ones who only wanted me for my money and nothing more?
What if I’m too far gone in Jacob and this illusion we’ve created? What if it’s not real, like I think it is?
I don’t know if I can take that kind of rejection. I don’t know if I can take that hard of a truth.
We finish up our grocery shopping, our total coming to a cool fifteen hundred. Thankfully, we don’t have to pick up the boil until tomorrow, which buys us some time to get to Sal and get Jacob a suit for tonight.
I know Garrett’s choice of venue was deliberate, which is why I had gone last night with Jacob. I needed to erase the memories of Garrett and I and there was only one way to do that.
To take Jacob to the place where it started.Daisy’s.
I saw the way Garrett was looking at him last night, and I didn’t like it. I know what he’s trying to do. Setting his party at the place we used to hook up at during those college summers? Making eyes at my date. He’s trying to get in my head. Trying to manipulate me so I’ll choke and he can take this job from my hands because he knows it's what I want, and if there’s one thing Garrett loves more than himself, it’s being the winner.
