Bella’s a pretty easy date though, since most of the time I’m playing the same part—that being a young, attractive bachelor who adores her company. Not a boyfriend or a fiance or anything connective. I’m just her arm candy.
And I guess in a way, it’s the most honest role I have to play. I like Bella. Not in a romantic way, but she’s the closest thing I have to a best friend, which probably sounds sad considering she’s more a co-worker than anything.
Bella’s one of those women who don’t feel like they havetimefor a boyfriend, because they are too busy with work or life, and so they don’tdate.Not exclusively, anyway. They rent companionship for a night or weekend or whatever theirschedule entails they need a plus one for. I’m not theonlyguy Bella’s rented from Foxy’s. In fact, Bella Giorgio is pretty well known at Foxy’s because she’s a frequent flier. She has rented Noah a couple times, which is how I met her in the first place. She has a type. That type is tall, toned, blonde, and looks damn good in a suit and knows how to show her a good time and make her smile. Some of the other guys have slept with her, including my brother, but she knows there’s no passing go on my Monopoly board when it’s just the two of us, and yet I’m still her top date. Plus, she knows I’ll always make room in my schedule for her because I do enjoy spending time with her. We have a lot of similar interests—romance books, Taylor Swift. Hot, unavailable men we can gossip about and google over.
I technically don’tneedto meet up with her before our dates anymore because we’ve done this song and dance so many times, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy our coffee meet ups to hash out all the details and catch up on her work drama stuff.
And in some sad way, it makes me feel less lonely. Like I’mwithsomeone, even if it’s just pretend. Even if it’s for a few hours. Like their life is my life, too. I know that’s fucked up, because for one, I’m notdatingBella, and two, I don’twantto date Bella. I’ve dated women in the past, when I was a teenager experimenting and trying to figure out my shit, but I learned pretty quickly I wasn’t all that intosexwith women after I graduated and started dancing. Certainly not in the way I was into sex with men.
I know, you’d think a guy who dates women—and men—for a living would have a spectacular love life… but the truth couldn’t be more far off.
Most people, the minute they actually find out what I do, get the ick. Which is crazy considering I don’t have sex with my dates like they seem to think or imply. For starters, Foxy doesn’t allow it, since this isn’tthatkind of Rent-A-Date service, butwhen the time’s up and we’re off the clock, it’s not exactly off the table as long as we don’t talk about it or bring it up. What we do on our own time is our business, mostly. But being as most of my dates arewomenand I’m gay, sex isn’t just off the table, it’s not even in the same room with us.
That’s not to say I haven’t, though. Slept with clients. I’ve done it twice, and the first time—I was super into the guy and he ended up being a total dick, and I try not to think about it. The second time? Bella booked meandNoah for aprivate eventlast year.That event being her 40th birthday and I only agreed because it wasBella.I didn’t want to let down my top client, but honestly, it was mostly me in my underwear kissing her and telling her she was pretty while Noah did therealwork, so I’m not sure that actually counts as sleeping with her.
I try to focus on happier things, not my disastrous love life or lack thereof, when I see Bella waving at me, beaming with excitement, and that pulls me from my weird mood. I smile at her and it’s genuine.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I say as I meet her at her place in line. She beams her dark gaze up at me, no longer blushing when I say that now, due to the comfort we have with one another. But when she first started renting me, three years ago, every time I called her sweetheart, she’d blush like a tomato. It was kind of cute, if I’m being honest. Bella is gorgeous. Long, voluminous dark hair, warm hazel eyes, and she has curves for days. I tell her all the time she could have any man she wants, but she doesn’t listen to me and tells me she prefers it this way. If you ask me, I think she’s just scared of rejection. Or maybe that no one will meet her high expectations.
I’d hate to lose her as a client but I also want to see her happy. Truly happy, and I know even if she doesn’t say it out loud, she wants more than what I or Foxy’s can offer.
“Have you tried the Blueberry Muffin Macchiato yet?” she asks as we move up in line. I shake my head. “Nope, you know me. I like to keep it simple. Caramel Macchiato is fine with me.”
She rolls her eyes. “One of these days, I’ll get you to try something new, Jake.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes my throat. “Yeah, you keep saying that, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Sorry.”
Bella orders her fruity coffee concoction special when we reach the register, and I opt for my usual. It’s not that I’m a stickler for routine or anything, I just know what I like. I don’t need fancy flavors and loads of sugar or towers of whip cream and cookies. Just simple, smooth cream and bitter espresso, blended together with that sweet kiss of caramel.
Perfection.
When we’ve gotten our drinks, we find a booth in the back and take our seats. Taylor is long gone on the radio and now Benson Boone is crooning on about not losing the beautiful things he’s got.
“So what’s on the agenda this time?” I ask.
She settles into her booth, pushing some dark hair behind her ear. She twists her lips. For some reason, she’s nervous, though I have no idea what the hell she’s worried about. This is me, for God’s sakes. Her favorite date. Once upon a time she asked me to lie for her and pretend to be her boyfriend for a funeral, and I agreed. That was our first date. It can’t be worse than that.
“So… I know this is like ahugefavor to ask, but when Chris mentioned the deets about his cousin and the whole debacle, I—”
“Whoa, slow down there.” I say, and she lets out a sigh. “One thing at a time.”
I’ve met Chris, her hot younger neighbor, once. When I picked her up at her swanky city apartment for a fundraiser. I only methim because he was coming in with an armful of groceries and was about to lose his damn baguette if I didn’t catch it.
He’s the same age as me, twenty-four. I thought for a hot minute, hemightbe into guys, judging by the way he looked me up and down like I was a tall glass of water, but turns out he’s straighter than a metal ruler.
That’s my luck, though.
Still, I know Bella and him are pretty close, being as they live next door to one another, and Chris is definitelyhertype.
Bella holds her cup in both hands. Tightly. She steels her gaze at me and blurts out, “Chris’s cousin is coming into town and needs a date.”
I blink, looking back and forth, because the way she says the words is rushed as hell.. Bella is a lot of things, but she’sneverone to freak out about anything.
I take a sip of my macchiato and raise an eyebrow. The cream is smooth and warm. She lets out a heavy sigh.
I shrug. “No worries. Tell him to tell his cousin he can check out the website and—”
“That’s the problem, um… he kind of did. Already, you know, in research and…”
