I blink again, not understanding. “I’m not sure I understand how that affects me. I mean he’s your dad, right? He knows you better than the other guys, right?”
Aaron taps his fingers on the table.
“My relationship with my dad is…” He twists his lips. “Complicated.”
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my mouth. “Ah. So this isn’t just about a job, then.” I meet his gaze. “You want toimpressyour daddy.”
Aaron licks his lips, and I realize all at once what I’ve said as the memory pushes forth in my brain.
Of me callinghimDaddy.
My cheeks heat like a fire and I don’t miss the tinge of pink in his, either.
“Yes,” Aaron says, pointing at me. “ And that’s whereyoucome in. They want me and myboyfriendto go.”
Understanding dawns on me. “You want me… to go with you… to your parents’ beach house to reprise my role as your fake boyfriend so you can impress your family again?” I don’t miss the disdain or the bitterness in my voice as I try to process his words.
Aaron lets out a breath. “Yes, Jacob. That’s exactly what I want.”
I nod as I try to process thisoffer.
“Foxy’s doesn’t usually grant us that kind of time for clients,” I say.
“Well, uh… see that’s the thing. I wouldn’t hire you through Foxy,” he says carefully. “This would be a… private offer. I’m assuming you do that, right? Chris said you did.”
A private offer. My body tenses as I remember my last private offer, with Bella. Or the one before that with Garrett. And then I feel a surge of panic, because he saidChrissaid I did private gigs. I’ve never been hired by Bella’s nosey neighbor, so that can only mean one thing.
Heknowsabout myprivate offerwith Bella. And Noah.
Fuck.
How much did he tell Aaron? I tense, feeling strangely on the spot at the idea of this man knowing such details, despite the fact I’ve slept with him already.
Well, in the literal sense, since we didn’t fuck. I chew on my bottom lip as I try to process his words and his suggestion.
Yes, I have had a couple off-the-books jobs, but not many, and I don’t have the best track record when it comes toprivate offers.Someone always gets hurt, somehow.
Garrett was my first, and I was naive. This was right after I quitThe Anchorand started working at Foxy’s. I thought he was hot and he had that older man, rough-around-the-edges vibe but he was also sophisticated and you could tell he was wealthy and commanding. I couldn’t fathom why a man like him wanted tohirea man like me, but I was also twenty. I liked him enough that when he offered to extend our date off the clock, I didn’twantto say no. But I should have. Because I ended up not just hurting myself in the process, but some poor soul who probably loved the bastard.
Those tears—the ones on the face of the man whocaughtus—were not tears of arousal. They were tears of betrayal, and I’ll never erase that from my mind. I wanted to help people, not hurt them.
And I definitely hurt someone that night. And don’t even get me started about Bella…
Agreeing to have a threesome for her birthday with my brother for ten grand might have been a high point for my brother, butit was a low point for me. I thought I had a line I wouldn’t cross, especially when it came to money and sex, but I guess I was wrong. Especially because I knew Noah needed the money.
Okay, maybe I didn’t actually have sex with Bella—Noah did—but it was hard to be mad when I paid off my car with my share and a generous tip from Bella, even though all I did was kiss her, whisper some dirty words and grab her tits while my brother ran the gig.
Still, I don’t know how I feel about Aaron knowing about those questionable moments in my life. I don’t regret what happened with Garrett or Bella. Especially Bella. I wouldn’t be able to continue to work with her if I felt that bad about it. It’s just that I don’t need any more ammo when it comes to people judging me for my choices in life.
Aaron must take my silence and contemplation as skepticism, because he starts talking hurriedly.
“I would pay all your expenses. Travel, lodging obviously would be taken care of, but anything you need while you stay on the premises. Food, clothes, you name it, I’ll cover it,” he says. “And, judging by Foxy’s calculations, an eight-hour shift is four thousand dollars, times seven days, that’s—”
“Twenty-eight thousand dollars,” I breathe, my voice cracking. Shit. That’s alotof money. More than I normally make in a month.
Aaron purses his lips. “With the expenses included, plus tip—” He licks his lips as his gaze darts to my mouth before meeting my eyes.
“I would adjust the rate to forty thousand.”
