He tilts his head. “Then what? What’s going on?”
I’ve never been good at lying to my brother. “Do you remember that girl in the shelter dog videos?”
He nods. “The one you didn’t want to admit made you all gaga. Yeah.”
“Well, she’s kind of expensive.”
He lets out a loud laugh. “So, she’s a high maintenance girl? Weird way to word it, man. You make it sound like you’re dating a hooker.”
I wince at the word choice.
Lucas’s eyes go wide.
“Youcannotbe serious right now.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” I rush to defend. “I met her through a highly reputable agency, so it’s not like I just picked her up in Kensington. And…we get along well.Reallywell. Half the time, I forget I’m paying her.”
I think Lucas’s eyes might just fall out. “Nico, it’s herjobto make you forget that.” He shakes his head. “You can’t seriously be telling me you’re developing feelings…”
I make a sound of frustration. “Look, I know how it sounds, okay? But I’m telling you: things are different with her. Ilikeher.”
And I’m pretty sure she likes me.
I don’t say that part out loud, because I’m entirely aware of how it would sound. But it’d take too long to explain how my last date with Scarlett felt—how she finally opened up to me, and how we seemed to come to an agreement with the no-intimacy thing. And even if I tried to explain, the chance of Lucas understanding is still too small to bother.
“So, you’re blowing your money on a high-end escort? As your manager and unofficial financial advisor, I really must protest, little brother.”
“Noted,” I say dryly. “It’s not going to change anything, though. I’m still going to see her. I just don’t want to spend money on a Turks and Caicos trip this year, is all.” Then something occurs to me, and I add hurriedly, “And besides, I’m not always paying her. Case in point: the shelter dog date.”
That seems to stun Lucas enough to cut off his brotherly scolding. He spent too much time teasing me about how smitten I sounded and how smittenshesounded to be able to use that as further proof of his point right now. Seems like he forgot the part about it being an accidental run-in.
Although, he looks like he wants to continue arguing. But after a moment, he simply sighs and says, “Just…be careful, okay? Keep seeing her, if you like her, but don’t lose sight of the facts of the matter. Which is that you’repayingher.”
I roll my eyes in answer. I know that’s as close as I’m going to get to an approval tonight.
But even as I mock him in return, there’s a tingle of worry in the back of my mind that I haven’t been able to get rid of, no matter how many ways I try to convince myself.
Because even after my last date with Scarlett, as amazing as it was, as much of a breakthrough as it was…
She still wouldn’t even consider the idea of us without payment.
TWENTY-ONE
SCARLETT
“Please, Daisy…please.”
I look down at the man kneeling at my feet, and I wonder if it’s possible to feel any more disgust.
Every other Tuesday, I have an appointment at Dr. Schaffer’s office. On his books, I’m just another patient there for therapy.
In reality, I go in to sit on his couch and let him obsess over my feet for an hour.
For half of the purchased time, I only let him look. Then, eventually, he receives permission to take off my heels, sniff my feet, and lick my toes. I don’t have to do anything, and there’s no penetrative sexual activity. Physically, it’s one of my easier appointments.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t grimace when I finally tell the doctor, “You may taste.”
He’s so busy sliding my heel off, he doesn’t notice the way I wince at his touch. When he presses his lips to my toenail, I start the process of distancing my mind from my body.
