Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
She kept on staring at him.
“It sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it?”
“It sounds stupid.” She pushed some of her blonde hair out of her face.
“You’re not kicking me out the door, so I’d consider that a plus.”
“I really don’t know. I mean, we’re friends.”
“Friends with benefits. What have we got to lose? Think about it. No sneaking around. No pretending. You’re my date to functions, I’m with you. They’re no weird questions with me hanging out with you as much, and also, when you need a good fuck, I’m right here.”
She rubbed at her temple. “I can’t even believe I’m thinking this is a good idea. I’m going crazy. Do you want some food?”
“Yes. Is that a yes?”
“That’s an ‘I don’t know.’”
“What else do you need convincing?”
“I don’t know. I guess a look into the future to see what I did and how it affects everything.”
“You worry too much.”
“And you don’t worry enough. I get that this seems easy to you, but it’s really not. I have reputation to uphold as well.”
He stared at her.
“This isn’t just sex and joking around. This is my life. Teresa helped me to build my career, and I don’t want to ruin it on a bad decision.”
Ouch.
“I’m not a bad decision.”
“If we do this, you can’t be with another woman. You can’t even be looking at her, and above all else, you’ve got to like my food.”
“You want us to have a test drive.”
“I don’t know.”
“That kiss out there has made me hard as a rock. I know I’ve got no problems with you on that front. I want to fuck you. I’m not going to keep my need from you. I’ll tell you the truth about everything. If this doesn’t work, and when we come to end it, we can do so amicably. You can’t date anyone for at least a year afterward.”
“Why?”
“That will help my reputation and me believing that you miss me.”
She laughed.
It helped that he was also trying to make a joke with her. He didn’t want her to get so serious over this, when it really didn’t need to be.
He walked to her, taking her hand.
“If that’s the case, you have got to do the same with me. No women. No bad press. The details of our relationship stay between us. You have got to promise me.” She placed a hand against his chest.
Damn, to him, it felt like he’d won a small victory.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Me neither.”
She smelled so good, and all he wanted to do was kiss her. Would it be so bad to kiss her?
He lowered his head about to do just that when she placed a hand over his lips. “Not yet.”
“Why not? We fleshed out all the rules.”
“No, we haven’t. Just because we’ve agreed, I don’t really know you yet, and I’m not going to rush to bed you.”
“You can rush to bed me anytime.”
“Do you ever take anything seriously?”
“STDs I do.”
“Stop being a goofball.”
He cupped her face, tilting her head back. “I’m being serious right now. When you decide to sleep with me, and by sleep, I mean fucking, I promise you, you’ll have your every single desire met. I can see that look in your eyes, you’re interested.”
“Be careful, Brice. You don’t want to be making promises that you can’t keep.”
He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “I can keep them, Danielle. You will be screaming my name very soon.”
With that, he brushed his lips across hers, sealing the deal.
****
The following morning, while measuring out dry ingredients to make a moist chocolate cake, Danielle kept going over the conversation with Brice the previous day. Her mother had already sent her three texts with venues and booking information. She’d passed each one to Brice in the hope that he’d change his mind.
“Do you really want him to change his mind? He’s offering you sex and a pass with your parents so they can think and do whatever the hell they want and you don’t have to worry. Ugh! Stop talking to yourself and focus.”
She had to get this cake right. Five attempts so far, and even though they were all edible, something was missing.
She was careful as she added the right amount of instant coffee that really brought out the flavor of the chocolate.
Once all of the dry ingredients were mixed, she got to work on the wet, using buttermilk, melted cooled butter, vanilla, and eggs. She whisked them all up. Adding the dry mix into the wet, she stirred in some chocolate chips, and poured into the prepared pans. She’d just finished with her timer when her cell phone rang. She saw Brice’s name on the screen.
“Just answer the phone. It’s fine. Of course, it’s fine.”
Clicking accept, she put her phone to her ear. “Hello.”
“Hello, lover.”
“We’re not lovers.”
“Not yet but I’m coming over this week.”