Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“What about me?”
“Past relationships?”
“I’ve been in four serious relationships.”
My eyes widened. “Four serious relationships?”
“I don’t do casual well.”
Yeah, somehow, with how intense he was, that didn’t surprise me. It disappointed me and I didn’t want to analyze that either, but it made sense. “Not a one-night-stand kind of guy, huh?”
“I had plenty of those in college. I’m past that now. It’s empty.”
“I’ve actually never had a one-night stand.”
He frowned. “You just said you only do casual dating.”
“Yeah, ‘dating’ being the operative word. I’ve had lovers. Not boyfriends. But also not one-night stands.”
“I guess ‘lovers’ is a nicer term than ‘booty calls.’ ”
If he expected me to bite, he would be dissatisfied. “It’s definitely the more mature term.”
“And do these lovers have other lovers while you’re with them?” He scowled.
“I hope not. I still like to be safe. But you can never really know, so it’s important to look after your sexual health. I get tested when a casual relationship ends.”
“You’re very frank.”
“Sex isn’t something we should be ashamed to talk about. Speaking of . . . we never discussed whether we have to . . . abstain from sexual relationships with other people during this.” I refused to acknowledge the burn of jealousy at the thought of Rafe having sex with another woman. It was one reason I should probably get laid if the opportunity arose.
Rafe’s expression blanked. “We can’t take the chance anyone might see you with someone else, and it gets back to my family. Same for me.”
“This is a big city. I doubt they’d know.”
“I wouldn’t put it past Pippa to set our family PI on you.”
“What?” I gaped.
He shrugged like that wasn’t crazy. “Anyway, I can’t stop you if you decide otherwise, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t. If I can make peace with the idea of being friendly with my right hand for six months, I’m hoping you’ll be okay with using some of your new earnings to buy a vibrator.”
There was a bite to his words and I knew he’d meant to shock, perhaps even offend me. But I was too busy imagining him getting friendly with his right hand and pissed off that it made me hot from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I smirked at him and just as he took a casual sip of his water, I replied, “Friendly right hand, huh? How thoughtful of you to provide some imagery for me to use to get off to during those long six months.”
Rafe choked on the water he’d just sipped, spluttering, and shooting daggers at me with his eyes as he swiped my clean napkin to mop up his chin and splattered shirt.
My eyes, I’m sure, gleamed with challenge. It would take a lot more than a few provocative words to shock me.
Chapter Eleven
“What is this charity for, and how does it all work?” I walked at Rafe’s side as we followed a stream of elegantly dressed people into the hotel ballroom.
Rafe picked me up in a hired town car, but he’d come right up to my apartment to collect me, where I’d waited nervously for his reaction to my appearance.
Unfortunately, his reaction wasn’t worth the nerves because the expressionless pain in the ass just gave me an abrupt nod and then urged me out of my apartment. All while I tried not to drool over the sight of him in a tux.
Because he was a drool-worthy sight.
Those broad shoulders and that tapered waist in a fitted tux . . . hello, James Bond next generation.
For all his reaction told me, I looked adequate.
Men.
Why did I even care?
I’d never cared what a guy thought of my appearance before, and that was no lie! I wore what I wore, I liked what I liked, and they either did too or they could stuff it.
It pissed me off that Rafe Whitman, of all people, could get under my skin like this. I tried to tell myself it was merely because he’d given me a lot of money to buy a nice dress, and I hoped that I’d struck the balance between staying true to myself and what was required of me.
The hair and dress were me; the shoes and makeup were not. I rarely wore a lot of makeup except for mascara, but I’d allowed Kendall to do my whole face up and I had to admit she’d done a great job. While a lot of women around me had their hair in fancy updos, I’d left mine loose in waves down my back.
On my feet were spiked gold stilettos with ankle straps. I wasn’t used to walking in anything without a wedge, so I clung onto Rafe’s arm for more than just the deception.
“It’s a benefit for a domestic children’s charity. My mother is on the board of directors and Pippa started getting involved with it when she married Hugo. They fund everything from food for children in dire poverty, resources for group homes, scholarships, clothing . . . you name it, they provide where they can. The tickets to these things cost a small fortune, but that’s because the profit goes to the charity. This is also an auction. People donate items of worth that they’re willing to part with, and all the profits go to the charity.”