Romeo for Hire

by Ali Parker

  When he did, I knew the night was over.

  Kason was laughing beside me, his arm thrown casually over my shoulders. We’d been watching a couple across the restaurant. They were clearly fighting, both waving their hands around like lunatics. Seconds before, it had been funny. I was laughing with Kason. Then, Ryan invaded my psyche, and my laugh died away on my lips.

  My face fell. I shrugged Kason’s arm off and got to my feet slowly. Frowning, he followed my lead.

  “Ready for our second stop?” he asked, excited.

  “No.” I shook my head and reached for my purse. Digging around for some cash, I pulled it out and dropped it on the table. “Thank you for tonight, Kason. I actually had a lot of fun.”

  “It’s not over yet,” Kason said. “We’ve barely eaten a thing, and it’s only eight o’clock.”

  “I know.” I glanced toward the door. “But I think we should say good night.”

  Kason stepped closer to me. He reached for my arm, but I stepped back before he could. It wasn’t his fault, none of this was.

  “You’re great,” I said. “Really. I’m actually surprised by how great you are, but this isn’t right. Being here isn’t right.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “There’s someone else,” I said honestly. “His name is Ryan, and I-I-I have feelings for him. Real feelings that can’t be forgotten after an hour with you. I’m sorry.”

  Kason wiggled his eyebrows. “What about two hours?”

  “Do you see how hard you’re trying?” I laughed. “It shouldn’t have to be like that. Being with someone should feel effortless. You should be relaxed. But you’re not, and neither am I.”

  “But you are with Ryan?” Kason asked.

  “Yes,” I sighed. “Trust me, I hate to admit that, but yes, everything is easier with him.”

  Kason smiled sadly and took a step back. He nodded. Reaching for the money on the table, he picked it up and pushed it back in my hand.

  “Oh, no,” I said quickly. “Let me at least pay for dinner.”

  “Nope.” Kason pressed the cash firmly against my palm.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Smiling, I tucked it back in my purse and turned to leave. Kason watched me as I weaved a path through the tables around us.

  “Hey, Candice!” he called before I’d made it too far.

  I spun around. “Yeah?”

  “Whoever that Ryan guy is,” he said. “I hope things work out for you.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled and hurried out of the restaurant.

  ***

  I made it home before eight-thirty. My living room was so quiet, I could hear my own heartbeat. I grabbed my phone and went out to my balcony, leaving the door open behind me.

  A soft breeze blew my curtains inside, making me feel like I was in a dream. My fingers trembled as I scrolled through my phone in search of Ryan’s name. When I found it, my thumb hovered over the call button.

  Taking a long breath, I pressed the button and held the phone against my ear.

  The first ring made my stomach flip. The second caused my heart to race. By the third, my palms were sweating.

  Ryan didn’t answer. His voice mail picked up, his deep voice floating through the phone and into my ear. I closed my eyes at the sound and pressed the phone harder against my cheek.

  “Hey,” I said after the beep. “It’s me.”

  I hesitated. When I called, I hadn’t had a plan. All I wanted was to hear Ryan’s voice, and now that I had, I didn’t know what to say.

  “I just wanted to say I’m looking forward to tomorrow night. I know things are weird between us right now, but I-I hope you’ll be there.”

  With that, I hung up and squeezed my phone between my hands. My heart didn’t slow until I went back inside and climbed into bed.

  It was early, and I didn’t have morning meetings the next day. I could have stayed up for hours, but I laid back against my pillow and closed my eyes, Ryan’s face dancing behind my eyelids. I felt like a little kid on Christmas Eve.

  The faster I go to sleep, the faster I can wake up.

  My dinner with Ryan was so close, and after my date with Kason, I knew I couldn’t deny my feelings anymore. Ryan and I weren’t together, but being out with another man filled me with so much guilt, it burned a hole in my stomach.

  All night, I had felt like I was cheating on him, and in a way, I was.

  Kason wasn’t the man I wanted. No matter how mad I was, or how much I still wanted to punish him for what he did, it was still Ryan. He was the man I wanted. The only man.

  Chapter 39

  Ryan

  Max pulled open the door and stepped aside. Paisley darted through the living room without so much as a hello.

  “Hey!” I called after her. “Get your butt back here. Say hi to your uncle.”

  Paisley hurried over. “Hi, Uncle Max.”

  “Hi.” Max laughed and nudged her gently. “Go on. Go play. I’ll be there in a second.”

  “Okay!”

  She ran back around the couch and ducked down to grab her box of toys. I watched as she dumped them all on the floor. She set up her train track and wrapped a fake snake around her neck as she lined the trains up one by one.

  Shaking my head, I turned back to Max.

  “Thanks for doing this,” I said. “I know it’s hard on weeknights.”

  “It’s fine.” Max shrugged. “Just make sure you get her before eight tomorrow morning. I have a meeting at nine.”

  “I’ll be here,” I promised.

  “Who’s the girl tonight?” Max asked, doing his best to keep the judgment out of his voice.

  “Candice.”

  Max’s eyes widened slightly. He recovered quickly, shaking his head and glancing over his shoulder. Paisley was still playing quietly in the corner.

  “Does she know?” Max asked.

  “Paisley?” He nodded. “No. I don’t want to tell her until I know things are okay again. If Candice doesn’t forgive me, then—”

  “Then, Paisley will just get hurt.” Max finished with a nod. “I get it.”

  My eyes locked on my daughter’s carefree face. She was too busy playing to think about anything else. From across the room, she didn’t pick up on the tension that had suddenly filled the air, but it was all I felt as my eyes traveled back to my brother’s face.

  “Just say it,” I sighed. “I know you disapprove.”

  “I always have.” Max laughed to lighten the mood.

  “I want to quit.”

  The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Max’s eyes widened again. This time, he didn’t bother to hide his surprise.

  “Romeo Rebound?” he asked.

  I nodded. My chin hit my chest. I’d never felt more ashamed of myself. Max had been waiting for this moment for a long time. I hated to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right.

  “I won’t,” I said, jerking my head back up. “Quitting would be stupid. Beatrice pays me enough to support Paisley and put money aside for the future. I can’t give that up.”

  “But you want to.”

  “Yes.” I sighed, defeated. “If I could quit, I think I would.”

  Max frowned and leaned heavily against the door frame.

  “What?” I demanded. “What is it?”

  “I can get you a job,” he finally said. “If you’re serious about leaving.”

  I shook my head and took a step back. “That’s a conversation for another time,” I said. “Right now, I have to meet Candice.”

  “Candice?”

  Paisley was back across the room in less than a second. She jumped up and down, her green eyes sparkling with unmasked joy.

  Shit. I closed my eyes and wished I could go back in time.

  “Yes,” I said. “I’m meeting Candice.”

  “Can I come?”

  My heart sank. “Not this time, Pea,” I said. “Candice and I need to have an adult conversation.
”

  “Next time?” Paisley demanded. “Please?”

  “Sure.” I smiled. If there is a next time. “Be good for Uncle Max. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Bye, Daddy!”

  Paisley ran back to her toys. Max shot me a pitying look as he closed the door behind him and went to join my daughter.

  ***

  Albertino’s was a small Italian joint just a few blocks from Candice’s office. I’d never been before, but I’d heard of it. It was notorious among the elite and wealthy.

  The place got a lot of hype, but I couldn’t see why. It was tiny but charming. Clean without feeling sterile. The kitchen was open to the restaurant, only a short pane of glass separating it from the dining room. A bearded Italian man stood behind the glass with sweat pouring down his forehead. He cooked with lightning-fast speed, his hands flying over the stove like two blurs barely connected to his arms.

  “You made it.”

  Candice’s soft voice filled my ears. I inhaled sharply and slowly turned around.

  “Hey, you.” My voice shook. “You look beautiful.”

  And it was true. Candice was wearing jeans and a blouse that hugged her chest in a way that drew my eyes. I didn’t linger too long on her body, though. All I cared about were her eyes.

  Deep brown and full of repressed emotion, they devoured me. Something stronger than gravity pulled me forward, but I stopped myself before I could touch her. The nervous energy pouring off her was enough to make me keep my distance.

  “Should we sit?” I waved my hand behind me.

  “Sure.” Candice looked at the man behind the glass. “Hey, Al!”

  He looked up, a wide paternal smile spreading across his face. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for us to come over.

  “My girl!” He cooed and ran out from behind the glass. Wrapping his arms around Candice, he eyed me closely. “And who is this?”

  “Al, this is Ryan,” Candice said, turning to me. “He’s a friend.”

  “It is nice to meet you,” Al said. “Candice has never brought a man to me before.”

  Al let that hang in the air. His eyes never left my face, and his arms never left Candice. When Candice cleared her throat, Al finally dropped his arms and looked down at her with a grin.

  “Sit anywhere,” he said. “You know what to do.”

  Candice squeezed his arm and led me across the dining room. We sat down at a table I felt sure was her usual and ordered a bottle of wine.

  “You come here a lot,” I said. It wasn’t a question.

  “Yeah.” Candice nodded. “Al has been a friend of the family for years.”

  “I can see that.” I laughed. “He looked ready to kill me.”

  “He’s protective.”

  Silence fell over us as the meaning of Candice’s words set it. The guilt I’d been feeling for the past week worked its way up to my chest and slid easily into my throat. I could barely speak as my eyes found Candice’s face.

  “I’m sorry,” I blurted out. “I don’t know what else to say. I’m just really, really sorry.”

  Candice looked down at the table. She was quiet for a few minutes, just staring at the tablecloth until our waiter appeared.

  “Thank you, Marco.” Candice smiled as he set the wine down. Placing two glasses in front of us, Marco slipped away without a word.

  I poured us each a glass of wine, if only for something to do with my hands. Candice still hadn’t said a word. She hadn’t so much as looked at me since I choked out that hasty apology.

  “Listen,” I began. “I—”

  “Why did you do it?”

  My mouth snapped shut. Candice glared at me from across the table. Her wine glass sat untouched in front of her.

  “It was my job,” I said simply. She scoffed and looked away. “I know it’s a shitty reason, but it’s the truth.”

  “And this?” She waved her hand between us. “Is this part of the job?”

  “No.” I willed her to believe me. “I’m here because I miss you.”

  Pain flashed in Candice’s eyes. I hated myself for causing it, but I pushed on. This was my chance. If I was ever going to break through her walls, it had to be now.

  “It started out as a job,” I said. “When we first met at the coffee shop, I was only there because my boss sent me.”

  “I know that much,” Candice said.

  “But, things changed,” I said louder. “It didn’t take long before my feelings stopped being professional and I realized that I wanted you, not a paycheck.”

  “If that’s true,” Candice challenged. “Then, why didn’t you tell me?”

  I laughed darkly and sank back in my chair. Replaying every moment we ever spent together, I tried to think of when a good time would have been.

  “I would have lost you,” I said simply. “And I knew that. So I lied. And I kept lying.”

  “Well, that was stupid.”

  I laughed again. Candice’s lips twitched, but she fought back the smile I knew was threatening to reveal itself.

  “Candice.” I leaned forward. “I don’t know how I can make you believe this, but everything I felt for you was real.”

  “It wasn’t just about getting to the banquet?”

  I shook my head. “I wanted you to invite me,” I admitted. “Only because I knew that would appease Beatrice and your mother. If they were both happy, then you and I would be free to be together without any interference. We wouldn’t have to worry about their influence anymore.”

  Nodding, Candice finally reached for her wine glass. She peered at me over the rim, her dark eyes so captivating that I could barely think.

  “It’s only been a week, but I miss you.” My hand moved across the table without my permission. “I have missed you every day. Every minute.”

  Candice’s eyes fluttered closed. She clung to her glass like it was the only thing holding her steady.

  “I don’t expect you to forgive me,” I said. “Just tell me one thing.”

  Her eyes opened again. She set the glass down and squared her shoulders. The confident woman I knew so well had returned.

  “What do you want to know?” she asked.

  “Is there anything left between us?” I asked, my voice weak. “After everything I did, all the lies, is there any way you might want to forgive me?”

  She didn’t answer right away. Her eyes betrayed every emotion she felt. Anger. Guilt. Sadness. Betrayal. Pain. Pain. Pain. Hope.

  “I want to,” she finally said. “Ryan, I—”

  Something new flashed in her eyes, and I knew we were both thinking about the same thing. Kason.

  I waited for Candice to tell me about her date, but as the seconds ticked away, I realized it didn’t matter. One date with Kason was nothing. I just wanted her.

  “Nothing else matters right now,” I said. “Just you and me. And whether or not you think you can trust me again.”

  Candice’s eyes closed one more time. She breathed slowly, her head slowly moving from side to side. When she looked at me again, her brown irises were darker than ever, but a small smile had formed on her lips.

  “You have your work cut out for you.” She shook her head, the old Candice once again. “I don’t forgive easy, Winters.”

  “That’s okay.” I grinned. “I’m always up for a challenge, Smart.”

  ***

  We stood side by side outside of Albertino’s. Candice glanced down the street. She rubbed her hands on her jeans and shifted her weight.

  “I’m not ready to say good night,” I finally said.

  “Yeah.” Candice laughed, relieved. “Me neither.”

  “Come over,” I said. “We can pick up Paisley together in the morning. She’ll freak out when she sees you.”

  “I miss her.” Candice smiled. “I think I may miss her more than I missed you.”

  “Watch it,” I warned.

  Candice laughed and slid her fingers over my palm. We walked down the street together, kee
ping our eyes peeled for a cab. When we saw one, Candice’s free hand shot into the air, and she jumped forward.

  I watched with amazement as she slid smoothly across the back seat.

  “What?” she asked, noticing my stare.

  “You’re beautiful,” I said simply.

  Candice rolled her eyes and looked away from me. I touched her cheek and pulled her face gently back around.

  Her eyes flicked to my lips, and my stomach tightened. I’d been fighting my need for her all night. I didn’t want to fight anymore.

  “If you don’t kiss me soon,” she whispered. “I may take back what I said about forgiving you.”

  Chapter 40

  Candice

  We barely made it out of the cab before Ryan’s hands were on me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me around to face him. Our lips collided with a shocking force that could have knocked the Earth out of orbit.

  My body fell against his. Our lips never stilled. Ryan’s tongue darted into my mouth, sliding over my own.

  He held me tighter than he ever had and kissed me with more passion than I’d ever felt. It was like every other kiss we’d shared had been muted, diluted so the taste wouldn’t overpower us. But now, Ryan wasn’t holding back. His lips attacked mine. His hands traveled down my back until they reached my ass.

  Squeezing me roughly, Ryan lifted me off the ground. His strong arms held me firmly as I wound my legs around him.

  No man had ever held me like that before. My insecurities flared up. I worried that I was too heavy, that too much weight sat around my middle, that Ryan would drop me, and our desire would fade into awkwardness.

  But with one kiss, Ryan made my insecurities vanish. His fingers dug into my ass and a pool of desire flooded between my legs.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my fingers in his hair. Tugging gently, I made a moan escape from deep inside Ryan’s chest. We weren’t even inside yet, and already, I longed to tear his clothes off his body.

  “Come here.” Ryan set me on my feet.

  “Inside?” I asked, already moving to the front door.

  Ryan nodded, but we didn’t make it more than two steps.