Romeo for Hire

by Ali Parker

  “Well,” he said, waving his arms out in front of him. “Here’s your retail therapy, Smart. Take advantage of it.”

  Standing on my toes, I pressed a kiss against Ryan’s cheek before darting into the boutique. I had no idea how he already knew me so well, but he did. Everything about the day was perfect. By the time we left the boutique, I was no longer thinking about work.

  “So,” Ryan asked on the way back to his place, the back seat covered in bags with Paisley’s head just poking out between them. “Did I do okay?”

  “You did amazing. I haven’t felt this relaxed in months.”

  Chapter 51

  Ryan

  The day was perfect. When the sun finally set, Candice looked lighter than she ever had. Her brown eyes were wide with joy, and her shoulders no longer held the weight of the world.

  Candice, Paisley, and I were snuggled on the couch watching a movie. It ended just as the sunlight finally faded from the living room. With a yawn, I stretched my arms above my head and clapped my hands.

  “Okay, Pea.” I jerked my head to the stairs. “Go get your bag. Uncle Max is waiting for you.”

  “Do I have to?” Paisley whined. “Why can’t I stay with you guys?”

  “Go on.”

  Paisley pouted as she stomped up the stairs to her room. It was only seven o’clock, but I couldn’t wait to get Candice alone.

  “She’s staying at Max’s?” Candice asked.

  “Yup.” I grinned. “I made us reservations at a place downtown. Thought we could finish the day out with just the two of us.”

  Candice leaned into me and smiled. I kissed her forehead just as Paisley reappeared at the foot of the stairs.

  “I’m ready,” she huffed. “Let’s go.”

  I watched as Paisley marched to the front door and yanked it open. She was upset, but I knew she’d get over it soon. The three of us had so many more days ahead of us. Just thinking about it kept my smile wide all the way to Max’s.

  Candice and I walked Paisley up to the front door to say goodbye. While Candice got a long hug, Paisley barely threw her arms around me before disappearing inside.

  “I love you,” I said. “I’m sorry you’re upset with me, but I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Paisley frowned but turned back around anyway. “I love you too,” she said angrily. “But I don’t like you anymore!”

  I fought back my laughter as she ran inside. Max, with his eyebrows raised, looked at me quizzically.

  “What was that about?”

  “She wants to come with us,” Candice explained.

  “Didn’t you guys spend the whole day with her?” Max asked.

  I nodded. “Apparently, it wasn’t enough.”

  “No.” Max laughed. “It never is.”

  We said goodbye, and I walked Candice back to the car, trying to keep my guilt at bay as we walked. From the way Candice looked at me, I wasn’t doing a very good job.

  “She can come,” Candice said before we left. “I know you don’t want her to be upset with you.”

  “It’s fine.” I shook my head. “Paisley has to learn that she doesn’t always get her way. I just hate when she’s mad at me.”

  “Does it happen a lot?”

  “When I have to work.” I pulled open the car door. “She gets pretty upset, especially if we already had plans to spend the day together or see a movie or something.”

  “I’m sorry.” Candice touched my cheek. “You’re a great dad. I can’t even imagine being a single parent.”

  “She’s worth it.”

  Candice smiled and slid into the car. I walked around to get behind the wheel, glancing back at Max’s front door as I moved.

  ***

  Dinner was just what I needed to take my mind off my single-parent guilt. Candice kept me laughing as we ate our entrees and disappeared into our own little world. I remembered that first night together, when we closed down the restaurant without even realizing it. The memory was enough to make me move my chair closer to hers.

  I played with her hands while we continued talking, the conversation never once losing its flow.

  “There’s something I need to tell you,” Candice said, her face darkening. She set her wine glass on the table and pulled her hands free from mine.

  “Okay,” I said slowly. “Nice subject change.”

  We’d been having an easy conversation full of banter and laughter. When Candice’s mood suddenly shifted, I couldn’t help but worry.

  “I was thinking about how easy tonight is,” Candice said. “Compared to last night with Leslie and Kason.”

  My shoulders tensed. “Yeah,” I said. “That was a little awkward.”

  “A little?” Candice snorted. “Were we at the same dinner?”

  “Okay,” I admitted. “It was terrible.”

  She nodded. “Yeah. And I think I should tell you why.”

  Her hands moved together on her lap. She fiddled with her fingers and stared down at the tablecloth. Waiting patiently, I tried to read her mind.

  “Leslie was right,” she finally said. “I had met Kason before but not just at the club that night.”

  “Oh.”

  “He asked me out, but I said no.” Candice blurted out. “I told him I wasn’t interested. Leslie and I went home, and I never thought I’d see him again.”

  “But?”

  “But he showed up at my office to ask me out again.” She closed her eyes. “I said yes, and we went to dinner, but I realized I missed you too much to be with anyone else. I left before the date was even over.”

  I could see how hard it was for Candice to tell me the truth about Kason. Her brown eyes opened again and settled nervously on my face. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember why I was keeping any secrets from her.

  Clearing my throat, I reached for her hand.

  “I don’t care that you went on a date with Kason,” I said. “Besides, I already knew about it.”

  Candice blinked. Jerking her head back, she searched my face for an explanation. All I could do was hope she would understand.

  “Look, I don’t want to keep anything from you,” I said. “Not again. Not when things are going so well with us.”

  “Okay.” Candice nodded for me to continue.

  “Kason and I are friends. We’ve known each other since college, and we work together at Romeo Rebound. He’s the one who got me the job.”

  Realization slowly dawned on Candice’s face. She shook her head and dropped back into her seat. I didn’t know what else to say, so I just waited. My stomach flipped over itself a thousand times before Candice finally spoke.

  “My mother?” she asked.

  “Yes.” I jumped at the chance to explain. “When things didn’t work out with us, your mom asked B to put another Romeo on the job. Kason.”

  “That’s why he was so pushy.”

  “Exactly.”

  Candice chucked darkly and shook her head. Reaching for her wine glass, she took a long drink and swallowed hard.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away,” I said quickly. “I only talked to Kason this morning, and I didn’t want to ruin our day together.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I held my breath while Candice looked over my shoulder thoughtfully. Her beautiful brown eyes blinked and focused on my face. I watched closely as the corners of her lips slowly twitched upward.

  “This is ridiculous.” She let out a shrill laugh. “My mother is insane. Who does this to people? She actually set me up with two male escorts.”

  Wincing at the word escort, I tried not to show my disapproval. She was right, just like Max had always been. As much as I tried to pretend otherwise, there wasn’t anything noble about being a Romeo.

  “I was livid when I found out,” I said. “All I wanted was to get you back, and then, suddenly, B was sending another Romeo in. I hated it.”

  Candice reached for me. Our foreheads fell togeth
er. She closed her eyes and mine quickly followed. For a split second, I was relieved that the truth was out until I realized there was still more to tell.

  “Candice.” I pulled away. “That’s not everything.”

  She frowned, her entire body going rigid. Sitting frozen, she waited for me to explain, but I knew this part would be harder to hear.

  “Kason didn’t just run into Leslie by accident,” I said. “When you walked out on your date with him, your mom decided he should turn his attention on Leslie.”

  Candice slumped forward, soft laughter rippling through her chest. I didn’t know what to say. The last thing I expected her to do was laugh.

  Leaning back, I watched as the laughter finally died away.

  “She’s unbelievable,” Candice said. “I mean, did she really think I wouldn’t find out? She knows you and I are seeing each other again. Of course, you would tell me about Kason! God, she’s an idiot.”

  “I don’t think she cares,” I said honestly. “As long as her daughters do what she wants, it doesn’t matter to her what else happens.”

  “But this is going to crush Leslie.”

  Candice’s face fell. I knew she was remembering how she felt when she found out about me. I wanted nothing more than to take that memory away from her, but I couldn’t. And I hated myself for it.

  “What can I do?” I asked, leaning forward.

  Candice considered it. “Take me home,” she said. “This day has been too perfect to ruin. I just want to be with you tonight.”

  ***

  We made it back to my place just before midnight. Our dinner had gone on longer than either of us planned. Between our usual banter and the sudden revelations about Kason and Leslie, we were both exhausted.

  Stumbling through the front door, Candice and I toppled onto the couch together. She curled up against my side and rested her head against my chest.

  I breathed in her scent, happy she was still with me after everything.

  “I thought you would hate me,” I admitted. “When I told you about Kason, I expected you to walk out on me.”

  Candice sat up to look at me. “Why?”

  “Because it’s happening all over again, this time to Leslie.”

  Sighing, Candice laid back down on my chest. I ran my fingers through her hair and listened to her breathe.

  “It’s not your fault,” she finally said. “It’s my mom. She does this. She weasels her way into everyone’s lives and manipulates things until they are exactly what she wants. It’s diabolical.”

  “Are you going to talk to her?” I asked.

  “Not tonight,” she said.

  I stroked her hair and let silence envelop us both. Candice’s mind was still spinning. I could tell from the way she kept playing with my shirt.

  Just when I was about to ask what she was thinking, she sat bolt upright and whipped around to face me. A severe expression crossed her face, her old confidence firmly in place.

  “I’m going to ask you something,” she said. “And I want an honest answer, okay? Whatever you say, I won’t care. I won’t get upset. I just want the truth.”

  I was nervous, but I knew I’d never lie to her again. “Okay,” I said. “What is it?”

  “Are you doing this for my mother?” she demanded. “Is everything between us still just a job? Just a way to finish out the contract and get paid?”

  “What?”

  I couldn’t believe she would even ask, but as I searched her face I saw the fear hidden behind the confidence. She was terrified I was going to hurt her again.

  “Candice,” I said gently. “Your mother wants you to take a date to the banquet, right? If I really cared about the job, don’t you think I would have been trying to convince you to take me?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “Listen.” I pulled her closer to me. “I don’t care about your mother or some stupid banquet. I care about you. And I’m in this for you. No one else.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked weakly. “Because now would be the time to tell me.”

  I kissed her to get rid of any doubts she still had. She resisted at first, her entire body tensed with fear, but slowly, she sank against me.

  Kissing me back, Candice let go of her worries and gave herself over to me. I felt her fear melt away as I kissed her with as much passion as I could muster.

  Chapter 52

  Candice

  I kicked my leg over Ryan’s lap and straddled him. He pushed himself back against the couch cushions, his hands moving to the small of my back. Holding me against him, Ryan’s lips never stilled. They kissed me with such fervor, I soon had to tear myself away just to take in a sharp breath.

  Ryan’s lips moved to my neck.

  He licked and kissed me, nibbling my sensitive skin before moving even lower. He kissed my tits, cursing the fabric that separated us.

  I pulled his lips back to mine, needing to feel him as deeply as I could. Our bodies tangled together as our need for each other only grew. Within seconds, my panties were covered in desire, and I knew I didn’t want to wait another second to be naked with him.

  Pulling away, I got to my feet and quickly pulled my shirt over my head.

  Ryan fell to the floor at my feet, kneeling so he was tall enough to kiss my naked stomach. He wrapped his arms around me and gripped my ass while I unhooked my bra and tossed it to the floor behind me.

  Ryan’s hands grazed a gentle trail around my body. His finger searched frantically for the button of my pants and he pulled them quickly to my ankles. I stepped out of them as he shoved my underwear aside, one finger slipping between my folds.

  “Oh god.” I moaned and threw my head back.

  Ryan shoved my panties even farther to the side. His tongue lapped me up, stopping on my clit and pressing forward just enough to drive me insane.

  With his head buried between my legs, Ryan claimed me as his own. His incredible tongue lashed against my clit and made me forget my own name. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even see.

  My eyes closed as an orgasm rocked through me.

  “Ryan!”

  Gripping his head with my hands, I fell forward. Ryan caught me easily and scooped me into his arms.

  We flew up the stairs and Ryan kicked open his bedroom door. Stepping inside, he practically ran over to the bed before throwing me down against the pillows.

  I stared up at him, watching as he shook off his clothes. His eyes never left my face as he crawled up my body, running his lips over my skin until he reached my face. With one hand, Ryan reached down and finally pushed my panties down my legs. I kicked them off just as his lips descended on mine.

  Moaning, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him against me. Finally, there were no clothes to separate us, nothing to stand in the way of us acting out our most primal desires.

  I threw my legs around his waist and lifted my hips, feeling his hard dick press against my needy pussy.

  “Please,” I begged, breaking free from Ryan’s kiss. “Ryan, I want to feel you.”

  He lifted me into the air and spun around. Sitting down on the bed, Ryan positioned me above him and slid inside me effortlessly.

  I moaned and threw my head back, but Ryan didn’t let me get far. His lips once against found my chest. Pulling one nipple into his mouth, Ryan thrust his hips upward to meet me. I cried out with pleasure and threw my ass down on top of him.

  We threw ourselves against each other, our arms holding each other for dear life. Ryan’s grunts and cries were music to my ears, and I longed to elicit more from him.

  Pushing him backward on the bed, I took control.

  My body knew what it wanted, and nothing was going to stand in the way of me getting it. I rode Ryan hard, my ass lifting just enough to dart back down and make Ryan moan my name.

  His fingers dug into me while his eyes widened with need.

  Just before I came, I threw one leg over Ryan’s body and spun around on his dick. I
faced away from him and gave myself over to the sensations rocking through my core.

  My orgasm was so intense that it took me by surprise. I screamed and lunged forward, my hands slapping against Ryan’s legs for support.

  He lifted his hips and thrust deeper inside of me while I trembled with pleasure. I sat back up and rolled my hips slowly back and forth while Ryan moved closer to the edge of ecstasy.

  “Candice.” He grunted and held onto my hips tighter. “Jesus fucking Christ, Candice!”

  With an animalistic grunt, Ryan jerked upward. His dick twitched inside of me, and I moaned at the sensation, the remnants of my own pleasure still fresh between my legs.

  Ryan held onto me for a few minutes before either of us could move. My body felt like it was glued to him. I knew the second I broke our connection, I would regret it, but my body ached with exhaustion, and I had to rest.

  Rolling to the side, I collapsed against the bed.

  Laughing, I tried to sit up but couldn’t. Ryan chuckled beside me, his hand reaching across the bed for mine.

  “You okay, over there?” I asked, but he couldn’t speak. “Did I break you?”

  Ryan nodded, but still didn’t say anything. Still snickering to myself, I pushed myself up to a sitting position and turned to face him. He stared at me, wide-eyed and shaking.

  His breath hadn’t yet slowed and mine was still jagged. I felt my body sway to the side, and I knew sitting up so soon had been a mistake. Putting my hand against my forehead, I leaned over in search of Ryan’s body.

  Ryan barely moved but it was enough to guide me back down. With one hand, he slowly lowered my body back down against the bed. I laughed at my weak state and let the swaying motion take control of me.

  My head fell against Ryan’s stomach. I tried to slow my breathing but the feel of his abs beneath me only fueled my desire even more.

  With trembling legs, I pushed myself slowly up his body. His arms moved to circle around me as he held me against his chest. Turning my head to the side, I placed a soft kiss against his hot skin. Sweat coated my lips, reminding me once again of just how badly I still wanted him.