by Kaci Rose
One wall has several bookcases filled with books and picture frames.
"Can I see your book?" He asks almost like a kid in a candy store, which makes me smile.
I take out my computer and pull the book up.
"Remember this is unedited so please overlook any mistakes as I haven't gone back over it yet."
He sits down on the couch to read it and I walk around the room. I start with the bookcases and take in the books. They are leather bound and range from the classics to more modern books. But they’re mostly mysteries.
I examine the photos of him and his mom, which look like they were taken at company events. I make my way over to one of the windows by the fireplace and I can see the bright night sky and some stars.
He pulls me from my star gazing. "This is really good! I'm not just saying that, but it really is. This is something I’d read, and I can't wait to read it when it's finished."
"Well, you’ll have a long wait at the rate I'm going." I sit down next to him.
He brings his hand to my cheek. "You have a gift here, take some downtime and write this book."
I smile, and he leans in and kisses me. His lips on me after teasing me at dinner all night, feels so good that a little moan escapes me. He takes that moment to slip his tongue into my mouth and deepen the kiss.
He shifts towards me and his hand on my legs starts running up my skirt and it's too much. I pull away and stand up, trying to catch my breath.
"What's wrong?" his concerned look has me looking away from him.
"I don't know."
"Well, why did you pull away?"
Ahh, the loaded question. Why? Because it feels wrong, he's paying me for tonight's date. He wasn't paying me on Sunday. That little issue of money seems to change everything.
Why does it change things? Well, because on Sunday he was there because he wanted to be. Just friends. Now it's different. The entire dynamic is different.
I sigh, "Because it feels wrong."
He doesn't say anything, so I finally look back at him. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he looks hurt.
"Being with me feels wrong?" His tone is flat, with no emotion.
"Yes... no." I take a deep breath "Just, you’re paying me to be here to tonight. Anything past kissing feels wrong."
"Ahhh," he says, thinking.
Needing to fill the silence I continue, "I don't know, this is all new to me and I'm probably doing it all wrong, and you’re going to want to find someone who knows what they’re doing." I keep blabbering on, as he’s shaking his head.
He stands up and grabs my hand, "Come on."
He takes me across his house to his office. I look at the bookcase lined walls as he grabs something off his desk, and we sit down on the couch.
"This is the contract I had drawn up last week. I knew then I wanted to keep seeing you. I knew on Sunday I wanted to make sure your girls are taken care of and I knew yesterday I wanted you free from that job, away from Tony and to focus on your writing. My lawyer thinks I'm crazy, but here goes nothing."
My heart races, I could pretend he cares when he talks like that.
"So, the terms would stay as they are now, but if you quit your job to focus on your writing, I'd add an extra fifteen-hundred dollars a month to your allowance."
Right then, I get a sinking feeling. The allowance. Even when he isn't paying me for the night, he is still paying me in general, isn't he?
I can't sit still. I get up and pace the room.
"Look at me," he says.
I take a minute before I meet his eyes.
"The last few days have changed things. I never expected it. I want to spend time with you. I'd toss this contract so fast and beg you to go on normal dates with me and have a real relationship, but I also need to know you and the girls are provided for. I know you won't take money from me or let me pay for things any other way, so this the only way I know how to do it."
This all makes me sick to my stomach. I like him and I want a genuine relationship too. I'm not sure when that switch happened, but we can never have that with the money in the way, can we?
"No matter how you look at it, you’re paying me for anything we do, and it makes me feel dirty." I shake my head.
I turn to walk out of his office, and he grabs my wrist, it's a light touch enough to get my attention and easy to break his grip with a simple move.
"Okay, we toss this then. But I have to know you are okay. Please, I know what it's like to have a single mother. What if we kept our Friday dinners, five-hundred dollars for Friday dinner and eight-hundred dollars per night for work galas? I have at least two of them a month. You keep the thousand-dollar clothing allowance because I like spoiling you. That's it. Any other time we hang out or talk, no pay. I’ll still pay for everything on dates because that’s how I am. But there are no expectations, and nothing happens if you don't want it too."
My mind races. Can I have a real relationship with him, but do the paid thing twice a week? Even the lower end is more than I make a month full-time at the shop.
It's so hard to turn down the money. I started doing this for my girls. Being able to have a little more time with them, making sure I have the money to buy clothes and shoes during their next growth spurts and have money to allow them to go on field trips. Making sure I have money if my car breaks down.
Heck, it would be nice to take them on a small vacation for the first time in their lives. They deserve that! But my feelings for Owen. They’re strong and I like spending time with him. He is one of the good guys.
But why me? After all this time of him saying he doesn't want anything serious, why me? But he did say he'd toss out the whole contract.
With the money he’s providing, I could go in, quit my job, and get away from sleazy Tony. I could take my time finding the perfect job so when I do have to walk away from this arrangement because my heart is too involved or Owen decides a single mom is too much for him, I have a better job lined up.
Is this the type of relationship I want though? If we keep the physical stuff to any day but Friday and Saturday, then he really isn't paying for sex, so it won't matter, right? But if we do this a real relationship there should be no money between us.
Can I really be that selfish and turn down money to make sure the girls are taken care of just for a chance of a relationship with Owen that might or might not work out? The money was always a way for him to keep his walls up, right? He said so himself.
"This is just a way to keep your walls in place, isn't it?" I start thinking out loud, "Things get too hard, you can default back to Friday night dinner, keep seeing me but with the wall between us."
He shakes his head, "You really think that? It’s been two weeks and you already know more about me than some people who have been around me for years."
He takes a deep breath. "Making sure you’re taken care of means everything to me. I've seen a single mother struggle and I can't bear to see you struggle. You have two amazing kids, and they aren't lacking for anything but time with you. I want to give you that time. That's all I wanted from my mom growing up was her time. She gave me as much as she could, and I soaked it up. So, if that's a wall then so be it, but making sure you have that freedom means more to me then sex. Would I like to have sex with you? Yeah, I'd love to have you in my bed, under me and wrapped around my cock."
He takes a shaky breath and I notice him getting hard, which makes my breathing pickup.
"But if making sure you have what you need means giving sex up, then that's what I'll do."
Tears well in my eyes and I can't think about all this, I want to go talk to my mom. I’ll tell her everything, I need her advice.
"I have to think about it," I pick up my stuff. "Please take me home."
"George, my driver will take you. Please text me when you get in safely." I nod. His tone is all business, so I head to the door.
I give him one last look and see his cold face void of emotion. And I turn and walk out the
door.
My mind races the whole way home and when George pulls in, he parks next to my car. I get out, thank him for the ride, and get inside my car. I text Owen that I'm home. Then text Mia saying I'm going to be late and I was going to my mom's, that I need to talk, and I'd tell her later.
I drive to my parent’s house. I pull in and knock on the door. It takes my mom a few minutes to answer. I know they are all ready for bead and probably in their room watching TV.
She opens the door and instantly sees the tears running down my face and pulls me inside and wraps me in a hug. Without a word, she sits me on the couch and goes to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and two glasses.
She sits down next to me, fills our glasses, and turns to me.
"Okay, spill it and not the wine," She hands me my glass.
Oh boy, do I spill it. I start at the beginning from Mia sending me to the mixer and the arrangement Owen and I have, the conversation at the gala when he kissed me, Clara's conversation in the bathroom, him coming over for pizza on Sunday, and even what happened after the girls went to bed. But I skip the details. I tell her about him talking to my boss and then about tonight and both his offers and down to how I said I needed to think and then came here. By the time I'm done, we have finished off a bottle of wine and my mom goes to the kitchen to get another.
I take a deep breath and pick up my phone to text Mia that I'm going to crash on my mom’s couch due to the wine. I see I have a message from Owen too.
Owen: George says you got in your car and left. Please let me know where you are and when you get home.
Me: I'm not going home tonight. I'm fine.
Then a text from Mia comes in telling me to drink it up with my mom and she’ll see me in the morning expecting the full details.
Another text from Owen comes in.
Owen: Why not?
Me: Because I'm not.
I put my phone down. I know I'm being childish, but I'm not thinking clearly right now. My mom sees me putting my phone down.
"Is that him?" She asks and I nod.
"Honey, I could tell on Saturday that man was falling for you. The look in his eyes is how your daddy still looks at me. I saw some photos online of the gala and he was always looking at you and his eyes were shining. So, what if it's only been two weeks. I knew in two days your dad was the one. And we’ve been married over thirty years now."
She sips her wine and continues. "Time means nothing when you really get to know someone. You guys have spent hours talking and getting to know each other. It's normal for any guy when he falls for a woman to need to take care of her. He’s known the single mom life from the kids’ point of view, and I bet that makes it even more important to him that you’re taken care of. He’s going about it the only way he knows how." She gives me one of her dramatic pauses she’s known for.
"You have to give him a break and honestly, I'd take him up on this offer. You need to quit that job and I want you to write that book, you have something there. He's also right, your kids just want your time, and he wants to give you that."
I sigh, why does my mom always make sense?
"Take this second offer. It's the best of both worlds, but put a time frame on it. Say for only two or three months to finish your book and then drop it and see where things are. Save up money and get another job or write another book. This isn't forever, this is for now. I think it’s very sweet how he wants to look after you and the girls. And I bet that's him, worried and blowing up your phone right now."
I don't look at the phone. I have it on silent, and it’s lighting up each time a text comes in.
"But him paying for my time, even two days a week, doesn't it make me dirty if we sleep together?"
Yes, I asked my mom this; she was always one of those cool moms who I could talk to about anything, and my friends would talk to about stuff they couldn't with their parents.
"Oh, baby, no, it's a normal course of a relationship. Other couples the guy pays for dates or weekends away, and gifts, it's just a different way of taking care of you. He even said he'd give that up to know you’re provided for. How many men would do that? They would rather leave sex on the table. Is this the best way to go about everything? Maybe not, but it's him doing his best. I bet this is all new for him too, from what you have told me. It’s scary, but if you don't take the leap, you could miss the best adventure.
I sigh. "Well, I have a lot to think about. Can I crash on the couch? Mia said it's okay."
"Of course, baby, or go up to your room. Text that man or call him to let him know you’re okay. You know where everything is. I love you."
"Love you too, and the couch sounds good tonight."
My mom gives me a kiss on the cheek and heads back to bed. I'm sure to recap it all to my dad. Once she’s gone, I look at my phone.
Owen: Because you’re not? Please talk to me.
Owen: Please let me know you’re okay.
Owen: Who is with the kids?
Owen: Ellie...
I sigh and call him.
And I can hear the panic in his voice. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine I went to my parents’ house. I wanted to talk to my mom, and we had a lot of wine, so I'm staying here. Mia is with the kids so she told me to stay."
He lets out a breath.
"I'm glad you’re okay," his tone is back to formal. "Good night."
"Hey wait."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry about how I left. I needed to think. This just isn't a normal relationship."
He sighs, "I don't know how to do normal and make sure you have everything you need. If I had it my way, I'd move you guys in here and one of the problems would be solved, but I don't think I can get you to agree to that."
I laugh, "No you can't."
"So good to hear you laugh, baby." I can hear the smile in his voice.
I smile. "So good to hear you call me baby."
"How much have you had to drink?"
"Mom and I finished off two bottles of wine. But I'm pretty she drank more than me. I told her everything." I almost whisper the last part.
"What did she say?" His tone is soft and back to the Owen of our nightly phone calls.
"She said you’re sweet and even though you understand the single mother role from the other side of how I'm living it, but you still get it. She said you were doing the best you could."
He takes a ragged breath.
"She also said most guys would rather have sex on the table than making sure someone else's kids are taken care of and I have to agree with her."
He’s quiet for a minute. "Please, can I see you? I'll stay outside I just... Please." He says.
Maybe it's the vulnerability in his voice, or maybe it's the wine.
"Yes, I'll text you the address."
We hang up and less than thirty minutes later he texts me he's outside. My parents' room is at the back of the house, but I'm still quiet as I head outside and slip into his car. The partition is up between us and the driver and as soon as the door closes, his lips are on mine. He pulls me on to his lap so I'm straddling him. He pulls back from the kiss and looks at me.
From the concern in his voice, I can tell he was worried about me, but the look in his eyes right now is what makes my stomach clench. If I believed what my mom said, I'd say it was love. But that’s impossible, right?
"I'm sorry I worried you tonight. I wasn't purposefully ignoring you, I was talking to my mom and didn't notice my phone. I had it on silent during the dinner tonight and never turned the sound back on."
He pulls my forehead to his. "I'm sorry for tonight, I never meant for it to go like this."
"Shhhh," I tilt my head until our lips touch. I kiss him fiercely this time. I'm still in the skirt from dinner and I can feel his erection through my panties. His thick cock is pressing right against my pussy and I’m already wet from that kiss.
I pull back. "Friday night and work functions only," I say, and he lights up. "For the next two mon
ths while I work on my book."
He nods.
"Any time other than those two nights is us, raw and real. We’re going to fight and there might be carry over to Friday night, but I won't let it affect me when it comes to your work. But I have a few conditions."
"Anything and it's yours, baby," he says.
"First this is a real relationship" he nods, and I continue "That means monogamous, there is no one else. There are titles, boyfriend, girlfriend and there are emotions."
"There is no one I want other than you."
"Even if sex isn't on the table?"
"Then my dick and my hand will be best friends more than they are now."
I nod. "So, you agree to number one?"
"Yes, to all the above," he says and kisses me soft and quick. "I can’t wait to introduce you as my girlfriend." He gives me one of his smiles that light up his face.
I smile too. "Okay, number two. Extravagant gifts need to be kept to a minimum. I know you want to spoil me, but things like the pizza and ice cream the other night mean more to me than diamonds and expensive clothes. I won't ever get mad at flowers, baked goods, pizza, or tacos."
I smile and kiss him before continuing, "which leads me to number three. Dates don't have to be expensive or even cost anything at all. I'd rather have a cheap meal and be full, then an expensive one and go home hungry."
He laughs, "Okay, I can agree to both, but you’re right I do want to spoil you."
"Well, things like the clothes I won't ever go out and use your money. If you want me to buy clothes, you’ll have to take me. Besides, I like getting your opinions on things."
He nods "Okay. Anything else?"
"One more thing. If you spend time with kids, they are not to know we are dating. They think I work for you as your assistant. Allie asked if I was, I just went with it. And if you make them a promise, do not ever break it. Their dad does that enough, they don't need more people in their life like that. Breaking a promise to them is a deal breaker in a relationship to me."
