Page 32 of Stolen Summer
A glimmer of heat sparked where gold flecked his eyes.
My free hand curled against my thigh, fingers pressing into my flesh. “Fine, I’ll play. How exactly would I be helping you? I think I’ve already established my position on sleeping with strangers for money. I’m not a prostitute or a whore.”
I’d agreed to nothing, and a slow victorious smile twisted on his lips. “No sex. That luxury is optional and only if it’s something we both agree to, but us getting naked has nothing to do with what I’m offering you.”
“I’m still unclear what you’re offering.”
His intense dark eyes stayed on mine as he said, “Stay with me here until the end of the summer.”
“I need to work. I can’t afford to lose my job,” I explained, poking holes in his offer, grasping at excuses, because I could definitely not spend a summer with Cole Riley. It had nothing to do with how people would talk because I didn’t give a field of fucks. What bothered me was who I would be at the end of the summer. I’d spent a single night with him, and I could already feel the effect he had on me—the pull—the desire.
Cole wasn’t someone I wanted or had the time to get entangled with.
Then again, with the money he was offering, I could go away to college. I could make sure Dad was cared for and the bills paid, giving me the freedom I so desperately craved.
Flickering candlelight glinted off the silver hoop on his bottom lip. “Fine. But your nights and days off are mine,” he conceded, being too damn agreeable.
“How much?” I wasn’t actually considering this, was I? Dangle dollar bills in front of me and I’d sell my soul to the devil. For the right amount, of course.
“Throw out a figure,” he said, raking a hand through his onyx hair.
“A hundred,” I tossed out, believing there was no way he’d agree. Foolish.
“Done.” Not a split second of hesitation. Didn’t blink an eye. Or break a sweat.
“Thousand,” I added in case he misunderstood. “A hundred thousand.”
“I got it. Not a problem.”
I cocked my head to the side, eyeing him. “I want half up front. A down payment.” What the hell am I doing negotiating with him?
He toyed with his lip ring with his thumb as he rested his chin on his hand. “You don’t trust me?”
“Hell no,” I retorted, polishing off my last bit of wine.
He smirked. “Good. You shouldn’t. I’ll get you the fifty thousand.”
Was it fate my path crossed with Cole’s when I was drowning in debt with no way out? A dark, twisted fate, most likely. “Before I take any money from you, we need to set some ground rules.”
His eye twitched at the mention of rules. “Like?” he prompted.
“Like what’s expected of me. What do I tell people? Do you sleep naked? Or have any other annoying habits I should be aware of?”
“If I need to go out, you will come with me. Doesn’t matter what it is. Dinners. Parties. Dates. No questions asked. If you need anything for these outings, I will pay for it. You stay here. Every night. People need to believe we’re living together. I sleep naked when the mood strikes, particularly on hot nights, and I guess we’ll find out what other ways I can annoy you.”
“That’s all?”
His smile was slow and dark. “Only more if you want there to be.”
I wanted to be unaffected by him, but my body was drawn to all the wrong things about Cole. Warmth unfurled in my stomach. “I won’t. No sex. I need to make that clear.”
“I don’t force girls to have sex with me. You won’t have to worry about me sneaking into your room in the middle of the night…not without an invitation,” he added, making it known if I wanted him in my bed he’d be a willing partner.
This deal seemed too good to be true, and in my experience, if something seemed too good, it usually was. I wanted the fine print. “Where’s the catch?”
“There isn’t one, Killer.”
My lips pressed together, and I thought the third glass of wine hadn’t been smart. Or was it four? Regardless, I shouldn’t be making any promises I didn’t have the brain power to think through completely.