Bobby
I kiss Lexi, cupping the back of her head to hold her in place. She responds, her lips soft and supple. When we pull apart, I settle beside her, stroking my hand up and down the curve of her hip. “So, Lexi, are you in some kind of trouble?”
She goes still. “What do you mean?”
“I get the feeling you wouldn’t normally do something like this. Gina introduced us for a reason. I’m hoping it’s not because you’re an informer.” I smirk when her eyes round because I’m already certain she’s not.
She shakes her head.
“Something’s put the pinch on you. What is it?”
She opens her mouth, but no words come out.
“Is it money? Are you running from someone? Do you need protection?”
She draws in a shaky breath. “No, not at all.”
“Nah, don’t lie to me, Lexi. That’s gonna be a rule.”
She blinks with wide eyes but doesn’t speak.
“Tell me.”
Tears form in those beautiful blue eyes. “I got evicted today,” she admits, not quite meeting my gaze.
I nod, not surprised. I knew something had to be going on because she’s definitely not your usual bar floozy out to sink her claws into a rich guy. Nor is she just in it for the sex. She seemed surprised by her response to me last night. No, Lexi seems like a smart, normal girl who’s never done anything like this in her life. Which totally adds to her appeal. “Is your stuff still there, at your apartment?”
“Yeah. But I can’t get in and get it.”
I get up and fish my phone out of my trouser pocket. “What’s the address?” I ask, my thumb poised over the keypad.
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to get it back for you.” I raise my eyebrows to prompt her.
“3650 E. Walnut #254.”
“Landlord’s name and number?”
“Darrell Jones. I’ll get his number.” She pulls out her phone and scrolls through her contacts. “What are you going to do to him?”
I laugh. “What do you want me to do to him?”
“Nothing… I mean-”
I chuckle again. “I was just thinking along the lines of paying him enough to open up the place and let me move your stuff out.”
“Oh.” She looks embarrassed. “Sorry. I just… don’t know how all this works.”
“Did you think I was going to break his kneecaps?”
She shakes her head quickly in a way that tells me that’s exactly what she thought.
“I’m just an ordinary guy, Lex.” It’s not exactly true, but it’s the story I maintain. “I work in real estate and new construction. I use Family contacts to make deals, and I’m not above bending the law a bit to avoid paying Uncle Sam more than his fair share, but I’m not a thug.” Unless I need to be.
Her face flushes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Come here.” I pull her face up to mine and kiss her. “I’m not offended. I think you’re cute.”
She ducks her face by looking down at her phone to find the landlord’s contact information, which she reads off to me.
I enter it into my phone, then give it to her. “Put your number in.”
She sends herself a text that says, This is Lexi. “Thank you.” She looks vulnerable. “I really appreciate it.”
I put a knuckle under her chin to lift her pretty face. “I will handle all your problems. I always take care of what’s mine,” I promise.
“You want me to owe you.”
I grin. “Smart girl.”
The corners of her lips quirk, and my dick thickens. I have mad chemistry with this woman.
“I’ll let you know how it goes with your landlordwhether I have to rearrange his face or not.” She looks up, and I wink. “Just kidding. I mean, I could go that route if you want.” I narrow my eyes, aggression suddenly flooding my veins at a thought. “Did he touch you? Hurt you?”
“No, no, no.”
“Screw you over?”
She shakes her head quickly, and I force myself to relax. “It was my fault. I got behind on rent and stupidly thought he’d let me keep chipping away at the balance.” She shrugs. “He didn’t.”
“Well, fuck him. You’re gonna love your new place. I’ll take you right now. Or as soon as you want.”
She picks up her second shot of tequila, downs it, then hops off the barstool. “I’m ready.”
I throw a hundred-dollar bill down on the bar for Stan, the bartender, and take her hand. I like that she’s not as nervous with me this time. She seems relievedlike she trusts me to take care of her.
I will. I definitely want to take care of her and her problems because I can tell she doesn’t deserve them.
Lexi
“So tell me about this job you’re applying for,” Bobby says in the car, surprising me with what seems like genuine interest.
“It’s a trainer position for Stellar, a major hair product company. They’re looking for a representative to teach workshops on how to use their hair color.”
“Sounds great.”
“Yeah, it’s a great salary with benefits, but I don’t know if I have a real shot at it or not.”
“Why not?”
My face heats. “I don’t know…I mean, my work is good, but”
“But what?”
I shrug. “I don’t know if it’s good enough.”
Bobby frowns. “No, fuck that,” he says. “Is it good enough?” There’s a demand in his voice, but it’s not unkind. I can tell he’s trying to coach me here.
I grow even hotter and shift in the Porsche’s seat as I consider the question. Do I really believe my work is good enough for me to be hired? Do I think I deserve this position? “Yeah.” I’m sort of surprised by my answer. “I’m good.” Admitting it out loud feels sacrilegious but also wonderful. Like I’d been hiding how good I was from the world for fear of getting singled out. Or having someone smack me down and tell me I’m not. I nod, a bubbling sense of enthusiasm growing in my chest. “I’m really good.”
Bobby grins. “Then own it, baby. You’re fantastic, and you deserve this position.”
I glance down at my hands clutching my purse in my lap. “I do.”
“Good girl. Send your portfolio in with that attitude, and they’ll hire you in a heartbeat.”
I lean back in my seat, feeling more comfortable. “Thanks.”
Bobby reaches over and squeezes my knees. “Don’t thank me. It’s all you, doll. You’re the one with talent here.”
As we drive, I sneak glances at him, remembering our sex the night before. I think of him naked–all chiseled muscle, dark, manly curls dusting his chest. Using him out of financial desperation isn’t really a sacrifice. He doesn’t seem like the kind who has to buy a lover. In fact, I’m surprised he doesn’t have women throwing themselves at his feet. Of course, maybe he does…
Either way, it doesn’t matter. This is a temporary situation, obviously. I won’t get emotionally involved because it’s not a real relationship. It’s more like a job or a position. A position that might be easy because of the great boss.
He drives to his apartment and parks in an underground parking lot, leading me to the elevator with his hand at my low back. He kisses me on the way up, and I melt with each persistent stroke of his tongue. By the time we reach his floor, my skin tingles for his touch.
“So this is the place.” Bobby tosses me the keys after he opens the door to his apartment. “The washer and dryer are in that closet over there. Garbage gets dumped in the bin in the parking garage. The cleaners come in every other Tuesday, around noon.”
Cleaners? Um, wow. Hell, yes, I will live in a luxe apartment that comes with a bi-monthly cleaning service!