So Sweet Read online

  I looked down at our fingers, toying together on my thigh, before I looked up at his profile. “So I got to see what it’s like to be around you. How do you feel about being around me?”

  “I like being around you.”

  “But… why me? This isn’t insecurity, I swear. You’re just, you’re paying right? So why not pay for—“

  “A prostitute.”

  “Well yeah, I get it, you own dating sites. Those who can’t do, teach. Or start an app. I just want to know where you’re coming from, where your head’s really at.”

  “Remember before we left and we talked about relationships? Prostitutes don’t do relationships with Johns,” he said with a smirk, but the light lift of lips quickly dropped. “Even I see there was a conflict of interest with me showing up at the sugar social.”

  “Okay. That’s fair. I—”

  “You’re normal.”

  The frankness of his tone caught me off guard. He went on before I could ask him to explain.

  “My life is not normal. I don’t do normal things, so it’s hard for me to just run into a normal girl in a Starbucks. I like normal. I miss normal, but the money attracts certain kinds of people. Men and women. And the money attracts a kind of person that isn’t always good for me. When I look at you, I see a normal, gorgeous girl with a good head on her shoulders and a good heart. You’re funny.”

  “I am. Go on.”

  He laughed. “And you think. When I asked you to come to New York with me, I know you thought about exactly what you were doing before you got on that plane. Most women I’ve met would have just called all their friends and told them to come along so they could party on my dime.”

  “Yeah. That’s not me.”

  “I know it’s not. But that’s why I’d like to spend more time with you.”

  There were elements of poor-little-rich-boy in what he was saying, but it did make sense. I couldn’t imagine what the idea of billions did to some people. It scared the shit out of me. It made me cautious, made me not want to take advantage. Something told me Michael had been treated with reverence and envy, certainly jealously, but since he’d amassed his fortune he might not have been treated with care. He wanted what we all did, a partner who liked him for him and I think I was there.

  I shook my head and glanced out the window.

  “To add to that, you killed it with the NBA rep.”

  “Mr. Sands?” I failed to hide my pleasant surprise.

  “Oh yeah. He loved you. I might have to take you to all my dinner meetings.”

  “Hmm. So what do we do now?”

  He shrugged then glanced over at me. “That’s up to you, but I’ll be up front and say I like you and I want to see you again.”

  “Me too. I’d like to be your sugar baby, but I have to tell you up front that I am still really conflicted about this. It’s—it’s still weird for me. Like do you really pay me? Are you paying taxes on this? When can I see you again?”

  “Yes, no, and you, Kayla, are welcome wherever I am.”

  “Jesus,” I said with a snort. “Keep talking like that and you’ll have a wife instead of a sugar baby.”

  “Give me time to buy a ring.” I would’ve thought he was serious if he hadn’t said it so casually. And if we’d known each other for more than two hours. And if I hadn’t just agreed to let him be my literal sugar daddy.

  “Ha. Funny. But really.”

  “I like having you around, if you wouldn’t be bored out of your fucking mind I’d tell you to come to the office with me.”

  “Yeah, that might be a little dull. And I—”

  “What?”

  “I should still look for jobs.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “It’s not that I’m not enjoying myself and I do appreciate the help. I just—”

  He took my hand again. “Kayla. I know that this situation pretty much equates to you being a kept woman, but I get it. I could have retired twenty years ago, but I like to work. I like being productive. And so do you.”

  That was exactly it. I did appreciate that Michael was offering his financial support, but I wouldn’t feel right just throwing in the towel and sitting on my ass. “Yeah. I have to do something.”

  “Then do something and tell me if you want my help. I can’t hire you, but I can make some calls, see if anyone needs someone who’s good at resourcing humans.”

  The minute he said the words, my heart pounded.

  “You don’t want to go back to HR, even in the meantime,” he said.

  “No. I loved my coworkers. I left some really good friends behind, but I hated that job. It was soul sucking.”

  “How about this? It’s summer. Look for jobs. Look for stuff that interests you. You’re bright, you seem like a fast learner, and I am not above making calls. If you find something you like, go for it.”

  “If I don’t?”

  “Take the summer and then, in the fall, go back to school or enroll in a graphic design course. I’ll cover it.”

  That made the ache in my chest go away, but it was replaced by a twinge of something else.

  “You don’t want me to pay for it.”

  “No,” I whined. What was wrong with me?

  “I’d be annoyed if we weren’t so alike. I understand not wanting a handout, but consider it this way, there is nothing wrong with accepting help. You won’t have loan debt, you won’t have to work two jobs to cover your expenses. And life is still life. Even if I pay for things I’m sure something else will come along to bite you in the ass in no time.”

  He was teasing me, but he had a point. There was nothing admirable about forcing myself to suffer and it wasn’t like my work ethic would take a dive. I was too anal for that. I didn’t have to turn into a lazy asshole, living off Michael until he got tired of me. I could use this time to make the positive moves I needed to make for myself.

  “You’re right, I’ll looking into some programs for the fall. This is me time.”

  “Damn straight it is.” Michael pulled to slow stop right in front of my building. Then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a serious fold of cash.

  “Was I that good?” I joked. Kinda.

  “Not for the sex, that was priceless.”

  “Oh wow. That was awful.”

  “I know. It’s for groceries and whatever else you and your roommate need. I’ll have Ruben order you a debit card that’s linked to one of my personal accounts. That should come in the next few days, but cash is always handy.”

  I took the bills, eyeing them a moment before I put them in my new purse. It was okay. I’d agreed to this. “Thank you.”

  “So would you be interested in seeing me again between now and the start of the semester?”

  “Of course,” I laughed. “Shut up. You’re the one with the crazy schedule.”

  “How about we have a little get together at my house this weekend? Invite some of your friends and we’ll grill out by the pool.” I’d missed the pool, but of course he had a pool.

  “That doesn’t qualify as partying on your dime?”

  “It does, but I’m extending the invitation this time.”

  I did the quick mental math. “Is five people okay? That includes one guy.”

  “Five friends is fine.” That damn mustache didn’t cover up that smirk for shit.

  “I mean I can put out a flyer on Facebook—”

  “Five is perfect. Get them all here and I’ll send a car. Day drinking in the sun doesn’t make for safe driving conditions.”

  “Right. Good thinking. Well...” I held out my hand for a formal shake. “Thank you for taking this meeting with me, Mr. Bradbury. I think our companies can do business together.”

  He looked down at my hand. “You sure you want to leave it this way?”

  I shook my head.

  “Didn’t think so,” he said, and then he kissed me. And it was a good kiss, slow and soft, like we were breathing each other in, and just when I thought he would stop
he’d come back for another nibble, another taste with his tongue.

  “What if I don’t want to wait until Saturday?” I asked.

  “Then text me and I’m yours.” And you know, even though he was probably the busiest man in the world, I knew he was serious.

  ✶

  “I just—how?!” Adler was pacing in front of the couch and I was sitting there trying not to laugh, though I was pretty shocked myself. I expected Adler to still be asleep when I got home, but she was lying in front of the TV, wide awake, with a bowl of eggs, waiting for me to walk in the door. Not because she was worried about me of course, but because she wanted to grill me for details.

  “You didn’t even want to sign up with Arrangements and somehow you land the most eligible bachelor on the planet, with sugar baby benefits. Oh, he paid our rent by the way. The leasing office called me down to verify everything was cool.”

  “Already? He just left!”

  “He paid it while you were in New York. He paid up the rest of our lease.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, through next March. How good are you at sucking dick?”

  “Hey!”

  She stopped pacing. “You did suck his dick, didn’t you?” Then she practically slid onto my lap on the couch and I had to move over just to see her face without it blurring. “Oh please tell me you sucked his dick. Tell me all about his dick. Was it a nice dick?”

  “Yes, his dick was very polite.”

  “Please, I’m begging you. Give me something.”

  “Okay, well he’s sweet. He’s honest and straightforward, which I like. He’s kind.”

  “Yeah, yeah he’s a very rich Boy Scout. Get to the good parts.”

  “He’s a good kisser. He’s really good at eating pussy. And he dicked me down real good last night.”

  “Oh my god, yes,” she moaned.

  “And this morning.”

  “Kayla!”

  “What?!”

  “I can’t believe you snagged a guy that gorgeous and that rich. On the first try!”

  “Thanks?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’d be shocked if anyone we knew had that kind of luck. So you’re okay with the sex part of the arrangement I guess?”

  “We had sex before we decided on our arrangement. But he didn’t rush me into it and we’d kissed a bunch already and that made me want more.”

  “What do you think would have happened if you said no flat out?”

  “Ah, nothing. He’s not a rapist.”

  “No I know, but I mean like in terms of what he wants for his sugaring?”

  I shrugged. “Guess we won’t find out cause I already did it and I’m gonna do it again. After I talk to him about the rent.”

  “No, no. Don’t. Let the rent thing slide. It’s cool. It’s fine. Be cool. ‘Kay?”

  I rolled my eyes. He had a little explaining to do.

  “You’ve made plans to hang out again, right? Or at least fuck again?”

  “Hang out for sure. And the fucking. Pool party at his house on Saturday. You’re invited. And between now and then...he said he’s only a text away.”

  “Text him now and tell him to come back over so I can look at him.”

  “No,” I said, laughing off her ridiculous suggestion, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel something close to jealousy. I felt possessive. That was it. I hadn’t told Adler how I was really feeling about Michael, how I already missed him and how even though Saturday was only a few days away I wanted to see him that night. We definitely had an arrangement that didn’t exactly make us boyfriend and girlfriend, but that didn’t make him communal. “He has actual work to do. I’m not bothering him.”

  “Fine. Be greedy.” Adler said, but she wasn’t done interrogating me. She asked me about every second of our trip and gave my new handbag a thorough inspection. I’d done good for my first outing, she said.

  By the time she’d finished her cross-examination, my first wind had worn off. I wanted to get some things done around the apartment and start a proper job search, but a late morning nap was calling my name. Adler’s too. She’d barely slept while I was gone. I changed into my normal pajamas and, as I climbed into my small, normal bed with its below average thread count sheets, I texted my baby sister, Kiara.

  I have a new boyfriend and he’s cuuuuuuute, followed by like eight smiley face emojis, and then I silenced my notifications.

  When I didn’t respond to her rapid-fire plea for details, she’d run to my other sister, Kaleigh, for information, but she’d do it right in front of my mom. That was their M.O. and how my mom usually kept tabs on me. They’d plant the seed of Michael’s existence in my mom’s head without me having to make an official declaration on his new place in my life. She’d bring him up the next time we talked.

  Before I hunkered down for good this time though, I sent one more text. To Michael.

  You covered the rest of our lease?!

  He texted back about thirty seconds later.

  I have no idea what you’re talking about. Probably an anonymous donation.

  And what if I’d said I didn’t want to be your sugar baby?

  You’d have to ask that anonymous donor.

  Mhm. I still don’t know why you picked me. There were a lot of cute girls at that sugar party.

  Response time: about one minute. My picture from my Arrangements profile popped up.

  Because you’re this beautiful all the time, even when you’re nervous or

  sleeping in my lap with your mouth hanging open.

  And the moment we met, I knew this beauty came from the inside.

  Plus. That ass.

  My laughter spurted out of me when I read that last bit, but my heart? It tripped over itself. He couldn’t say things like that, things so sweet and observant. Those were the kinds of things that would make me fall in love.

  He texted me again.

  You want to see me tonight?

  I thought about it for a moment, how it was probably a good idea to give us both some space. Give us both some time to process, to miss each other, but I already missed him. My hand was already typing before my brain caught up. He text me back right away. He’d be over to get me at eight.

  ✶

  Later in the afternoon, after some back and forth about the logistics of picking me up and driving back out to Malibu, only to drive me back to Miracle Mile in the morning, and after Michael casually explained that he was cool seeing me wherever and for however long because he had a full bathroom in his office complete with a shower and, of course, Ruben always made sure he had an extra set of clothes, I insisted we stay at my apartment that night. I didn’t have a butler-cook and I didn’t have a view, but we did have guest parking and a pizza place that delivered in twenty minutes right up the street. And then I remembered Adler would be there.

  I decided to tell her last minute that Michael was coming over. I’d put my room back in order and showered. Kinda tried to make it look like I was getting ready for a quiet night in. Eight came and about five minutes after it went, Michael texted and said he was going to be late. Work stuff, but he was still coming. Work stuff was fine with me, but I was anxious as hell waiting for the right second to tell Adler that he was going to be in our apartment. I knew exactly how she was around really hot guys. And I’d seen her in action around really hot, rich, older guys. My plan was to get Michael in the door, quick introduction, then lock him in my bedroom with me until the morning. Behind my bedroom door there would be sex and enough cute conversation to make you puke.

  My plan went completely to shit. Work stuff had Michael by the nuts until 11:30. I sat on the couch next to Adler through two full hours of The Bachelorette and three reruns of Friends. When he texted saying he was on the way, I just told her.

  “Michael’s coming over,” I said as I tossed my phone onto the coffee table.

  “Don’t sound so excited.”

  “Eh.”

  “Well I’m excited. B
RB.” I ignored Adler as she left the room. When she came back something looked different, like she’d brushed her hair. When she sat down next to me I caught a whiff of something minty.

  “Did you just brush your teeth?”

  She tossed her hair and smiled at me. “No.”

  When Michael finally got to our place I went down to let him in. He knew I was cranky and tired as soon as he saw me.

  He cupped my cheeks in his hands and kissed my lips. “I’m sorry.”

  “I might be too tired for sex.”

  An eyebrow popped up, and then he kissed me again. He had nice eyebrows. “That’s understandable. It is late. Let’s go upstairs and get you into bed.”

  When we got upstairs I let Adler get whatever she had to say out of her system. She hopped off the couch and held out her hand. I stood there as she introduced herself. Michael was perfectly polite, accepting Adler’s thanks for the rent money and her praise for starting Arrangements. He was charming and sweet and they could wrap it up any fucking day now cause I was tired and more than ready to be spooned or banged to sleep.

  When Adler asked him if he wanted to watch a movie and have some leftover pizza I may have groaned and leaned against the counter.

  Michael laughed this little half-laugh, half-cough, making it clear we were on the same page. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me upright. “I think I need to put my baby to bed.”

  “Aww Kay. He called you his baby.”

  “I know.” It was sweet, but I was still cranky and annoyed.

  “We’ll see you in the morning, Adler. It was nice to meet you.”

  I grumbled my goodnight as he shuffled me in the general direction of my bedroom. I led him the rest of the way. The moment the door was closed he started to strip. I got into my bed and watched. He stopped at his boxers.

  “Sorry I was so rude.”

  “Nah. Cranky Kayla is kinda cute.”

  “Just kinda? Oh fuck!”

  Michael froze.

  “I don’t have any condoms. Let me ask Ads if—.”