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“Right, I guess I did.” She removed her arms from him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” She took the check, feeling much more awkward than she had when she’d accepted the first payment. A few days ago their arrangement had been a business transaction, but now things were different. At least she thought they were. “We had a deal.”
“I wanted to give it to you earlier, but we had a hectic morning and then it didn’t feel right to bring it up during the car ride home.”
“Maybe there’s a reason it didn’t feel right.” She opened the door and climbed out of the car.
Andrew quickly got out but Spencer halted him with his hand. “Give us a minute, please.”
“Sure.” Andrew got back in the car.
“Dakota, wait.” He followed her up the porch steps that led to her apartment. “What’s wrong?”
She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes before turning to face him. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. I can see it in your expression. I hurt you and I didn’t mean to do that. What was I supposed to do? Forget about our agreement? Say nothing?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “We did a good job of forgetting about it the past two days. I guess I thought... Never mind.”
“What did you think?”
“I’m not sure.” She hadn’t realized she’d feel so cheap. “I thought I meant more to you than the money. I guess I was wrong.”
“What I feel for you has nothing to do with that money. We discussed this.” He paced the small porch, getting more agitated with each step. “I told you sex would complicate things.”
“You weren’t complaining when you took me to bed.”
Her defense mechanisms were up. Instincts always kicked in when she felt the need to protect herself. Her mother had been burned by her father. Coda knew how her mom felt about men. She’d grown up learning not to trust them. Spencer was different. He had to be.
“Why are you doing this? I thought we had separated the two.” He looked confused.
“Is it so easy for you?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. I made a deal with you. I don’t take my contracts lightly. I’m a businessman. That’s what I do.”
“I’m more than some proposal.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” He yelled. “You fucking told me some nights you don’t have enough to eat. Do you think that sat well with me? Did you think I would ever let that happen again?”
“I’m not your responsibility. I’m not one of those charity auction recipients you seem to be so fond of.” She allowed her pride to get in the way. When he’d approached her with this proposition it seemed like a means to an end. Now that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“I don’t see you as a charity case.” He softened his tone. “I thought you understood.”
“You did a few days ago.” She tried to hold back the tears. On Tuesday it was easy for her to take his money. She didn’t know him. She wouldn’t dare hope to know a man like him. Now, standing on her stoop in Brooklyn, she realized how foolish she had been. They were miles apart. He would go back to the penthouse and she would be a waitress and a cleaning woman.
“I upheld my end of the bargain. I had hoped we’d be able to move past that but—”
“Dakota.” Her mother stepped out onto the porch. “Is everything okay? I heard yelling.”
“Hey, Ma. We’re fine.” She looked at Spencer. “I was just coming inside.”
“Mrs. Vercelli.” Spencer walked toward her and extended his hand. “I’m Spencer Cannon, a friend of your daughter’s. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Deb.” Her mother took his hand. “Is that your car, Mr. Cannon?”
“Yes.” He smiled, turning on all of the Cannon charm Coda had become so fond of. “Call me Spencer, Deb.”
