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“All right, let’s work through that. I’m a client, but not yours. So is the issue that I’m technically dating other people?”
“I suppose, yes.”
“Well, the whole process allows me to date multiple people, and I did read the code of conduct, so I know that until I’ve gone on three dates with the same person, I’m not actually considered exclusive. Am I wrong?” I slide my hand in my pocket to keep from reaching out and tucking a wayward lock of her hair behind her ear.
She sighs and I know my point has been made. “Dating is just dating. Until our dates progress outside of the program, nothing is exclusive.”
“Exactly. If you’re worried about that, I can promise you that I am exclusive to those I’m sleeping with, if that’s your holdup. I might be dating through HEA, but I won’t be sleeping with anyone else.” I lay it all out there. Hell, I’ll admit that going on those HEA dates doesn’t seem all that fun now that I’ve got Layla in my sights.
She makes a strained noise, twisting her lips in thought.
“What’s your holdup, Lays?” I ask her.
“I don’t want to risk messing up your match by being your fuck buddy,” she says, a bit harsher than I expected.
“First off, not fuck buddy. Not into that. Friends with benefits, maybe. Sexy fling? I’m digging that.” If I wasn’t under contract with arguably the best known matchmaker, I would consider offering up the girlfriend title, but I don’t as I think that would just ruin shit and really send Layla running scared.
She studies me for a moment, chewing on her words. Then she narrows her eyes at me. “Sexy secret fling,” she offers. I can’t control the shit-eating grin I feel take form.
“Sexy secret fling sounds hot as fuck,” I say. She smiles back, but then her eyes dim.
“Promise me that as soon as you start to feel a connection with a match, you’ll tell me. We will end this immediately,” she demands. And my gut tells me not to, only because I’m not convinced I’ll connect with the women Ruth has found for me.
“Promise me, Cole, or this is a no-go.” Her tone mixed with the determination on her face has me feeling like she may stomp her foot. She doesn’t, but I want to grin all the same.
I hold out my hand for a shake. An official agreement. “I promise that if I start to feel a connection with another woman, I will tell you.”
She studies my face, looking for my sincerity, and must find it as she reaches out and grasps my hand. Warmth from her touch zings through me and I pull her into me.
My lips brush her against the shell of her ear, sending a shiver through her. I can tell because I see it start in her shoulders. “Pleasure doing business with you. You’re mine until further notice, Lays. Come to my place when you’re done here.”
Feeling her breath on my cheek, my dick hardens and I need to adjust myself. Always adjusting myself when she’s around. I place a soft kiss just below her ear, then flick the lob of her ear with my tongue. Her gasp is hardly audible and my pants continue to get tighter.
“Okay.” She nearly moans.
With great effort, I move back, shifting a little in front of her in case we have an audience before hiding the problem in my pants. Her eyes drop and watch with rapt attention as I discreetly adjust myself.
“Fuck, you’re not helping,” I mutter as she licks her lips.
Lips I may or may not want wrapped around my…I shake my head. I need to focus.
“Sorry. But it’s your fault.” She shakes her head too. “I’ve got to get back.”
“When will you be done?” I ask her as we turn to walk back to the event.
She looks at her watch before answering. “We are halfway done with the speed dates. We take a small break and anyone who connected with someone gets a second, longer round. We cap that, though, so I should be done here by nine.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you my address,” I tell her, knowing I’ve got less than two hours before she shows up at my door.
“Great,” she says, and I reach out and brush my hand against hers as we part ways.
I see her smile, but she ignores me since her presence at the doorway to the event has been noticed.
Grinning to myself, I head down the hall and into Travis’s office where I stashed my messenger bag. Trying to hide my excitement for whatever I just started with Layla would be a fool’s errand at this point and I’m too damn smitten to care.
* * *
Layla shows up at my place not long after her work event ends.
