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Shelly giggles. “Youknow! An escort!”
I shake my head slowly. I didn’t include this in the original contract. It wasn’t what I was looking for. I’m not celibate. Not even close. This weekend is not a romantic getaway. It’s a family function. Besides, I need her to say yes. “No. You’d have to stay in the same room and share a bed with me. It has to look real. And you’d have to hold my hand and tell my family we’re courting. But other than that nothing. You probably wouldn’t even have to kiss me.”
“Oh.” Her gaze drops to my mouth and her tongue darts out to wet her lips for a moment that I feel as a physical pull. Then she sighs. “I see.”
Is it possible she’s disappointed by that information? Moon goddess, I’m an idiot. I should have said the contract included full intimacies. But I can’t change it now, I’ll look like a creep.
Fuck!
I could slap myself. Sleeping next to this beauty and knowing I could have had her is going to make this weekend that much harder.
Shelly leans forward conspiratorially as if she wants to tell me a secret. I almost laugh when her whisper still practically carries across the whole bar. “Y’know, it’s a shame you didn’t want a real escort fortonight.You’re pretty handsome and I really don’ wanna go home, ya know?”
OK, it’s official. She’s definitely had too much to drink. And I am far too tempted by her drunken flirting. Looking for an outlet for my frustration, I glare at the werewolf bartender with the ridiculous shirt. “Just how many drinks has she had?”
He holds up his hands defensively and gives me a stupid grin. “Hey, she’s fine. She’s a big girl. Why don’t you let her decide for herself?”
“Yeah,” Shelly chimes in, poking me in the chest. “She’s fine. I mean I’m fine. I’ve only had two. Maybe three. OK, three. And no dinner.” She giggles. “Oh, I forgot I didn’t eat lunch either.” She levels an adorably lopsided frown at me and pokes my chest again. “So no taking advantage of me while I’m drunk, mister.”
I catch her hand to stop her jabbing at me again and her lips part as she looks up at me. I should let her go now, but I can’t quite make myself do that when she’s looking up at me, all soft brown eyes, and small freckled nose, and plump pink lips—
I clear my throat. “Let me call you a taxi and we’ll get you home safe.”
Those pretty lips turn down into a frown. “I don’t wanna go home. My housemate is mad at me cause I haven’t paid the rent. Don’t make me go home.”
I scowl. “Well you’re not staying here. Any monster could get his claws in you if you stay here and you’re in no condition to sign a contract.”
She looks puzzled. “Monster? Like supes? Really? Hey do you know any because I’ve always wanted to meet one.”
I stare at her. Does she not know? What the fuck are the owners doing these days to let a sweet little human like Shelly in here without knowing what she’s getting herself into? I scrub my hand over my face and try to think for a moment. I clearly can’t trust the staff here. She’s not going to go home, and she’s in no state to sign any contract right now. But I don’t want to lose my opportunity.
The only course of action I can see is to take her home with me, wait until she’s sobered up, and check again for consent in the morning. I tell myself I’ll just keep her safe. I won’t touch her. Of course I won’t fucking touch her.
Waving at the bartender, I pay for our drinks and help Shelly off her stool. She’s a little unsteady on her feet and I’m a little too happy to pull her against me and slip my arm around her slim waist. “Come on. You can stay at my place tonight. Nothing funny. Just sleeping, yeah? And we’ll talk about the contract in the morning.”
Shelly grins at me as if I’m her new hero, while I feel like a mollusk that needs to be squashed on a rock. I make another mental promise to myself not to touch her.
“Really? You’re the best. The sweetest, kindest, most handsomest—” She giggles. “Is that even a word?”
I steer her out of the bar and into a waiting taxi, giving the driver the directions for my apartment.
“Hey.” Shelly tucks her head against my chest and closes her eyes. “You never answered my question, you know.”
I raise my arm, thinking she’ll take the hint, but she snuggles close again and it feels far too good to not drape my arm over her shoulders. “What question was that, minnow?”
She hums softly. At my pet name? A ridiculous slip of my tongue, only I can’t regret it.
“About supes. Do you know any? You’ll have to introduce me.”
I open my mouth to answer, unsure how much to say, but her breathing has slowed and when I peek, she’s asleep, pink lips parted and a serene expression on her face.
Goddess, I’m in trouble. Big, big trouble. I should be running as fast as I can when the sight of her sleeping on my chest makes an unfamiliar warmth creep through me. Almost a glow. Haven’t I said all along I’m not ready to settle down? I have at least five years of hard work ahead of me before my business will be stable and I can start to work fewer hours. Paternity leave is not even on my horizon yet, so a clutch is out of the question right now.
None of this is something I should even be thinking about just because a pretty girl flirted with me when she was drunk. Shaking my head, I try to keep my thoughts on other things as the taxi ferries us to my apartment.
Tucking her into my bed and walking away is one of the hardest things I’ve done in a while, but I manage it. I feel almost good about myself as I stretch out on the sofa in the living room. I’ll call Monstrous Deals in the morning and get a new contract sorted. Then I’ll see about finding a new apartment for Shelly to move into when we get home. I could probably even find a job for her in one of my offices. I always need new agents and she has an open friendly demeanor. She could do well in sales.
With my head full of plans for her future, I drift into a deep sleep and dream of home. Something I haven’t done in months.
