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“I had no idea you drink,” I say in an attempt to break the silence.
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me. All we’ve done is talk about you, after all.”
Ouch!
“You’re right,” I say, forcing a smile. “A-are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
I breathe out a sigh, confused by the sudden change of mood. Just a few hours ago, things were great, and I promised myself that I would stop hiding and confess my love for him, but now more than ever, I am sure he won’t accept my affection. I have nothing to offer a man like Nick.
“Nick,” I say carefully, “did I do something?”
“I’m trying to tell if you are putting on an act for me. If this naïve, innocent front you are showing me is the real you.”
My brows draw in confusion. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“You asked for more money, let’s start there.”
What the hell is he talking about?
“Nick—”
“The sex was good, I will admit that. Well worth the additional money you asked for right before coming to meet me.”
“Additional money I asked. . .”What? I feel faint. “I didn’t ask for any additional money!”
“It’s pocket change to me, Joy. What I despise more than anything is someone lying to me.”
“When did I lie?” I whisper, my mind still reeling over what he said. I didn’t even have a way to contact him, so the only person who could have done it is Kim. Is she out of her goddamned mind?
I mean, I am glad I came here and shared my first time with Nick, but this . . . How could she? She already got nearly twenty thousand dollars.
I need to tell Nick the truth. If I am to protect what he and I have cultivated in the little time we’ve spent together, then I need to tell him that I was not the one who set this up and hope he believes me.
“Oh, drop the act, Joy,” he grits out. “I can’t stand watching you act this way. How do you go from mercenary to innocent so easily? Do you have multiple personalities?”
“I . . . I don’t have multiple personalities,” I say, breathing deeply before locking my gaze on his. “I didn’t sign up for the escort service. My roommate signed me up because I owed her money. I only agreed because I lost my job, and she was going to kick me out. When you made the offer, she demanded that I accept. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“And yet, you still asked for more money,” he says darkly.
“She made the profile, I didn’t have any access to it. I had no way of contacting—”
“Stop with the lies, Joy,” he growls, dropping his glass on the nearest table. “I don’t like it when people keep lying to me when the truth has been exposed.”
He doesn’t believe me!
I can practically feel my heart shatter into a million pieces as the truth sets in.Nick doesn’t trust me.
There is probably nothing I can do or say to prove that I am innocent. Sure, I showed up here to have sex with him in exchange for money, but I didn’t set up the meeting or actually receive any of the money, let alone demand more. Hell, I wouldn’t have come at all if I’d had any other choice.
In his eyes, I am probably a gold digger, trying to trick him into giving me more money.
“Nick . . .” I try once more, but he shuts me up with a withering glare. His eyes are scary as he starts toward me, and I quickly get up, my heart hammering in my chest as he comes closer.
“You know what I hate the most about this,” he says, cupping my jaw. “I hate the fact that even knowing the truth, I still want you more than I have ever wanted anyone in my life.”
I gasp when he wraps his hand around my waist and pulls me flush against him. “Nick!”
