“Do you have this kind of arrangement with other women?”
He shakes his head.
“If I accept but ask you that we are exclusive?”
“Exclusive sounds fair. Any other rules?”
I stare at him wondering if I should just leave, but he says, “Stop overthinking this. It feels right. I always lead with my head. For once, I’m allowing myself to explore. Do it with me.”
“Okay,” I mumble. “Don’t make me regret this.”
With a kiss, we seal what might be the most magical adventure of my life, or… I don’t allow myself to think about what might go wrong.
Not tonight.
Chapter Five
Pierce
Things I have never done during my adult life:
1. Had a woman sleep in my bed.
2. Spent my Sunday with said woman.
3. Puppy proofed my condo.
4. Thought about how I’m going to convince said woman to stay for dinner.
5. Planned on a long-lasting monogamous hookup. Or should I call it a relationship?
I’m still unsure how the last one will work, but I’m willing to try it.
“Thank you for helping me set up the house so Buster can be safe,” I say.
“I looked at my schedule, and I can come by a couple of days if you want me to watch him,” she offers.
“If that works for you. I’m sure he’ll appreciate the company,” I state. “There might be a couple of days when I won’t be able to come home to check on him until late at night.”
“What do you do for a living?”
I’m one of the best fucking lawyers in town, and for some reason, I feel like she’s going to be disappointed when I tell her about it. Still, I am honest. “I’m a lawyer.”
“What kind of law do you practice?” she asks.
“Mainly corporate. Plus, I handle any intellectual property cases that we get, which aren’t more than a handful a year.”
She scrunches her nose.
“Sorry, I’m sure the correct answer was environmental law.” I shrug. “Being a lawyer is a family thing. Bryant, LLP is my great grandfather’s legacy—we all work for the firm.”
She serves me another nose scrunch that makes me laugh.
Analyzing what I just said, it all sounds absurd. I could be working anywhere or even open my own practice. We live in some kind of hierarchy, and the elders are the ones who make the decisions for us. I omit telling her things like my entire family is pretty old school. Grandpa still thinks that global warming is a hoax.
Yeah, she probably wouldn’t fit in with my family. I make it work. She seems like the kind of person who wouldn’t take crap from anyone, not even her own family. She’d stand for saving a tree and would tell my grandfather that recycling is his obligation.
“You’re easy to read,” I declare. “You really don’t like lawyers, do you?”
“I…don’t have a poker face,” she agrees. “Lawyers tend to be—”
“Bloodsucking assholes?” I answer. She laughs and nods. “Not all of us are like that outside the courtroom. If it makes any difference, I compensate with pro bono cases.”
“Like penance after screwing someone?” she asks and doesn’t do it judgmentally.
“Something like that,” I agree. “So, you’re pretty transparent.”
She nods. “It’s a curse,” she confesses. “I could’ve never been a doctor, a lawyer, or a teacher.”
“Did you ever think about becoming one?”
“Not a teacher or a lawyer but definitely a doctor. The thought was gone when I realized I have trouble tolerating people,” she laughs, rolling her eyes.
I’m pretty sure that’s not the reason. It’s more like she wouldn’t be able to bear seeing someone die, but I don’t say it.
“What if the owner of the pet is an asshole?”
“For starters, as a surgical intern, I don’t have to deal with a lot of owners,” she explains. “At the shelter, I just tend to the animals who come to us. I deal with the volunteers and the pets. Who would fire someone who works for free?”
“You don’t do well with people,” I conclude.
“Only with the ones I like. I’m a pretty good judge of character,” she informs me and chuckles.
I arch an eyebrow, “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Okay, I confess. I avoid people. However, I am a good judge of character. Animals are better. They love unconditionally.” She tilts her head to the side and says, “I believe that it’s the best kind of love.”
I freeze for a moment. Yesterday we didn’t discuss our hard limits. Falling for me would be a deal breaker. I don’t see myself doing more than spending the weekend with her and a couple of nights a week. A quick hookup, maybe a sleepover, so the next morning we can have an encore before returning to our lives. That’s all I am offering.
Should I reiterate that?
My phone buzzes. When I check it, I spot a text from my mother.
Mother: Don’t forget the gala this upcoming Wednesday. Make sure your tux is clean this time.
I pulled the short straw, and I’m representing the family. I text her back, asking if it’s with a plus one. Her reply makes me roll my eyes.
Mother: Don’t bring a call girl.
“Everything okay?” Leyla asks.
“Yeah, just a reminder that I have a formal dinner this Wednesday. Would you like to join me?”
“I’m working at the animal hospital,” she replies without even checking her calendar.
Cocking an eyebrow, I ask, “You sure?”
She blinks twice. “About my schedule? Of course, I’m sure. I’m an intern, but I have a set schedule. Wednesday and Fridays I have the night shift. What kind of dinner is it?”
“Nothing important,” I claim, disappointed, which is strange. Why would I want to bring her along?
We said casual and bringing her to a gala with me might give her and everyone I know the wrong idea. Wouldn’t it?
She checks the time on her watch and says, “We have to clean Buster’s wounds and give him his medication.”
“Should we drive to your place and pick up some clothes for you so you can stay over for another night?”
Leyla wrinkles her brow and lifts her chin, giving me a suspicious glance.
“It’s for Buster’s sake, not for mine,” I say innocently. “You’re better equipped to do that kind of stuff.”
She scratches her chin and nods. “Once he’s doing fine you won’t have an excuse.”
“I’ll find one.” I wink at her.
Who knew that having a steady, monogamous relationship with a hot woman was not so bad? It’s the first week of December when I realize that if Leyla and I were a couple, we would be celebrating our three-month anniversary. We’re not. The friends with benefits deal we have suits us better.
Leyla is fun to be around. Clearly, she likes me enough since she’s okay with hanging out with me daily. We have a routine. On weekdays, she drops by my apartment around noon to walk Buster. Some days I meet her so we can have lunch and sex. Of everything we do together, that’s my favorite thing.