She shot me a look that said no more bullshitting me. “What’s going on with you and the boss? I saw him out there with you this morning, rubbing lotion into your ass. It looked like he was about to squirt a different cream on you.”
“He came over to fix my car. I practically threw myself at him. Again. But nothing happened.”
“I honestly have no idea what you see in him. Well, aside from the obvious—that he’s fucking hot. But he’s such a douche.”
I shook my head. “He’s not really. Not once you get to know him. I think it’s his way of keeping people at a distance. He definitely doesn’t let people in easily.”
“But he let you in?”
“I think so, yes. We have a connection. I know he’s attracted to me. And I’m most definitely attracted to him. But it’s more than that. Although none of that does me any good because he won’t let anything happen between us physically, no matter how hard I try. I don’t get it.”
Riley pointed a finger. “You just answered your own question.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you two have a connection that’s more than physical.”
“So?”
“That’s the problem.”
“I’m not following.”
“A guy like Rush is a love ’em and leave ’em type of guy. I’ve worked at The Heights for three years. He has a certain type that he goes out with.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes. Whorey. I’ve seen a few stop in.”
“There’s a reason he only gets involved with a certain type of woman.”
“What is it?”
Riley laughed. “I don’t know. But you probably do if you’ve gotten close like you said.” She shrugged. “Maybe an ex burned him.”
“I don’t think he’s had any long-term relationships.”
“Okay.” She tapped her finger to her lip. “It’s not a relationship that someone is usually afraid of, it’s a bad relationship. And that usually comes from something in their life, like an ex. But maybe it’s something different.”
His father.
And how his father treated his mother. That could’ve given him a negative outlook for sure. But I didn’t want to discuss Rush’s private business with Riley, even though I considered her a good friend.
“I’m not sure. But if that’s the case, and he avoids relationships because of something in his life, how would I even get past that?”
Riley tossed a throw pillow she had been holding on her lap at me. “You don’t, silly. You give him what he thinks he wants, and let the relationship happen naturally. Tell him you just want a fuck buddy for the summer. Set his mind at ease that he doesn’t need to worry about the relationship part. Start humping each other, and if it’s meant to be, the rest will just fall into place, and he won’t even realize it until it’s too late.”
“I don’t know…that sounds like someone could get hurt...”
“Yes. You. If after your fuck buddy time is over, he breaks it off, of course you’re going to be hurt. But what do you have now? A weird friendship and celibacy. Look, when you leave after the summer is over, you’re going to be crushed if he doesn’t want to keep in touch, right? So why not have a bangin’ summer—pun intended—if you’re going to be sulking in September anyway?”
I suppose she had a point…there was just one problem. “But Rush doesn’t see me that way.”
“So make him see you that way.”
“How?”
“How long until you have to work?”
I looked at my phone. “About an hour and a half.”
Riley stood. “Come on, that’s not a lot of time to turn your nice ass into a whore.”I felt like the pink ladies had just turned me into sexy Sandy from Grease. Getting out of my car, I looked down at my outfit one last time and took a deep breath. Red, low-cut shirt, short skirt, and heels that I doubted I could last an hour in, no less working all night. Riley had added a ton of body to my naturally wavy hair and done my makeup with all that contour stuff that I see people doing on YouTube, but never bothered to try out.
I glanced at my reflection in the window as I walked toward the door. I looked good. Sexy, in a slutty kind of way. Definitely more like the women Rush went out with. Oak whistled and opened the door. “Looking good, Gia.”
I blushed, but his comment actually helped my confidence level a little. “Thank you.”
Inside, I looked around, and a rush of relief washed over me finding no sign of the boss. Dressing for the part was only half the plan. I needed to actually cough up the courage to approach Rush and offer him…well, my body.
I threw myself into my usual prep before dinner—going over the reservations, checking in with the kitchen on what the specials are so that I knew them when people called and asked—they always called ahead and asked—bringing the bars extra bottles of whatever liquor was in the drink special of the evening, and helping the busboys set up the tables. I’d been there about an hour, with no sign of Rush still. It lulled me into feeling at ease, thinking maybe he wouldn’t show up tonight, and I wouldn’t have the chance to make my proposal to him.