This place won’t be the same if she’s not the one dining with me next Saturday. I don’t want her to leave when her time’s up.
But what could entice her to stay?
I take a seat across from her. She’s already got the massive menu opened before her, her eyes eagerly taking in the dishes. “I don’t know what to have. It all sounds so good.”
“Order anything you want. Hell, order a couple of things to try.”
Her body tenses, and she gives a tight shake of her head. “I don’t like to waste food.”
Does she have something in her past that makes her feel self-conscious about wasting things? Something that makes her insecure? It’s such a small thing, but a reminder of how little I know her. I quickly reassure her. “Neither do I. If we don’t finish, we can always take the leftovers back to the penthouse.”
She looks up at me with wide eyes, as if trying to decide if she can trust me. I must pass her test, because she gives a little nod. “Then I’ll have the banana pancakes and the veggie frittata with fried potatoes. But take it out of my pay. You’re not going to pay for all the clothes and my food too.” She folds the menu neatly, setting it aside.
Here we go again. Nope.
I reach my hand out, cupping it over hers. “You’re not the one in charge, here, little miss. Do you need a reminder?”
She squirms in her seat, a pretty blush rising in her cheeks. “What would you do to me?” She bats those lashes and I feel the need to claim her again rising.
I lean in and speak in a low voice. “Exactly what I did before. Take you over my lap and spank your pretty ass till you’re saying, I’ll be good, daddy.”
She needs more than a role play. She really needs this from me. I feel like this is a revelation of sorts. Is this what happens when someone decides to turn over a new leaf? Emmeline needs more of me than what I’ve given her.
The waiter walks up just in time to catch my last few words, making Emmeline’s pink face turn positively red. It’s fucking adorable.
“Welcome to you, Mr. Morrow, and your lovely guest.” He gives a smirk, his little inside joke to me about having yet another woman at my table. The waiter holds his pad in his hand, pen hovering over the paper. His face is a mask of professionalism, but there’s a glint of humor in his eyes. “And what will you two be having today?”
“Two coffees, two waters, one order of the banana pancakes and a veggie frittata with fried potatoes. Oh, and an extra plate.” I hand him the menus.
He leaves and Emmeline leans in. “What are you going to eat? You only ordered my food.”
I give a shrug. “I’ll just finish off whatever you don’t want.”
She physically relaxes, her shoulders rounding, and she sits back in her seat. “There will be plenty for the both of us.”
I want to ask what made her bristle at the thought of wasting food, but my desire to make her comfortable overpowers my curiosity. I don’t like making her sad. I had enough of that with my last relationship. We were damn skilled at it.
I stare openly at Emmeline as she takes her coffee from the waiter with a smile. I only want to make her happy. How can I get her to stay even longer? Is a week out of the question? But if she’s not an escort, surely she has other responsibilities.
It’s not like I don’t know anything about her.
I know how she smells, how she tastes, the little noises she makes when I touch her in just the right way, but I know nothing about her life. I stir a cream into my coffee as she stirs sugar into hers. “Emmeline. What do you do for work?”
She looks up startled, as if I’ve popped our bubble with my real world question. “I’m a med student. I’m wrapping up my final semester and then I’ll switch to a three-year, paid residency at the hospital. I’m training to be an emergency room doctor.”
I feel my jaw slacken.
This girl is not only beautiful and funny and really good in bed, she’s hardworking and highly intelligent. Rawley—you’re way out of your league, brother.
Suddenly, making millions off of selling fancy shoes doesn’t have the same appeal. “That’s incredible. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to be a doctor. Growing up, I lived with my grandmother. She was often sick and hated going to the doctors, I mean, like she despised them. I did the best I could, researching online medical journals on our old mac, and giving her the best care I could. When she died, I made a vow to myself to become a real doctor and to help as many people as I can.”