CHAPTER TEN #2
They had a point. But why did it hurt my heart to think of ditching Jack at all? “I wish…” I stopped myself before I could say more. But when I turned around to do a warrior pose on my other side, they were both staring at me, waiting for me to say more.
“You wish what?” Jelly narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Just that… Jack could be my auction guy.”
Jelly frowned. “You’re living in a dream world. Jack’s not even a member at the club.”
I sighed. “I know that. I’m just really attracted to him. And if I have to be a cinnamon girl for a few months to save my family, it might as well be with someone I want.”
There air was heavy with unsaid words, and I turned to look at them. I was fast enough to catch them sharing a glance.
“What’s that about?” I asked pointing between the two of them.
“Nothing,” Jelly said, taking a lazy bite out of an apple, crossing one leg over the other one, and staring up at my ceiling. “I just think you have a Cinderella complex, that’s all.”
“Explain yourself.” My hands were on my hips.
Jelly sat up, the apple in her mouth like she was a pig on a spit. She took a big crunch out of it before saying, “Do you remember how Nadine was?”
I shook my head, frowning. “What are you talking about?”
“I guess y’all wouldn’t know.”
“I don’t even know Nadine,” Nia said.
“I forgot. So,” Jelly continued, “after her shitty ex dumped her by sending her an invitation to his wedding with another woman…”
Nia gasped.
I nodded, commiserating. That breakup had been worse than what Myers had done to me.
“Yeah, exactly,” Jelly pointed at her. “It was awful. Well, anyway, after that happened, she locked herself in her room in her mama’s trailer and watched old Disney movies for days. I think she was really waiting for some fucking prince to ride in and save her.”
I didn’t want to point out that Reynolds had sort of done just that. Granted there had been plenty of bumps over the course of their relationship, but still. It had ended up having a fairy tale-esque ending.
“Well, don’t be like that, Daisy. You have to save yourself.
You’re young, smart, gorgeous, kind—all the things.
You’ll end up married to some wonderful guy some time probably not so far in the distance.
But for now? You need money, you’re choosing to enter the auction, and it’s all a means to an end.
So have some harmless fun with a hot guy while you can. ”
“You know what? You’re right. I’m going to go get ready and head to work. If he asks me again when I deliver his food, I’ll say yes.”
“I thought you were going to ask Old Man Dinardo to get someone else to deliver Jack’s food,” Nia said.
I made a face. “I did. He said no, unless I could tell him why. Ivan was standing there and… well, I didn’t want to go into it.”
“Sometimes I think Ivan’s into you,” Nia said.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think so at all. Between the two of us, I’d say he’s much more interested in you.”
“You think so?” Nia laid back on the bed as if thinking about Ivan.
“What? Do you like him?” I was suddenly very interested.
“He’s kind of cute in an overgrown, muscley, tattoo-ish kind of way,” she said thoughtfully. “But there’s no way my parents would approve.”
Her parents were all up in her dating business. I knew it drove Nia crazy.
“Are you off today?” I asked Nia.
“Yes,” she said, rolling over and looking at her phone.
“In fact, I’ve got to get out of here. My mom has me doing some errands with her later.
” She grabbed me in a hug, kissed my cheek, and said, “It’s all going to work out, Daze.
I just know it.” Then she waved at Jelly and bounded out of my room and down the stairs.
“She’s right you know. It will all work out.” Jelly said. Then she groaned. “Ugh. I have to work at the hospital today. I hate when I have to work there in the morning and then at Sugar in the evening.”
“Why?”
She huffed out a sigh. “It’s a long story.”
I was confused. “Doesn’t that happen most days?”
“Yes, but the same doctors aren’t always on call…” she cut herself off before she said more than she wanted to. “I don’t have time to tell you right now. I have to go get ready and you do, too.”
I nodded, watching her leave.
We all had such complicated back stories. But, I guessed that was why we were living in a mansion owned by the richest family in West Bay where we could live rent free as long as we agreed to be cinnamon girls and have a sugar daddy for a while.
When I’d left for college with stars in my eyes and dreams in my heart, this was definitely not what I thought I’d be doing with my life.
***
I held Jack’s order close to my body while I looked straight ahead as the lights flashed on each of the floors as the elevator went to the top of the building.
The order was much larger today than it usually was.
Jack’s grandma, Cynthia, as well as Tallon often ordered along with him, but there were several orders today.
I’d brought along a little buggy Old Man Dinardo had for medium-sized deliveries.
It wasn’t as big as a catering order, but it was more than one person could reasonably handle, so…
I had the buggy. I was just glad Ivan had taken WD-40 to the wheels when he saw—or heard—me leaving the deli earlier.
I thought about what Jelly and Nia had talked about.
They weren’t wrong, and I knew it. I did miss sex.
A lot. And being around Jack Lancaster had brought that part of me roaring back to life.
I sighed. I had no doubt Jack knew his way around a woman’s body.
But the way I’d trusted Myers and then found out how deceptive he’d been, how often he’d betrayed me… it had changed me.
And I wasn’t sure I’d ever get the old me back again. The person who’d been much freer and less inhibited when it came to sex. Less scared of just how much another person could hurt you.
But maybe this was my first step. I could go out with Jack Lancaster a few times, have a good time, and then move on.
I could do it.
And if he dated me a few more times and then I saw him splashed across social media with a young, hot model, then I’d smile and move on.
Right? Could I do that? My smile froze a little. I wasn’t sure that I could. But I was going to take the risk.
It would be fun. I’d talked myself into enjoying it, with the help of Jelly and Nia. I’d deliver this order and see if he renewed his interest in taking me out again.
The elevator doors slid open soundlessly, and I started across the lobby floor towards the executive suite.
“Lunch is here,” I called out to Cynthia, Jack’s grandma.
“Oh, good,” she stopped what she was doing to talk to me.
I had only been delivering their lunches for a couple of weeks, but I already loved her.
She was great—so kind, funny, and smart.
I didn’t get to talk to her long, but she’d already made me feel so welcome.
I couldn’t believe any of the delivery people who’d come before me had ever complained about this gig.
I was about to sit down and chat with her for a moment, when a group of people came out from the offices and into the hallway.
I recognized Tallon, of course, but none of the others.
There were two handsome men, who I thought were probably Jack’s older brothers.
They each had hazel eyes and similar hair color to him.
They were laughing and talking with Tallon and a beautiful Asian woman.
“Daisy, these are Jack’s brothers, Ben and Jonah, and Jonah’s wife Kim.”
They all greeted me and went back to talking.
I said hello and watched them with polite interest as I started unloading the delivery bag, separating out each person’s order so that Cynthia didn’t have to do it.
“Thanks,” she said. “You know, you’re the only person from Dinardo’s who has ever done that. Not that it’s required or anything. It’s just nice.”
I smiled at her and got ready to leave. She was clearly busy and had a lot of company for lunch today. She wouldn’t have time for a chat.
I glanced down the hallway that led to Jack’s ‘cave’ in hopes I would see him. I wasn’t disappointed. He was leaning against the wall, watching me, those eyes of his taking everything in. I sucked in a breath when we made eye contact.
He really was the most handsome guy I’d ever seen.
Just looking at him, the way he carried himself, the intensity in his eyes, the athletic way he moved his body—it all reminded me of how great I thought we’d be in bed together.
And I enjoyed being around him. Yes, he was a little awkward, but I found it endearing.
I swallowed hard and looked away.
“Jack tells me he saw you at Bahia Del Sol,” Cynthia said. “Do you work there, too, dear?”
Before I could answer, the phone on her desk rang. “Oh, excuse me a moment.”
Kim snort laughed. “Oh, that must have been before he made his way to his fuckpad, huh, Tallon?” She held up her hand for a high five, and Ben gave her one, laughing.
“Right? How many nights a week does he use that thing?” Jonah asked.
“You’re just jealous, asshole,” Ben said, winking at me. “If you could take a different woman there every night of the week, I’m sure you would.”
“I’m perfectly happy,” Jonah said, pulling Kim in for a long hug and a slightly inappropriate kiss.
I looked away. So, I was right. More than right. Jack fucked a different girl every night—in the place he’d bought or rented just for that purpose. The place he was probably planning to take me. I was suddenly feeling a little sick.
No matter how much I needed to get back out there, I didn’t want to be just another one of the endless number of girls who floated in and out of his life.
I could practically feel his eyes burning against my skin. I glanced at him again. His face was red, and he looked embarrassed. He started walking towards everyone.