7. Chapter Seven #2
My cock jumps as I bite my lip, trying to push the idea out of my head. No! Not appropriate right now, Aaron! This is a business meeting. Not a fucking Grindr hookup.
Jacob lets out a sigh and shrugs. “It’s my job. Kind of puts people off.”
I note the sadness in his expression and then his eyes widen.
“Shit, sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that, it’s—”
I wave him off. “No, it’s fine. I get it, I—”
I run a hand through my hair as the words fall out of my mouth without a second thought.
“Your job is just… what you do. It’s not who you are, right?”
Jacob’s gaze softens as he looks over my expression.
“Yeah,” he says, almost so softly I barely hear him. There’s a strange tension between us, and I’m not sure how I feel about it, so I change the subject.
I nod to the menu. “What ya feeling this morning, Prince Charming?”
That elicits a smile from him.
“French toast. You?”
I grin as I lick my lips. “I was going to get the same thing.”
Jacob lets out a laugh. “I mean, I can get something else if you would rather—”
“Why would I want you to get something else?” I ask curiously. Jacob blinks. “Get what you want. Don’t change your mind because of me.”
Jacob nods in response. “Okay. Thanks.”
Once the waitress takes our orders and leaves, the silence befalls us, and that weird tension is back.
Jacob is the first to speak.
“So… I know this is last minute, and usually I try to meet up with my dates in advance to get a feel for them and the role I’ll be playing.”
I sip my coffee and his words settle on me, reality sinking in. That’s exactly what he’s doing. Playing a role. Acting.
Which means I’m acting, too.
Acting like I’m in a serious relationship shouldn’t be too difficult, but suddenly I wonder if I’m going to be able to pull it off.
Fake it until you make it, Aaron. This is for the company!
“Right,” I say, waiting for him to continue.
“So… what exactly are you looking for, Aaron? I mean, besides someone to accompany you to this family thing at the last minute. Who do you need me to be?”
The question is simple, but it’s also loaded as fuck.
Who do I need him to be?
I purse my lips as I try to think of an answer that doesn’t make me sound like a complete and total asshole.
I need you to be Prince Charming. I need you to appeal to my idiot father’s sense of morality and value. I need you to be perfect.
“I need you to be my serious boyfriend,” I say plainly. “We’ve been dating for a little under a year and you’re totally in love with me.”
Jacob smirks and lets out a chuckle. “Obviously, that’s a given.”
It’s my turn to blush when he sits back in his chair. “But who is this guy who’s madly in love with you? What’s his name? His favorite color? What are his goals and aspirations?”
Shit, he’s really into this curated persona thing. I guess it makes sense, all things considered. Chris did say he came highly recommended, so I guess the least I can do is humor him and create the boyfriend of my dreams, even if it’s only for one night.
“You can keep your name,” I say with a smirk. “Jacob is a rather nice name, to tell you the truth.”
I purse my lips as I look at him. “Do you prefer Jacob or Jake?”
Jacob shrugs. “Whatever feels right for you. I answer to both.”
“Okay, Jake.” I test the nickname out on my tongue, liking how it sounds.
“Your favorite color is purple,” I say with a laugh. “And you hate pineapple on pizza.”
“I do hate pineapple on pizza, actually,” he says with a laugh.
“I knew I liked you for a reason,” I say as I sip my coffee with a grin.
“As far as goals and aspirations go…” I hold my cup to my lips as I think about my answer. What goals and aspirations would my dream man have? I’ve never really given it much thought.
“You want to travel, see the world. With me, of course,” I say with a wink.
Jacob folds his hands in his lap, watching me intently.
“Your dream is to be a writer,” I say. Jacob smirks.
“What kind of books do I want to write?” he asks, the banter between us easy and warm. Familiar in a way it shouldn’t be.
“I don’t know. Gay werewolves or something,” I say with a chuckle.
His cheeks pinken and once again my cock twitches. I laugh at his response, because clearly someone likes gay werewolves.
Which makes the guy all the more interesting, to tell the truth.
“Contemporary,” he says with a sheepish grin.
“Hmm?”“Contemporary gay romance would probably be a better genre if you want to appeal to your parents,” he says plainly.
“Yeah, you’re probably right on that,” I admit.
“What about you?” Jacob asks, his gaze settling on me once more.
“What about me?”
“Who are you ?” he asks, and the question pushes all the warmth and humor away.
I know he’s not asking who I am. And in all honesty, he’s going to find out soon enough the truth, and I should tell him. I really should, but…
A part of me wants to just hold on to this illusion a little longer, of being someone else.
“I’m a forty-two year old bachelor who fell in love with Prince Charming,” I say as I drink my coffee. “Obviously.”
Jacob purses his lips, and for a moment, I think he’s going to say something, but whatever it is, it dies in the air because our French toast plates finally come and pull both of our attention.
After a few bites, he speaks. “PDA stuff still good? Keep it PG-13?”
I chuckle. “I wouldn’t be mad if you wanted to go for an R rating, but I know you said that’s not something you do on the clock, so, yes.”
Jacob shakes his head. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to go for an R rating in front of your parents.” He sticks his tongue out.
“True,” I note. “But we can still give the illusion we’re crazy about each other,” I say, stabbing another piece of sweet bread. I dredge it around in the thick, sweet syrup.
“Oh, of course.” Jacob assures me. “I can be very believable.”
It’s my turn to grin. “I don’t doubt it.”
“How did we meet?” he asks. I chew my bite, thinking it over.
“Dating site?”
He shakes his head. “Mmmm, too basic.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Too basic?”
“It needs to be more serendipitous than that,” he says. I lick my lips.
“Alright, then, Jake, what do you suggest? You’re the professional, here.”
He looks up at me. He taps his lip with his finger, and my gaze fixates there longer than it should. I catch his glance at my coffee cup.
“Coffee,” he says carefully.
“Coffee?”
“You picked up the wrong order. It was my order.”
I smirk at him. “And you were just too fucking cute to let out of my sight.”
He looks away, and I don’t miss the pink tint to his cheeks.
Fuck, this man blushes too easily and I like it more than I know I should.
“Yup. Sounds good.”
I finish my French toast and coffee, but Jacob takes his time. I’m not sure if it’s from all the talking or if he’s unhappy with his food.
“Is everything okay?” I ask. He looks back up at me. He nods.
“Yeah, of course.”
I’m not sure he’s telling the truth, but I don’t press him.
The waitress brings the check, and I swipe it from her before he can.
“We can split it,” he says as I shake my head.
“Absolutely not,” I tell him as I throw my card down in the checkbook.
He opens his mouth to protest but I hold my hand up.
“It’s the least I can do considering you took this gig on short notice.”
Jacob sighs, and I shake my head.
“All expenses for the date are covered by the client, right?”
“Yes, but this isn’t the date, yet.”
“All business meetings are on company time,” I say. “Consider it a write off.”
He looks like he wants to protest, but thinks better of it.
“Right. Then I guess I’ll meet you at the bar at six, like planned?”
All at once, I remember my text to Chris. I had said I’d meet my rent-a-date at the bar at six for drinks before the event, to get a feel for him, but now…
Now I already have a feel and I think maybe it would be better to meet up personally. Come together.
“I can pick you up,” I offer. “I mean, if we are serious, it might help to establish some…” I look him over. “Level of comfort.”
He chews his lip. “Right, level of comfort.”
He sighs as he finishes his last bite of French toast. “In that case, if you want to be more comfortable , we can meet for dinner? Head over to the event after?”
Is he asking me to dinner or is this purely a transactional thing?
“Like dinner as a business meeting or dinner as in overtime?” I ask and his eyes widen. He holds his hands up.
“Oh, no this wouldn’t be billed, this would just be… research. Um… usually before I go to an event with my client, I have time to take them on a date beforehand. Usually their perfect date and then we kiss so it’s not awkward and—”
My blood stills at that word. Kiss.
At some point today, I’m going to kiss this man. This professional. The thought is sobering, but I can’t deny I’m curious about it. I find I’m curious about a lot of things where Prince Charming is involved.
“Right, no, that makes total sense. We should probably do that. Dinner. Research.” My gaze dips to his perfect mouth, to those pillowy lips. I bet they’re soft as fuck.
My mind wanders to the thought of what his lips will taste like. My palm twitches as I think about placing my hand on his throat while I kiss him. About squeezing just the slightest as I drive my tongue into his mouth.
Fucking hell, now I’m hard.
Good job, Aaron.
“Any requests,” I ask, my voice more raspy than it should be, given my current circumstance.
“Huh?” Jacob looks up as if I’ve interrupted his thoughts.
“For dinner. I picked brunch, you can pick dinner.”
He licks his lips, nodding. “Right. Um… Callahan’s? You good with that?”I haven’t been to Callahan’s in years. It’s one of those places only the locals hit up, a hidden gem. I nod. “Yeah. Five o clock?” I ask. “Text me your address and I’ll pick you up.”
Jacob nods in response, then sits up straighter. All at once his demeanor shifts, and he looks different. More sure of himself. More confident.
It’s like he’s someone else.
“Sure. Sounds good, baby.” He grins, and I realize what he’s doing.
He’s playing his part.
I nod, crossing my legs again if only to quell my erection that won’t settle down when I’m in the same room with the man.
He stands up, grabbing his phone and taps out a text. A moment later, I get the chime, knowing it’s him.
I can’t take my eyes off of him from where he stands. And I don’t want to stand and draw attention to the little issue I’ve got going on here.
I don’t need my professional date to think I’m a fucking perv.
So I flash him a grin and nod. “See you later, baby.”
He licks his lips and waves.
“Thanks for brunch.” And with that, he gives me his back. My gaze roves over his lean stature, settling on his perfectly round ass. He walks slowly to the door and part of me feels like he’s doing it on purpose. Because he wants me to watch him leave.
Because he’s teasing me.
Though I know that’s wishful thinking. If anything, he’s just playing a part. Getting me comfortable. At least that’s what I tell myself as I watch my Prince Charming leave me in his wake, hard and wanting, feeling anxious in a whole new way.
What the fuck did I sign up for?