Chapter 5 #2
She shrugs and leaves her shoulders up as she answers slowly. "I figure what's the point, right? What have I got to offer him? I'm over forty, I'm as busy as hell with work, and I'm saggy, baggy and draggy in all the places that I used to be taught, tight and, well, much younger."
"Well, he came looking for you, Lucy. Why didn't you indulge him? It was just lunch."
Her head shakes slowly. She's so deflated.
"I just don't feel like it would be right.
I'm not into dating, I'm not fun at all, unless he wants to sit at home and watch Netflix series or worse, wait around while I show clients properties and do paperwork.
And when I do have time for him, this body, Lark, has not seen sex in so long I forgot what it was like. "
I laugh out loud. It's been a long time for me, too.
In fact, it's been at least two years, and until I met Stone, I figured that that part of me was dead.
I'm also putting my career first and setting all other things aside.
But it was so good. Like, so good, I can't believe how good it was.
The worst part is that I can't tell her.
Or, maybe I can. A wise person once told me that I can tell someone a story without telling the whole story.
"You know, Lucy, we're not that different. "
She raises a brow and her eyes are dancing, like she's up for the challenge. "Oh?"
"Despite how young and spry you may think I am, I thought much the same about myself. And I, too, put my career first. But I can tell you from experience, that just when you think a part of you is dead, meeting the right person at the right time, well, it can make all the difference."
"You're feeding me a line just to make me feel better."
My face falls. "I'm dead serious, Lucy. Come on. I know that we haven't known each other that long, but I've never lied to you. I know that you're smart enough to tell the difference."
I pause for emphasis.
"You should give Clark a chance. Hell, for all you know, all he's looking for is companionship. Someone to take to the movies once a week. Someone to have dinner with on Saturday nights. But you'll never know unless you give him a chance."
Her look changes. She looks like she's a million miles away, yet there's still a smile on her face. It's like she's thinking about back in the day. "Maybe there's a grain of truth there."
"Did he leave you his number?"
She scoffs kindly. "Yes. He said in case I change my mind." Sadly, she pulls it out of the garbage can under her desk. It's still intact. At least she didn't crumple it up.
"Call him. Go out for dinner."
"I can't tonight. I got word from the region about that property Stone is interested in."
"And that will take five minutes?" I test.
With a huff, she smiles. "Alright, fine. I'll call him. But you keep this between us, okay? The last thing that I need is to be the topic around the water coolers."
"I promise. Your secret is safe with me."
"Well? Did he take it?" Stone answers with.
"Is that how you answer your phone?" I scoff, good-naturedly.
"Fine. How was Lucy?"
"Good. All is well on the home front."
"Yeah, she called me a couple of hours ago. It's going to be a while before the clearance is processed through the region. I might as well sit tight."
"So, are you headed back home to South Carolina?"
"Not yet, no. I've still got a lot of shit going on. But I'll be heading back this weekend, hopefully. I'll be glad once I've got a place out here. As ironic as it is, I hate staying in hotels."
"Didn't you say that you have family out here?"
"I do, but I don't like letting the cat out of the bag until everything is in stone. "
"I get it."
"So. Did he take it?"
"No. Not even close. He actually laughed at me."
"You're kidding. What an idiot. Is he just wasting your time? He should know by now that he's never going to sell at that price."
"I've counselled him left and right, Stone. Believe me. I think he's got a couple of screws loose, frankly, since he's only got another month before his mortgage comes due. Unless he's got money to burn, which obviously he does, he setting himself to lose a ton of money."
"I guess he figures by selling for less than half the asking price, that he's fit to lose anyway.
But at this rate, he's going to lose two months' worth of mortgage payments or more.
The guy does seem a little looney. Or maybe he's getting a fantastic settlement with the lawsuit.
Even still, he's losing money, and any sane wealthy dude would not settle for that. "
I snort a laugh. "Wealthy dude."
He's being cute. "What? What did I say?"
"You just have a way of talking like a teenage surfer sometimes. It's funny, considering you're a billionaire."
He makes a gagging noise. "When you say it like that, you make it sound like I've got a stick up my ass."
"It's not intentional."
"I know." He pauses. "So, did he at least lower the asking price?"
"He's thinking about it. I'm supposed to meet with him tonight to discuss."
"Yeah? What are you doing after that?"
"Going home. Take a swim in my pool. Why?"
"Well, I thought that I could at least take you out to dinner.
Considering that I have this personal rule, you know.
" He hesitates, being playful. "I don't sleep with a girl without taking her out for a meal first. But since you seem like sort of the eat your dessert before dinner kind of girl, I figured that maybe you could make an exception. "
My stomach sinks. I know it's farfetched and ridiculous, but I don't want to take the chance of being caught with Stone in public.
But I do want to see him again, even though every cell in my body is telling me that it's a double-edged sword.
I know that he's the best sex I ever had, but I also know that I can't pursue anything with him, without first figuring out if Lucy will flip out or not.
Knowing that if I blow him off, that he might take offense, and maybe even tell Lucy, anyway, I figure it's best to meet him halfway.
"How about I order in and we eat at my place? "
"Fair. But only if you let me pay."
"That sounds good."
I will not sleep with him. I will not sleep with him. I keep telling myself that. Like a mantra.