CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #2
I opened a couple of drawers and grinned.
Yep. Carmen thought of everything. There were several pairs of my boxers and T-shirts in the drawers.
I also found some athletic wear. I picked out a pair of joggers, a T-shirt, and a pair of boxers.
Then I walked into the huge, walk-in closet and saw a tiny section was reserved for my stuff.
There wasn’t very much here yet, but it was enough.
There were a couple of suits, complete with button-downs and ties.
There were also some casual clothes, like polos, khakis, and nice shorts.
There were enough shoes to go with each type of outfit.
I walked into the bathroom and set my things down. I opened cabinets and drawers until I found a new toothbrush, my brand of toothpaste and deodorant, as well as my hair products, and a razor with shaving cream.
This was awesome. I couldn’t believe Carmen had thought to do all of this. But then again, I was paying a premium price for this kind of service.
Which reminded me I was about to have that contract talk with Nadine. I was dreading it, but I wasn’t sure why. It should be straightforward. She knew what she was signing up for when she filled out her contract.
Still, as I got in the shower and let the water envelop me in steamy heat, I thought about how sweet she seemed. How vulnerable. Carmen had warned me that Nadine was sensitive. Even if she hadn’t told me, I would have sensed that about her.
I had to do this the right way. It would be better to be blunt and to the point now than crush her heart somewhere down the line.
When I was dressed and ready, I went out into the condo. It was a great place. I found Nadine in the kitchen going through cabinets.
“Oh, hey,” she said with a sweet smile. She came over and gave me a lingering hug. “It looks like you found everything you needed.”
“I did.”
“Good.” She turned and gestured towards the kitchen. “I was just getting familiar with everything in my new place,” she said.
I took her in while she wasn’t looking. Her hair was clean and dried.
It was back to being a little wilder, not all smoothed down like it had been last night.
I liked it both ways. She was wearing a tight tank top and work out shorts.
I wondered if that’s what she wore around the house or if it was for my benefit.
I frowned. I wanted her to be comfortable around me.
I realized she’d turned around and was looking at me.
“Sorry—did you say something?”
“What would you like for breakfast? Although, it’s closer to lunchtime, I guess.”
“What do you have?”
“It looks like Carmen had someone shop for me. There’s a big charcuterie board over there,” she pointed to a huge granite island in the center of the kitchen. “And everything to go on it is already cut up in the fridge. Do you want that?”
“Sure. Sounds fabulous.” I walked over to the window. “This is a magnificent view, huh?”
“It is.” She looked so excited. “I can’t believe this place is mine for a little while.”
I smiled at her. I knew we were from two different worlds as far as our backgrounds were concerned, but I didn’t want to ask. Maybe the less I got to know about her, the better. I would do my best to keep it about sex only. “It’s nice.”
She eyed me for a minute. “Well, why don’t you get comfortable while I set this up.” She looked at it like she was a little baffled but trying not to be.
I couldn’t help my amusement as I looked at her. “What is it, Nadine?”
“Nothing,” she said too quickly. “It’s just… well… I used to work for a catering company. But all I did was carry trays of food around at parties. I didn’t do anything kind of chefy like set up one of these fancy boards.”
“It doesn’t matter to me how it looks if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, because I looked up how they’re supposed to look on Pinterest and that shit looks impossible to set up. I’ll just bring it over to the table and then get all the containers of food out, too.”
“Sounds good. I don’t think we need to look at the actual contracts, do you? I know the things I want to go over with you.”
She stiffened just a bit. “Okay, great.”
I watched while she attempted to put the food on the charcuterie board. I tried not to laugh when she just gave up and kind of piled all the food in the middle and left it there. Whitney would die.
“Come eat,” she called, and I strolled over and sat down.
After we’d filled our plates and she’d gotten us Cokes, I cleared my throat. “I think we can cover this while we eat, don’t you?”
“Sure.”
“So, Nadine, I’m thrilled I won you in the auction last night, and I’m going to take great care of you.
Seriously, if there’s anything you need, you just let me know.
” I held up a black credit card with her name on it.
“This is yours for the next six months. Use it for whatever you need. Clothes, jewelry, going to the spa…”
“More clothes? Is what Carmen got me not enough?”
I almost choked on a grape. I’d never heard of a woman thinking she had enough clothes. “Honey, you have a huge walk-in closet in your bedroom. Fill it up.”
She nodded and grinned.
The look on her face pleased me so much.
“I thought we could talk about a car another day this week. I won’t be able to take you to buy it, but I’ll either get Carmen to go with you, or send someone from my team.
” I sighed. “I can’t be seen with you in public.
I plan to get re-elected in November, and I can’t have the media thinking I have a side piece.
They all think I have an exclusive girlfriend, and that’s what I need them to continue to think. ”
She looked a little dazed but nodded.
“We won’t start looking for a house for you just yet, either, if that’s okay. Since we have six months to do it, I thought we could wait a few weekends. And I’ll probably let the Salazars handle that, too.” I glanced at her. “But I don’t want you alone with Leo. Ever.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Okay. But…he’s not part of their real estate company, is he?”
“No. He and his twin, Joaquin, own and run several restaurants. Still, I could see him inviting himself along if Javy or Enzo takes you to look at homes.”
“Okay.” She was looking a little disconnected from our conversation, like her mind was elsewhere.
“I’ll also never spend the night with you. I might come over to fuck you after work, but I’ll be gone before you wake up in the morning. Last night was different because of the auction.”
She nodded, her mouth full of a massive strawberry.
“And just to reiterate, I can’t be seen in public with you. So, we won’t be going out to eat. I’m sorry about that, but we can order in from wherever you want.”
“Yeah, sure.” She popped a piece of cheese in her mouth, made a horrible face, and spit it into a napkin. “Gross! What the fuck was that?”
“Roquefort.”
“Damn—I thought it was cheese!”
I laughed. “It is cheese. It’s just strong. Not everyone likes it.”
“Clearly.” She made a face and took a long pull from her Coke. “That was nasty.”
I studied her. She was so beautiful, and she’d looked incredibly glamorous at the auction last night.
But what just happened was an example of why I wouldn’t be able to take her to any of the political benefits or fundraisers.
She was uncultured. I was starting to understand Whitney’s importance in my life, whether or not I was into her.
I might as well pull the band aid off. “Nadine, you know, I have a sort of girlfriend.”
Her face went blank. “Yes, Carmen told me.”
“I’ll be taking her with me to many galas, benefits, and parties over the time we’re together. I’m not hiding you from her. Or her from you. She’s always known we weren’t exclusive. She’s just…very good at society functions.”
She nodded. “I get it.” She swallowed hard. “Will you sleep with her after those events?”
“More than likely.” She didn’t need to know the truth. The fact that Whitney and I weren’t sleeping together might give her the wrong impression, and I didn’t want that.
“Okay.” The light was gone from her pretty brown eyes. I wanted it to come back, but I had to make all of this clear from the start.
“And sometimes, I’m going to want to visit my clubs, specifically the VIP rooms at Sugar and the sex club, Cayenne.
I like to fuck a lot, Nadine. And I’m not used to being with just one woman.
I’ve never done that, and I don’t want to lie to you or feel like I’m cheating.
That’s why I’m telling you up front.” I wasn’t going to tell her I’d never visited the VIP rooms at Sugar and didn’t intend to start now.
And I sure as hell would not mention that I hadn’t visited Cayenne since the night I’d run into her at Sugar.
That was an aberration. I was sure now that I’d had her, I’d want to go back to Cayenne.
At some point. Right now, I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone but her, but I didn’t want to examine that thought too closely.
She smiled and said, “Gotcha,” but there was a tightness around her eyes that gave away how she was truly feeling. She had a very expressive face.
“But,” I said, “as I reminded you last night, you are to be faithful to me for the duration of the six months you’re with me.”
“Right.”
I sensed she wanted to say something about the double standard, but she held back. It was for the best. I knew it was fucked up, but it wasn’t like we were in an actual relationship. I bought her, for fuck’s sake.
She picked at her food and drank her Coke.
“I know you want a house or a townhouse for both you and your mother. Two separate residences.”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “And I’d like all Mama’s bills to be paid off. I don’t want her to worry anymore. She got stuck with a bunch of debt after my daddy left. She’s worked forever trying to pay that off.”