Sugar Daddy Wanted: Now Accepting Applications (5 page)

Grayson flipped the silk tie over to knot it, and perused his appearance in the full-length closet door mirrors. He focused on his eyes and saw into his soul. “I have to come clean with her,” he muttered.

Tucking his wallet into the inside pocket of his charcoal grey suit, he snatched up his cell and car keys from the dresser. A new text message confirmed his driver had picked up Ms. Roberts at her home address and they were now en route to La Terra.

His long strides ate up the distance down the hall from his bedroom on the second story of his home. He jogged down the stairs, across the foyer, and to the mudroom that led to the attached garage. As he made the way through his spacious house, he wondered how another person would see it.

In all honesty, he wondered what Kerry would think of his home. He shouldn’t care—most people were impressed with his domain, but they weren’t a beautiful woman he was far too interested in for his own good.

Nerves danced a jig on his insides as he set the alarm and locked the door behind him. He wondered if she’d run a police check on him the way he had her. If so, she should’ve caught his little lie by now, and it worried him. Despite what people thought of lawyers, he lived his life with integrity.
And what happened to your integrity when you set up a profile on a site promoting the very thing you despise?
The reason he’d put his age as ten years older on the site, was that it made his profile more believable. Thirty-five didn’t quite scream “older-guy-who-can-take-care-of-you”. He still didn’t understand why he’d wanted to come off as believable anyway.

Kerry…

Her name ghosted across his mind. He scoffed in response. He hadn’t known he’d meet her, and he didn’t care what she thought of him.

Grayson pressed on his key fob and one of the doors in the three car garage opened. With a press of another button, he unlocked his black BMW and slid into the driver’s seat. Running a hand over his goatee, he thanked God one more time he had the ability to grow facial hair. Without it, he had what he considered a baby-face. The well-trimmed beard and added gray hair or two, no doubt from stress, gave him an air of sophistication he was sure his clients appreciated. No one questioned him—ever. And the fact he always came out on top for his clients, only added to the respect he received in his world.

He shook his head as he started the car and the engine purred to life. He shouldn’t care about the inconsequential fact he’d lied about his age. He suspected Kerry wasn’t serious about the whole thing anyway. So, why a white lie, even a tiny one, nagged at his conscience, was beyond him.

Because she agreed to meet with you and hasn’t said a word otherwise.
Maybe his apprehension had nothing to do with his lie at all. His interest in Kerry Roberts was real. He didn’t want to admit he’d be disappointed if all she wanted was a Sugar Daddy, with no interest in a real relationship.

Backing the car out of the garage, he pushed the button to close the garage doors. As he drove around the circular drive to head out onto the street, his mind wandered to images of Kerry in the coffee shop. She’d been even more stunning in person. Her black pencil skirt and grey blazer spoke business. He wondered what she’d wear tonight.

A horn blast shook him out of his reverie. He slammed on the brakes as the car in the street swerved around his front end. Heart pounding at the near miss, he vowed to keep his mind on the road for the twenty-minute drive from his place to the restaurant, provided traffic conditions were favorable.

Thirty minutes and no traffic accidents later, Grayson pulled up to the front door of La Terra. After he stepped from the vehicle, the valet came around to take his keys. With a nod to the young man, Grayson straightened the lapels on his suit, and blew out a breath.

He raised his gaze to the entrance, and his heart beat against his ribcage. Kerry stood beside his driver, looking even more gorgeous than he’d imagined. And that was saying something, since he’d had to halt his imagination several times on the drive over.

A smile teased the corners of her mouth when she caught sight of him. From the short distance, he could see the playful twinkle in her eyes. She’d swept her hair up in an elegant knot behind her head, but her trench coat hid whatever clothing she wore underneath. He swallowed hard, banishing images of her clothed only in lingerie and the black open-toed heels she wore.

Mind out of the gutter.
Suppressing a grin, he walked forward with an outstretched hand.

She extended hers, and he clasped her fingers in a light grasp, kissing the back of her knuckles. “Ravishing,” he praised. “I’m glad you decided to join me.” He turned his attention to Davis, his chauffeur. “Thank you for seeing that Ms. Roberts arrived safely.”

Davis gave a sharp nod of his head. “You’re welcome. Will you be requiring my services later this evening?”

Grayson opened his mouth to say he’d let him know, but Kerry interrupted before he got the chance.

“I will need a ride home later,” Kerry stated. “I’m sure Mr. Nichols will inform you at the appropriate time.”

Grayson stopped the rise of his brows in the nick of time.
So, she’s all business, is she?
He pushed away the beginning knot of disappointment in his gut, and nodded his approval of the plan to Davis. He had all evening to work on Kerry.

“It was nice to meet you, Ms. Roberts,” Davis said before taking his leave.

Grayson offered Kerry his arm. “Shall we?”

Kerry looped her arm through his, walking alongside him into the restaurant. The hostess took their coats before leading them to their intimate table for two. In the dimly lit corner, a pillar candle provided romantic lighting.

Grayson pulled out her chair.

“So,” Kerry began, as Grayson helped her get seated. “Too busy to pick up your date yourself? Or perhaps you thought having a driver would impress me?”

Grayson cleared his throat. “Actually, neither.”

“Oh?” She folded her hands together on top of the table, and stared at him with intent.

He smoothed his tie as he sat down in his chair. “You are an intelligent woman,” he said, seating himself opposite her. “Point made when you asked to meet me for coffee in a busy place in the middle of the day. Then you didn’t give me your address straight away, not until you confirmed receipt of the agreement, and did a background check, I presume.”

“I did,” she confirmed. “Although I’m sure if you ran a background check on me, you already had my address.”

He nodded. “I did. Still, I figured you might be more comfortable having me send my driver. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about my intentions after our date finished.”

Kerry looked thoughtful for a moment. “So, you wasted twice the amount of fuel, thus creating more pollution for the environment just to make me feel safe?”

“Um…yes?” Perplexed, his eyebrows crinkled together.

One of her shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome?” Chuckling, he shook his head. “I take it you’re not easily impressed.”

“Give the man a prize.”

“And what do I win?”

“So far, the pleasure of my company over dinner.” She blinded him with a smile.

Grayson folded his arms on the table top and leaned toward her. “I guess we’ll see how full of pleasure it is. Wine?”

Her smile turned genuine. “Yes, please.”

He wagged a finger at her. “I’m thinking you like something more on the sweet side, rather than dry.”

She granted him a nod of approval. “Very good.”

He chuckled. “Trust my judgment?”

“I suppose this once won’t hurt,” she conceded.

“Good.” He signaled a waiter and whispered his order.

When the waiter retreated, she asked, “Keeping secrets already?” The accusatory note in her voice told him she spoke of more than his wine order.

Grayson leaned back in his chair. “I prefer to think of it as a surprise, not a secret.”

“Semantics.” She dismissed his statement with a flick of her hand.

“Truth. You work for a law firm. You of all people should know words are powerful things. One wrong word in a legal agreement—an entire deal goes to hell.”

“Touché.”

The waiter came up, set two champagne flutes on the table, and proceeded to pour from a bottle.

Kerry rolled the stem of the glass between thumb and forefinger, eyeing the pink, bubbly liquid. Tentative, she raised the glass to her very kissable lips and took a sip. Her eyebrows rose in surprise and he couldn’t help his grin.

“Very good,” she said, setting her glass back on the table. “I’m not usually one for champagne but this is fruity and light…sweeter than most other champagnes.”

“It goes well with most foods, too,” he offered. “I thought you might like to try it.”

Dipping her head in a nod, she said, “Well, thank you.”

Grayson sipped from his glass, and then asked, “Shall we order?”

Kerry held up a hand to wait and met his gaze. “I think we should get business out of the way first.”

Yes, let’s get business out of the way.
Might as well rip out the hairs all at once instead of one at a time.
Grayson sipped more champagne, letting the liquid roll around in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. “All right. Did my proposal meet your satisfaction?”

Kerry nodded. “Yes, it all seems to be in order.”

Disappointment swirled in his gut, but regardless, he reached into his suit pocket for a pen. “If you’ve brought it with you,” he said, handing the writing utensil to her, “we can sign it now.”

Kerry sat up straighter in her chair, panic flashing in her eyes.
Bingo. Now we’re getting somewhere.
But he had to make her state her true intentions, so he shoved the pen in her direction, encouraging her to take it.

“I…I didn’t…bring the document with me,” she stuttered. She smoothed down the front of her dress to regain her composure. “While there doesn’t seem to be a problem with the agreement, I
do
have a problem with a man lying to me to get what he wants.”

He lowered his hand, tapping the pen against the tabletop. “Oh?”

 “It seems as if there is a discrepancy in your age. Care to clear the matter up?”

“Does my age really factor into it?” he challenged. “I’ve more than proven I can financially take care of you.”

“And any partnership always works better on a foundation of trust,” she pressed on. “If I don’t feel you are trustworthy, why should I entrust my financial welfare to you?”

Without missing a beat, he retorted, “Trust goes both ways. Why don’t you tell me what you’re really after? You’re not like those other women on the site.”

Her green eyes flashed again, exciting him.
Anger perhaps? Intriguing…

“No, I’m not,” she said. “For one thing, I’m much more mature.” She leaned forward a little more in her seat. “And you don’t seem like the kind of man who would have to buy himself affection,” she countered. “What is it
you
want?”

Grayson tucked the pen back inside his jacket pocket. Kerry stared at him unblinking.
Check and mate.

Grayson threw back the remaining champagne in his glass, the bubbles tickling his nostrils. “As I’m sure you’ve discovered—I’m thirty-five.”

Kerry’s lips twitched in a smile. “Why lie about it? It’s such a woman thing to do.”

“I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.” Grayson leaned on the table toward her once again.

Kerry leaned in closer, their gazes colliding, holding. “And what does that mean?”

“I’ll explain my little white lie, if you tell me what you were really doing on that site,” he said.

She raised her chin in defiance. “What makes you think I didn’t sign on there to find precisely what I asked for?”

“How about we stop the games right now?” he suggested. Not waiting for a response, he continued, “You seem far too intelligent and independent to require a Sugar Daddy.”

“Maybe like I said—I’m tired of paying bills.”

Grayson let out a grunt of dissatisfaction. “Who isn’t tired of paying bills? It doesn’t mean you’d give up your freedom for it.”

Kerry sat back in her chair and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I suppose that depends on how you view freedom. Having someone provide for myself and my kids seems like freedom to me. I get to negotiate sex, and I’d be taken care of in exchange for companionship of my choosing. Doesn’t appear as if I’d have to do anything I don’t want. Seems like I’d win to me. As for you, thirty-five is hardly out to pasture. You have money and good looks. I’m sure it’s not a hardship for you to find women.”

Grayson admired her pluck. She wouldn’t concede defeat in this, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she was out to prove a point as much as he had been.
No more games.
He wanted something real. He wanted to get to know what motivated Kerry, needed to experience her without pretense. The only way he’d do that is if he changed tactics.

He drew in a deep breath. “Perhaps I’m tired of women wanting me for my money and/or good looks.”

Kerry blinked, opened her mouth to reply, but closed it again. Her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, and she stared straight into his eyes. After a moment, she said, “You’re serious.”

He replied with a curt nod.

She gave a slight shake of her head and sipped more champagne. After setting the glass down, she folded her hands on top of the table and cocked her head in curiosity. “Let me get this straight—you’re tired of women who only want you for your money or looks, and yet you put an ad on a site specifically designed for that purpose.”

“I couldn’t peruse profiles if I didn’t create one myself.”

“I highly doubt the ruse was because of a case.”

“No, it wasn’t. Sheer curiosity drove me to do it,” he said.

“So, you had no intention of meeting anyone, but you answered my ad. Why?”

“Again, my defense is curiosity,” he stated.

“Hmmm.” Kerry sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Curiosity killed the cat, Mr. Nichols,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

“But at least the cat will have died with a smile on his face, and the knowledge he didn’t pass up an opportunity,” he quipped.