Chapter 13
Dom opened the door grinning ear to ear. He grabbed her weekend bag and set it down. Then he grabbed her and brought her close. He smelt so fantastic. Kissing each cheek slowly and grazing her lips as he passed them.
“It’s so good to see you.” He whispered in her ear.
“Likewise.”
Anna expected many things. A candle-lit brunch had not made the list. The little cabin looked a lot like a movie set, with modern appliances mixed in with handmade wood furniture. The living room open to a small dining room and kitchen. In between the kitchen and dining room was the backdoor, and to the right was the hallway that led to the bathroom, and two bedrooms occupied by one bachelor and one dog. Who knew somewhere in the cabinets and drawers lay candles and furnishings to pull off romance in the middle of the woods.
“Wow. This is amazing.”
“I would have lit more candles,” he said, ushering her in the door, “but I didn’t want Gelato to accidentally set himself on fire.”
She could see that happening without too much provocation. The dog was huge, and his fur was not the kind to lay down.
“Well we wouldn’t want him to melt, now would we?”
He chuckled and scooted her chair under the table. “He would never forgive me if I let that happen.”
Two plates with metal covers sat on the table. In between them was a vase holding a single rose, and two lit candles. Anna looked up to see him watching her with anticipation.
“Hey. I hope you’re hungry,”
“If you’re cooking, absolutely.”
“Good.”
She could tell he was excited. He moved with a nervous energy like he wanted everything to be perfect. To her, it already was. They were together. Face to face at his dining room table with homemade French toast, fresh squeezed orange juice, two bowls of fruits, and heated syrup in between them.
“This looks delicious.”
Her plate was so pretty, she was debating ruining the moment to take a picture for Instagram.
“I can’t wait for you to try it. Go on. Take a bite.”
It practically melted on her tongue. She moaned, sucking every morsel of flavor from the fork. “It’s a sin. Toasty, flaky, with butter, cinnamon, powdered sugar and … is that banana?”
He chuckled. “Yup.”
“Gracious. Hanging out with you is going to gain me an extra session in the gym.”
“Nonsense. I love your curves.”
She blushed at his bluntness.
“More pounds is just more for me to hold onto.”
His voice made it very clear what he was referring to, and she took another bite to prevent herself from knocking everything off the table and inviting him to take her body.
She cleared her throat and spoke in between cutting another piece of her French toast.
“So. You said you have a proposal?”
He set his utensils down and nodded. He was nervous, but she could tell by his eyes that he knew what he wanted.
“I do.”
She waited to hear it.
“I want to offer you an arrangement.”
So she was right. It was about an arrangement. She was just glad he didn’t say, ‘I want to be your sugar daddy.’ That would have been embarrassing.
“I would offer you five thousand dollars a month. You would come out every Friday after school and stay until Sunday evening. You wouldn’t have to worry about transportation. I would pay for you to have car service with the understanding that you don’t mention our arrangement to anyone and you agree to be exclusive to only me. I want you to shut down your sugar baby account and agree not to date anyone else. If you accept those terms, I promise to be the best,” he confidently stated and continued, “sugar daddy you’ve ever had.”
She smirked and finished chewing before speaking. “And how long would this arrangement last?”
“However long you want it to. You can break it off anytime you want.”
There was nothing for her to think about. It was perfect and exactly what she wanted – Dom.
“Yes.”
So many things ran through her mind. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She tried to remember everything Rachel had said about her arrangement.
“I’ll need all that in writing.”
She was only 21, and it was clear Dom was somewhere in his mid or late thirties. She was attracted to him, and yes, they had strong feelings for each other, but she had her entire life ahead of her. In her mind, sugar arrangements were “for now.” None of this could ever equate to forever.
“I can do that.”
She almost forgot what he was responding to, but nodded as he walked to the backroom.
“Be right back.”
She heard a printer, and then he returned with a simple contract, following the arrangement template, and a pen.
She signed her name on the dotted line with the date.
He looked up at her as he signed his name.
“I am an honest man, Anna. Nothing means more to me than keeping my word. I vow to you that I will do that. I ask for the same courtesy as well.”
She gulped and tried to smile.
“I promise to keep every word in our agreement.”
Those magic words unlocked a wide smile. “Thank you.”
He signed quickly and took it with him to the kitchen. She didn’t have to wait long to see why as he returned with a bottle of champagne.
“This is cause for a celebration.” He poured her glass with a steady hand, back in control now, and leaned over to kiss her neck.
“You don’t know how happy it makes me to know you’re mine.”
“That’s right, baby. I’m all yours.”
“I really like the sound of that,” he said, taking her into his arms and kissing her. She closed her eyes to the taste of champagne on his lips and the thudding of her heart in her chest. She was just starting something with Dom… something that would be long-term. A pang of guilt ran through her chest as she reminded herself that she was originally hired to find him.
Should I tell him?