Me: It was nice meeting you in person. You’re even more beautiful than I expected.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I read through the message before I send it. To the point, complimentary and true, it’s just what I wanted. She’s breathtakingly attractive, having the kind of natural beauty that’s seen less and less these days. Especially in the modelling industry where everything revolves around having plastic surgery and achieving cookie cutter features. Meeting the industry’s standards is the most important thing and anything different is seen as inferior. Not in my eyes, though. Different in her case, is extraordinary.

LadyLuc: Thank you. I had a nice time too.

My lips press together in concern as I read her reserved reply.

Me: Why does it feel like there’s a but missing from the end of that?

LadyLuc: No, not at all. This is just a weird situation all around.

Me: Which part? Meeting online or planning to have sex?

LadyLuc: Both.

Me: If it’s any help, it’s awkward for me too. We can navigate through together.

LadyLuc: Ok.

Me: When are you free again?

LadyLuc: Friday night.

Me: That works for me. Can you come to my house or would you rather meet someplace neutral?

LadyLuc: Your house works.

Me: Ok, I need to get some sleep. Work starts early in the morning for me. Can I call you tomorrow?

LadyLuc: Of course. I wouldn’t have given you my number if I didn’t want you to use it.

Me: Point taken. I just didn’t want to be a presumptuous asshole. I know you’re a busy woman.

LadyLuc: My nights are free once Jeremiah goes to bed. Call me whenever you want.

Me: Goodnight Lucy.

LadyLuc: Night Magnus.

I hear her husky voice as I read through her words. An unexpected tremor ghosts up my back and neck. My shoulders raise, reflexively tightening from the rampant desire thinking about her stirs up. The sexy tone of hers coupled with the memory of her cherry red lips gets the blood pumping through every inch of me. Falling back on the bed, cupping my phone in my palm, I stare at Lucy’s profile pic. My eyes slowly trace the graceful curves and angles of her high, pronounced cheekbones. A small, straight nose sits above full lips that tip up at the outer edges as if frequent smiles have shaped them that way. I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can see her...until I can kiss her for the first time.

I should be worried about what we’re setting in motion by going out again, but for the first time in what seems like forever, I’m not. There’s no sense of anxiety that this will end badly. Lucy has set the bar low with her demand for a sex only arrangement and anything else we gain beyond that is all good.

* * *

“The crackers and brie are on the platter and the wine has been chilled,” Cam informs me as he darts around the kitchen taking care of last minute tasks.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I fight the urge to tell him to get the hell out of here. It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything he’s done to help me. All the rushing around he’s doing is amping up the nervous energy that’s already thrumming through me. Not to mention, I’d really like a few minutes to myself before Lucy arrives. I need to work out what I’m going to say in order to avoid another stuttering mishap.

“The crab dip is in the fridge,” he says, gesturing at the large, state of the art, stainless steel model.

Crab? “Cam, you do know that I don’t eat crab, right?”

“I know, but this is about her, not you. Don’t be so self centered, Mags.”

“Whatever. Can you get the hell out of here before she shows up?”

“Well, aren’t you an ingrate?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be. I want to finish getting ready and with you being here it’s fucking up my schedule.”

“Say no more. The roast, potatoes and vegetables are all in the oven and it’s on warm. Don’t forget to turn it off before you go to bed.” He winks and blows me a kiss.

Ignoring him, I move to the other side of the kitchen and pull open the oven door. Peering in, I check out the dinner he’s prepared. It looks amazing. My mouth salivates as the delicious smells assault my nose. “Thank you for preparing all this, Cam.”

“No problem. I live to serve.” He rolls his hand in a circle and dramatically bends at the waist in a bow that’s fit for paying homage to royalty.

“Don’t you mean you live to test my patience?”

“That too, Mags, that too.” He gathers things as he scurries around and tucks them into his black leather bag that I one time jokingly referred to as his purse. He laughed and didn’t seem to mind, so I never mentioned it again. If I’m going to give him shit, I want him to care. Teasing Cam is only fun when I get a rise out of him.

“Okay, I’m out of here, Mags. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He wiggles his eyebrows and my lips press together in grimace. I refuse to think about what he does with his private time.

“Thanks, Cam. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You sure will, big boy,” he replies, just before the door slams shut behind him.

The silence swallows me and I breathe deeply for the first time in an hour. Glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall reads seven-twenty. Lucy is supposed to be here by seven-thirty. Raking a hand through my hair, I push the thick strands back from my forehead, but they instantly fall forward, landing in my eyes. Motherfucker. I’m never letting anyone Cam suggests near my hair again. Growling, I shove my fingers roughly through it, holding it in place as I look over my choice of clothing. I’m wearing my favorite black collared shirt and a pair of khakis. Originally, I had on jeans and I let Cam talk me into changing them out. He urged me to wear a pair of black shoes, but I refused. I’m in my own home, why would I have shoes on? Black socks will have to suffice and it’s one less thing to remove later on.

Growling out my frustration, I tip my head back and place both hands on my hips.

Why am I being such a puss about my clothes and hair?

Fuck. I’ve never paid any mind to either before, unless I had something formal to go to.

Why is my choice of clothing so monumental now?

I don’t think Lucy will care and if she has her way, I’ll be naked once dinner is over...maybe even before.

The chime of the doorbell slices into the silence, shutting down my mental meltdown. Inhaling as I walk to the door, I focus on remaining calm and composed and give myself a quick pep talk.

Speak to her like she’s someone you already know.

Don’t turn this into a big deal.

You got this.

Tugging the door open, I smile when my gaze lands on her.

“Hello Magnus.” Oh damn; that voice. Lucy smiles, her glossy, red lips parting to reveal straight white teeth. Oh damn; that smile.

“H-h-h-hi,” I stumble over the word. Shit. Here we go again.

“Can I come in?”

Clenching my teeth, I nod and take a step backward. “Please,” I manage without stuttering as I gesture her inside.

Lucy’s eyes travel about the large, open space of the living room, kitchen and dining room. “Wow, this is incredible.” She shakes her head, and chews on her bottom lip as if something’s bothering her.

“What’s wrong?”

“This is just so...so...wow. You’re never coming to my house.”

I take her hand. “Lucy, I don’t care if you live in a tiny hut or a tent. I’d still want to see where you live and share that with you.”

She pulls her hand from my grasp. “Just sex, remember?” she reminds me, wiping her damp palms on the thighs of her jeans.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, but we’re having dinner first. Come sit down.”

“Magnus, I thought we already talked about all this the other night?”

“We did, but I didn’t have time to eat yet. If you don’t mind, I’d like to now and then we can do whatever you want.” I wink and a pink flush washes over her cheeks. “Will you sit down and have dinner with me? I hate to eat alone and I do it all too frequently.”

She tugs her purse from her shoulder and drops it to the coffee table as we pass by on our way to the kitchen.

I point to the island. “Have a seat. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Mhm.” She raises her leg, sliding onto the stool. I like the way she looks sitting across the island from me.

“I hope you like Pot Roast.” Grabbing two mitts, I open the oven and remove the pan that contains all we need. Setting it down on the stovetop, I drop the pot holders to the counter and hip check the oven door closed with a loud bang. I make short order of dishing out a sizeable portion of each item onto two plates, grab forks and knives and set it all down on the counter in front of Lucy. “Would you like some wine?”

“Yes, please,” she replies eagerly. Maybe she’s as nervous as I am?

I pour us each a glass, handing one off before sitting on the vacant stool to her right. “Dig in. I’m really casual about this stuff. If we knew each other better, we’d be eating off paper plates and the wine would be in a plastic cup.”

She arches a dark brown brow. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, absolutely not. If it wasn’t for my personal assistant, Cam, I might have used them tonight.”

“You have a personal assistant?”

“Yeah, I kind of have to in order to keep everything organized.”

She spears a carrot with her fork. “Our lives are worlds apart. It’s a good thing this is only about sex because I can’t imagine you wanting to be with someone like me.” She slips the carrot between her lips and stares down at her plate.

“Lucy, don’t be fooled by what you see around you.”

“How can I be fooled by it when it’s right here for me to see? What do you expect me to think?”

“I built this house four years ago when I started to be in demand as a fitness model. I’d never had extra money before that and then unexpectedly I had it to burn. I’d always dreamed about living in a home like this and I figured it was a good way to invest in my future.”

“So you got your dream house. That’s good.” She continues to eat small bites of her meal, avoiding any eye contact with me.

“Yes I did and I also got the boat that goes along with living on a lake and the trucks and all the tools that are needed to run a tree removal service.”

“Good for you.” She cuts in, raising her wine glass and flicking a side eye glance at me. I can sense the veiled sarcasm in her tone.

“You didn’t let me finish.” Slipping the glass between my lips, I take a large sip of the cool wine and make her wait to hear the rest of what I have to say. “All of those things are possessions that don’t make me any happier than I was before I had them. I could give all of this up,” I wave my hand to encompass the space, “tomorrow and I’d be fine.”

“That’s easier said than done,” she replies skeptically.

“No, it’s really not. I’m a simple guy at heart. Am I sometimes put into situations through my work that I’d never imagined before? Absolutely.” I take a bite of beef and enjoy the rich flavors exploding in my mouth. “I never imagined rubbing elbows with elite athletes or movie stars, but sometimes it’s part of my job. And it happens to be my least favorite part.”

“For real?” Her eyes meet mine.

“Yes, for real. I told you, I’m a simple guy. I also said I don’t lie and I meant it, but you’ll learn that in time.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

I chuckle at her candidness. “You’ll see.”