Page 1 of Rent Me While You Can

Chapter 1

Amber

“Ella, I’m going to need a lot more money for this.” My head falls into my hands as I rest them on my desk at my apartment. When I look back up, the word Holidates is in bold, bright red font at the top of the website. I met all the criteria for their services, and now I’m scanning over the details of the guy I’ve been paired with for a date to this year’s Halloween event.

“So, what are you going to wear tonight to meet him?” my best friend and roommate, Jenny, says as she opens my closet.

“I have no clue.” I look around the room. “Do you think I’m crazy for paying to rent a date? I just don’t want to go to this event for the fifth year in a row dateless. Every year, I look like the loser of the online travel agent industry, and I just want this year to be different.”

“No, I don't think you’re crazy, but I do think you need to put yourself out there more. You work too much and don’t take it easy enough. Now, you look amazing in anything, so don’t stress. This top and skirt are so cute. You should put them on,” she encourages.

“Okay,” I relent and then start to unbutton my shirt.

“I mean, you can wear anything you want, right? Tonight is just the test date, before the actual event next weekend. Or is there a specific dress code for where you will be eating?”

“There’s not a dress code, but I don’t want to look like a slob either.” I button up the shirt I’m trying on. “Besides, it’s not like we’re going on a real date. It’s just a dinner for us to meet.”

“It’s still a date,” she says, and I roll my eyes.

“You’re right.” After looking at myself in the mirror, wearing what she pulled out for me to try on, I turn back towards my closet and rummage through my clothes for the thirtieth time. “I think I’m going to wear a dress.”

“Okay, what about that red one? It fits your curves perfectly,” she asks and walks over to me.

“Perfect, I’ll try it on.” I remove my clothes and toss them on the bed to slip the dress over my head, and as soon as it passes my hips she claps.

“That’s it. Yep. That’s the one.”

“Are you sure this one is it?” I need confirmation.

“Yes, but now what?”

“He’s supposed to be in front of my house at 8 PM.”

“Okay, I’ll stay until then and be certain you’re alright. You know, so I can be sure and take pictures of his car and license plate, in case you go missing,” she states, sitting back in the chair and taking another sip of her wine.

“I told you, these people are screened through the dating site company,” I reassure her and grab my purse just as the doorbell rings with my date on the other side. “We’re only going to have dinner. It’s in a public place. Plus, you have me as a friend on the tracking app, so you’ll know where I am.”

“You’re right,” she says with a sigh. “I’m going to wait in the kitchen. Have a good time.”

“Thanks for caring. Love you.”

“Love you more.” She stands, gives me a quick hug, and walks down the hall.

I look through the peephole and see Cole standing there, smiling. Taking a deep breath in, I open the door. “Hi,” he says, and I know for a fact, he’s way out of my league. No one’s going to believe that this guy is interested in a girl like me.

“Hi, I’m Amber,” I greet and gesture for him to come inside. He’s wearing a black button-up shirt and slacks, and he looks really tall, muscular and H. O. Double T. Hot.

“Hey, I’m Cole.” His smile is amazing and makes my heart skip a beat. “So, this is your place? It’s very nice,” he compliments as he looks around my modest living room.

“Yes, thank you.” I take a few steps closer toward him to stand next to him. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I do.” He places his hands on my back. I feel my cheeks flush, and then he kisses me. It’s a soft kiss, but it sends shivers down my spine.

“What did you do that for? We just met. You can’t go around kissing people you don’t know,” I scold and expect my proclaimed bodyguard and so-called best friend to jump out of the kitchen and into the living room any second now. But, nope, nothing.

Then this guy just stands there laughing at me. “Now that the first kiss is out of the way, we can get on with our plans to go out to dinner.”

“I am so confused right now. Why on earth would you just kiss me like that?”

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