Page 6 of Friends with Benefits (Club Risqué)

A proposition? Taryn frowned. That didn't sound much like the prelude to asking for a date, even to someone with as little experience in that game as she had. But Christian smiled that blow-you-away smile that always made her forget herself, so she didn't dwell on it any longer. If she had, she might have seen what was coming.

"I need an escort to some of the functions I'm obligated to attend for the business,"

This was it; he was about to ask her out, even if he did sound a little serious and practical rather than overcome with longing. But then, this was just the beginning, after all. Those things didn't happen straight away, did they? Well, they seemed to for her, but Taryn was sensible enough to accept that some of these matters took time to develop.

"I don't have the time or the inclination for a girlfriend right now…"

Wait, what?

"…and I can't cope with random dating. Quite frankly, some women just end up getting too many expectations which I don't want to have to waste time extracting myself from." He paused for a moment and frowned as if he were battling with the premise. Then his expression lightened, and he looked at her and laughed, throwing himself down onto his back on the blanket they shared, before rolling onto his side to face her.

"God, that sounds egotistical, sorry. I just mean that Dad is too sick for me to be distracted with a romantic involvement or even the aftermath of having to deal with a woman who wants more than I can give. Mum is literally falling apart because of Dad's terminal prognosis and all my emotions are tied up in trying to deal with all of that, myself, as well as taking the helm as the public face of the company. I don't mean to sound like a dick; I just don't have anything left to give at the moment."

Christian sighed mournfully and rolled onto his back, flinging his arm across his face, and Taryn's susceptible heart went out to him all over again.

"God only knows, I don't want to even attend all the stupid damn functions!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands across his face and staring up at the cloudless blue sky. "I've got enough on my plate just trying to get through each day with the family falling apart the way it is, but it eases Dad's mind to know that the company is being looked after because that means that Mum and I will be taken care of after he's gone."

He dragged in a ragged breath, clearly choked up by the events that he was mired in, and Taryn's heart went out to him. He was so young, still only twenty-four years old, and he was having to deal with so much. She couldn't imagine how she would cope if she found herself in the same situation. There and then, she knew she would do whatever it took to help him out and ease his burden.

"Apart from you, I don't really have any female friends who are, you know, just friends…"

Taryn's heart broke just a little bit in that moment, and she swallowed around the huge lump that had formed in her throat. He saw her as just a friend, a friend who happened to be a girl.

"They all seem to have all these expectations."

Taryn knew a moment of extreme discomfort as she silently acknowledged that she was just as guilty of having 'expectations' as all the other faceless women Christian was referring to. Thank goodness she seemed to have covered it better.

"Whether it's for my money, or the social standing, or the idea of snagging an influential husband, they're all just out for what they can get, and I can't afford to get involved in all that right now. If that sounds harsh, then so be it. At the end of the day, I'm doing us all a favour by not getting involved in a relationship that I know I can't commit to properly."

She silently sighed in relief. Well, at least any expectations she had of him weren't as mercenary and premeditated as those he had just outlined. Taryn only wanted him for himself, because he was beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. His commitment to his family and the fact that he didn't want to lead any woman on was testament to that.

Taryn leaned over and tentatively touched his tanned forearm, lightly dusted in soft dark hair, and bit her lip at the jolt of electricity that tingled in her fingers, then shot up her arm before settling directly in all her secret places, desperately hoping she hadn't given herself away.

"I understand, Christian," she assured him softly. "And if I can help you out in any way, then I will be happy to."

Christian's face cleared, and he gifted her with that panty melting smile which appeared, to Taryn's impressionable mind, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. She melted all over again, too immature to realise what she was getting herself into.

Not that it would have mattered. She found such a huge amount of solace in knowing she’d given that to him, and knew it would sustain her for a while.

Jumping up and pulling her with him, Christian lifted her up and twirled her around in a rare show of uninhibited joy. That was when she realised just how much of a toll his family life was taking on what should have been a carefree youth.

"Come and meet my parents," he declared unexpectedly, gathering up the blanket and leading her back to where the horses were quietly grazing.

Taryn was surprised but secretly pleased that he trusted her enough to introduce her to his family under the circumstances, and she followed him willingly.

Just as she would do for the next five years of her life.

ChapterFive

In retrospect, there had been a clear and unambiguous warning in everything Christian had said that day. Sadly, it hadn't been one that Taryn had properly heeded.

He’d been honest and open, and she'd admired him for that, despite the knife that felt like it was gouging its way into her young heart.

Taryn had agreed to his terms, and maybe she was guilty of making excuses for herself, but she also acknowledged that she was far too young to enter into a physical relationship with Christian anyway… even while she hoped beyond hope that things still might develop in the way she wished, despite his assertion that he didn't have time for a proper relationship.

Over the next nine months, Taryn became Christian’s constant companion.

She accompanied him to business functions and charity balls. She found them and the people she met quite fascinating. Between her knowledge from her parents' stud and the business degree she was studying for, she was able to hold her own with most of the people he introduced her to. And if the blatant interest and innuendoes from the other women he encountered dredged up the green-eyed monster inside her, then she was careful not to let it show. Comforting herself, instead, with the knowledge that at least he wasn't going to pursue any of them.

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