Page 8 of Look on the Bright Side

“I’m guessing that last sentence is why you’re trying to rent a human, Dr.Sat—Santini.”

“Look. I’d rather pay you than lead someone on. I’m sure you’re well aware I wouldn’t date you in real life, so there will be no hurt feelings.”

Lark threw her head back and laughed, and honestly, after the day she’d had, it felt great. “Aren’t you delightful,” she said. “Well, this is a very special offer, but I have to say no. Brian? Could we have dessert menus, please?”

Brian was holding the dessert menus, conveniently.

“I can’t believe you want dessert after that enormous meal,” Dr.Satan said. “I can hear your arteries hardening.”

“I just want to run up the bill. Thanks, Brian.” She glanced at the menu. “I’ll have the chocolate torte. And a cappuccino, too.”

“Of course. Sir?”

“Nothing for me,” he said, still staring at Lark.

“Be right back, then,” Brian said.

Lark looked at him, tilting her head. Plenty of women dated assholes, especially wealthy assholes. She knew (again, through the hospital grapevine) that Dr.Santini had a place here on the Cape and one in Boston. This indicated that he was loaded, given the real estate market. Surely women would be interested in him, and a man had needs, right? But maybe he was more the sex-doll type. Or asexual. That seemed more likely.

The thought that he wanted to make his grandma happy, though…that was kind of sweet.

Brian returned with her torte and coffee. “Thanks, Brian. Everything was delicious.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, blushing again.

“Bring the check in ten minutes,” said Dr.Satan. “Not before, not after.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sorry he’s so rude,” Lark called as Brian practically ran away.

“You haven’t asked how much I’ll pay you,” Dr.Santini said.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.”

“I’m sure you have a lot of student debt.”

“I’m a doctor. Of course I do. But I generally don’t whore myself out to make payments.” She smiled as she sipped her coffee. “Just as a general practice.”

“There’d be no whoring. Just attendance at a few events and the wedding itself. All at very nice venues with good food. My family has high culinary standards, and you obviously love to eat.”

Maybe it was the alcohol, but this was getting fun. “Okay. What’s your opening offer?”

“Ten thousand dollars.”

She choked. “American dollars?”

“Yes. But you couldn’t tell anyone about the arrangement.”

“Oh. Why?” That would be much harder than just going to a few parties.

“Because it’s a small world. My sister’s a nurse at South Shore Medical Center. Nurses gossip.”

“Doctors gossip, too, Lorenzo. A lot more than nurses, in my limited experience.”

His left eyelid twitched. She took a bite of the creamy chocolate torte. She was going to ask Addison to take her here for their birthday, since Addie was loaded. “And ten grand, while a lovely number, isn’t enough to role-play all summer, especially at work. My debt is a quarter of a million dollars. But I’m sure you could find someone else to take you up on your offer.”

He sighed. “Twenty-five, then.”

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