Page 105 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"That sounds kind of disgusting," I say, wrinkling my nose. "I know I'm sweet, but am I that sweet?"

She just stares at me.

"That's not the proposition I had for you."

"Okay. Well then, what is?"

"I was thinking, what about if…" I pause slightly.

"What?" she says.

I grab her waist and pull her closer to me, then wrap my leg around her hip.

"Max, what are you saying?"

"What if you want to have a little contract with me?"

"Huh?" she says, as I reach my hand up under her shirt.

"What if we have a deal?"

"What deal?" she asks.

"I don't know. Maybe that you're my sex slave for the next month and I give you $25,000."

"Are you freaking kidding me?" she says, pushing me away. "I am so offended. I cannot believe that you think I will sell my body for twenty-five grand."

"Fifty grand then?"

"No, Max," she says, glaring at me. "I'm not going to sleep with you for money. That's absolutely ridiculous. That's not romantic."

"What? You're the one that said that?—"

"Max," she says. "If we're getting into a relationship, and you like me and I like you, I'm not accepting money for sex. I don't want there to ever be a time in our relationship where you question me."

"Okay. Well, I was just joking."

"No, you weren't."

"Okay, maybe I wasn't, but it was just for fun."

"What do you mean for fun?"

"I don't know, like role-playing. Come on, let's be real, we both know I wouldn't have to pay you one cent for sex."

"Haha, very funny, Max."

"I just don't want you to be in that place with nothing. It's not comfortable, and when you…" I pause. I was about to say when you love someone, you want them to be comfortable. "Well, when you care about someone," I say quickly instead. "You want them to be comfortable, and I have plenty of money."

"I know you have money, and I'm very appreciative of you offering it to me, but I'm not going to accept your money to buy me furniture. I have to do this myself."

"You are so stubborn, Lila Haversham."

"And that's why you like me, Max Spector." She grins, and I just shake my head.

"Maybe," I say. "So you're not willing to take this proposition?"

"No, I'm not. But thank you very much for offering."

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