Page 21 of The Manny

“Of course, now that I’m responsible for a child, I’ll have less need to worry about guys pushing for more. They’ll find out about the kid and bolt.”

“Which will suit you just fine.”

“Yep.”

He stared out the window. “Do you think we have a chip missing or something? Why don’t we want to settle down like most guys our age?”

“It’s not about age. It’s about personality. What are our needs? I don’t crave companionship. I find people wanting things from me uncomfortable. I have physical needs, and I satiate them when I feel like it. I don’t require someone by my side.”

“Jesus, you sound even colder than me.” He grinned. “I do sometimes crave companionship.”

“I suggest you get a dog.”

He chuckled. “You’re a fucking asshole and I love it.”

I twisted my lips to keep from smiling. “I’m just keeping it real.”

Once we reached his home, I parked in front of his five-car garage and followed him inside. His home was palatial, with a marble entrance hall, tall columns separating the rooms, and a custom limestone fireplace. Every detail was perfect from the hand-carved mahogany banister of the sweeping staircase, to the wine cellar and home cinema. Scott truly had everything that money could buy.

“Beer? Or would you like something stronger?” he asked, peeling off his jacket and tossing it over a chair.

“Beer is fine.” I sat on the large beige sectional.

He came from the bar area and joined me, handing me a frosty bottle of ale. “Cheers.” He settled beside me, his leg brushing mine. He leaned against the cushions, stretching his arm along the back of the couch behind me.

I sipped the cold beer, studying a large modern-art painting on the wall. “Is that new?”

“Yep. You like?”

“It’s nice. I’ll bet that painting cost a pretty penny.”

“It was obscenely expensive. My accountant assures me it’s an investment.”

I smiled. “I can’t imagine having so much money I could just buy anything I wanted.”

He shrugged. “It gets kind of boring sometimes.”

“If only I could be so bored.”

He glanced at me, his brown eyes sincere. “Part of the fun of life is the anticipation of things. When you’re as rich as me, there’s not really any doubt about whether or not I can have something. It’s surprisingly anticlimactic.”

“I suppose that would be true.”

“I guess that’s why I like being around you so much. Sometimes I think you’ll let me have you, and then other times I don’t think it will ever happen.”

“Sounds like I’m a pretty mysterious bastard.” I smirked.

“The bastard part is accurate.”

I grinned.

He sighed and took a long pull from his beer. When he’d swallowed, he asked, “So, what’s she like? This niece of yours?”

Surprised at the question, I frowned. “She’s five. Scared. Confused. Sad.”

“Yikes.”

“Yes. It’s a lot.”

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