Page 42 of Keeper
I frowned. “That’s not how it happened …”
I hope Tanner doesn’t think of me as a slut grifter, either,I thought. I wasn’t sure why it mattered to me, considering I knew I’d never see him again.
“So does he live in the same building you were standing in front of?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“Those are multi-million dollar condos, Ainsley. If he lives there, he’s probably rich.”
“Oh, there’s no doubt about it; he’s definitely rich. He wore a gold Rolex, drove a crazy looking sports car, and his penthouse looked like something out of an architecture magazine.”
“Wait. You knew he was rich and you seriouslydidn’t fuck him?”
“Seriously, I did not. Why would it matter if he’s rich, anyway?”
“Because you get rich guys to splurge on you whenever you can.” She made a face,duh. “So are you going to wait outside his building and try to catch him later today?”
“What?” I asked, shocked by the suggestion. “No, of course not!”
“Really? Hell, if he’s as hot and rich as you say he is, thenImight try to stalk him outside his building.”
“Don’t you dare,” I said, joking, but alsonotjoking at the same time. “He’s mine.”
“Nah.” She clucked her tongue. “You had your chance. You should’ve fucked him if you wanted him.”
“Y’know, Marta, sometimes Ireallydon’t understand you,” I teased, prodding her shoulder.
“Why?”
“First, you tell me that my goal for the night is to get laid. But then you seem disappointed in me when you think Ididsleep with a guy. Then, when you find out Ididn’tsleep with him,you call me a ‘slut grifter.’Now you’re saying I should’ve slept with him if I liked him. So in your eyes, what was the right move? Help me out here because you’ve got me all twisted up and confused.”
“I told you I have a love/hate relationship with cock, didn’t I?” she asked, batting her eyes. “It’s complicated because Ihategiving men what they want. But I want them and they want me. So even when I win, I still lose.”
“Really?” I frowned. “That sounds like such a sad way to think about things.”
“Nah, it’s not sad. I think it was way more sad when I let myself get attached to guys who ultimately disappointed me because they’re all fucking scumbags.”
I let out a heavy breath. “Yeah, I know that pain.”
“All jokes aside, I think it’s cool you didn’t fuck that guy last night. You weren’t feeling it. And ultimately, life is all about doing whatever the hell you want, not what some asshole guy wants to pressure you into doing. So if you ask me, you did perfectly fine.”
“Thanks,” I said. I paused, feeling the sudden weight of a confession on my shoulders. “Honestly, though? Ididwant to sleep with him, Marta. In fact,I wasthisclose,” I said, pinching at a minuscule piece of air.
“What stopped you?”
A wistful sigh escaped me. “The knowledge that I’ll never see him again.”
“Wait, that’s abadthing in your book?” She let out a loud burst of laughter. “You’re allmixed up, Ainsley.”
“I told you I get attached when I sleep with a guy, remember? Why get attached to a guy I’m never going to see again?”
“That’s too bad,” she said. She paused, snagging her lip between her teeth. “Maybe I should’ve told you this earlier, then.”
“Told me what?”
“What if,” she began to speak deliberately, almost theatrically, “I told you there’s an incredible business opportunity waiting for you in Dallas, right here, right now?”
Half-suspicious, I chuckled. “Why does it sound like you’re about to pitch a pyramid scheme to me?”
