Page 53 of Miss Fortune

“That sort of behavior isn’t me.”

“Then I’m confused. You said you’d be sleeping with other women.”

I tried to explain. “I don’t want exclusivity to lead to assumptions of what this is. People who become exclusive are in relationships.”

She sighed, taking a seat at the table. “I understand. But I’m afraid your version of casual won’t work for me. I want more.”

“You want a relationship.”

“Not to freak you out, but we already have a relationship. We’re friends. We work together. We had sex. It’s not such a scary word when you consider anyone you care about is in some sort of a relationship with you. And before you assume it means a long-term commitment, rest assured it doesn’t. But it does mean being the only one you’re with when it comes to sex. Anything less would leave me feeling empty.”

“You don’t want to see me again?” My voice nearly caught on the words.

“I’d like to still do things together on Saturday; I’ve always enjoyed our time together. But if you’ll be sleeping with other people, then I’m sorry, we can’t continue to sleep together.”

“There hasn’t been anyone else since I met you.”

She rolled her eyes. “You were with Tabitha the morning we met, and you were out with Ava last night.”

“The Saturday before I met you was the last time I was with Tabitha physically, and I never slept with Ava. I dropped her off and rushed over here.” Suddenly it was important she know this about me.

“But you could sleep with her if you wanted.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t want to sleep with her, or with anyone else.”

She threw up her arms. “Then why are we having this conversation? You don’t want to sleep with anyone but me. Haven’t been with anyone else since meeting me. But now that we’ve slept together, you introduce the idea of sleeping with other people?”

“When you put it that way, it sounds stupid.”

“It is stupid.”

Yeah, it was, but I had to make sure this didn’t devolve into another relationship like my marriage. Making a success of a relationship wasn’t in the cards for someone like me.

“I like you, Daisy, and we’re friends, and you’ll be working for me for another two weeks, which further complicates matters. I’m trying to figure out a way to keep seeing you without having you misread my intentions.”

“Am I not smart enough to believe what you say is actually what you mean?”

“Of course you’re smart. But it’s important to keep this casual.”

“I’m sorry, but what you’re offering won’t work for me. However, I’d like to stay friends.”

“Friends?” The word was bitter on my tongue.

“Yeah, friends. You know, the type who continue to hang out, but got naked one night and must never speak of it again.”

Despite the lump in my throat, my laughter escaped. It’s what Daisy did to me. Lightened things even when they were dark. The thought of us going back to friends settled heavily on my heart. Sex with her hadn’t been a drunken mistake. Nope, it would be forever etched in my brain as the most incredible night of my life. Yet offering her less than what she deserved wasn’t fair, either.

“Okay. Friends it is.”

* * *

On Monday morning, I was on edge while waiting for Daisy to arrive at the office. I’d barely slept last night, trying to figure out if I was doing the right thing by refusing to be exclusive with her. Logic told me I was, but then why did I feel so horrible?

“Good morning, Mr. Morrison,” she greeted coming into my office with two invoices and a smile on her cherry-colored lips. She was wearing a vibrant yellow dress today making her look like pure sunshine and sin.

My fingers practically ached to touch her. “Good morning. I, uh, have client intake calls all morning and an off-site meeting this afternoon.” The client intake consisted of two more people seeking a divorce and a man needing his second prenuptial agreement drawn up, this time for the twenty-three-year-old nanny he’d left his wife for. Just another day in the life of a successful divorce attorney whereby I billed hours for unsuccessful relationships.

She cocked her head to the side as if she sensed my dread for the day, but she didn’t press. “Okay. I’ll enter your new clients into the database and send them the materials needed. Let me know if there’s anything else.”