Page 38 of Billionaire Hunt

“Oliver can be so pushy.”

“Tell me about it,” Erik said as we sat in his car.

“Your place or mine?”

“Mine,” I said, referring to my new apartment not too far from my granny’s place. I wanted to be sure to be no more than ten minutes from her in case she needed me.

“I have a client I need to meet with in the morning.”

He glanced away from the traffic to look at me and then looked back at the road. “You didn’t tell me you landed another client.”

“I went to a trade show armed with pictures of what I’ve done to your house and people flipped out over it. I have several clients lined up now. I’m back!” I said excitedly.

“I’m happy for you,” he said simply. “But I’m not ecstatic about sharing you.”

“It was bound to happen,” I teased.

“You’re right,” he said seriously. “You’re so talented. Gifted at your job. It’s no wonder people are salivating at the mouth to get to you.”

I laughed at the image his statement conjured up, but was humbled by his characterization of my work.

“Thanks for that. No one has ever called me gifted before.”

“No one knows your work like I know it. At least, that’s how it feels.”

His compliments were beginning to make me feel a little uncomfortable. I didn’t know that he thought so highly of me. I sat there in silence not knowing what else to say to him. I felt there were a lot of things left unsaid between us but I didn’t know how to bring them up.

Finally, he pulled up to my apartment and we just sat there in the dark.

“Erik---” I began.

“Yes?”

I opened my mouth and closed it again, not sure how to proceed. I couldn’t really see his face in the dark, and the darkness made me brave. I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to tell him how conflicted I felt, but how I couldn’t help falling for him.

But as I tried to start again, his voice cut through the darkness.

“He has a point, you know. He’s kind of right. You would be a great choice for a surrogate.”

“What? Are you kidding me?” I was stunned. Me? A surrogate? What was Erik talking about?

“We’re friends. We’re not in a relationship. No messy emotions will get in the way. It’s kind of perfect.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I don’t think so. At least for once I’m thinking straight.”

“What do you mean “thinking straight”? You must have bumped your head. Oliver is insane. Don’t do anything he recommends.”

“You’re right, Oliver is a nut, but what he proposed does make sense.”

“How? We’re sex buddies.”

“Exactly, but we’re also friends. So even though there are no strings attached, we get along. We care about each other...at least I think you care about me.” His voice was soft in the darkness as he reached out and touched my face.

I could finally see his eyes and met them. “Of course, I care about you. We’re friends,” I said without hesitation. “Friends care about each other.”

“Sounds like the perfect surrogate relationship to me.”