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“He hasn’t been a playboy recently,” I said. “You know, because of the kids.”

“So he’s playing the teacher to get some action.”

“Catherine!”

“Wait, why did you not deny that statement?” she asked.

I groaned and rolled my eyes as she sat up on the edge of the couch.

“Holy fuck, Emma. You slept with him, didn’t you?”

“Catherine, can we talk about something else?” I asked.

“No. No we cannot. Answer me. Did you sleep with him?”

“Why does that even matter?”

“Because with a man like Ryan Aaron, it just does. Did you or did you not-?”

“Yes, okay? I slept with him. But it wasn’t after the first time we had dinner,” I said.

“There was a second time? Holy hell, how long has it been since we’ve talked?”

“Look, the first time I was dead set on not having a good time. I didn’t dress up. I wore those old jeans with the holes in the knees?”

“You did not,” she said as her mouth gaped open. “Of course you’d pull something like that.”

“I did. To show him I wasn’t like all the other girls he could cart around and spoil. You know, play. And I actually had a good time.”

“With Ryan Aaron.”

“Yes. And that good time evolved into… other extracurricular activities,” I said.

“Emma, you need to be careful.”

“What? You were the one who was supportive of the dinner idea in the first place. And now you’re not?”

“Ryan has a reputation, and so do the women that interact with him by default. Even if they aren’t those kinds of women, they’re assumed to be because of how he is.”

“He’s not the kind of man everyone thinks he is,” I said.

“And you know this personally from the few weeks you’ve interacted with him?” she asked.

“He’s kind, Catherine. And sweet, when you get past the cocky facade. And he cares about those kids. His niece and two nephews. A lot. You know he called me a couple of weeks ago early in the morning because Benjamin was sick and he was worried?”

“Let me guess. You went over and helped him,” she said.

“I did. Because I could hear the worry and panic in his voice. He’s a rich man with the world at his feet, and he called me because he didn’t know what he was doing. Does that sound like a playboy to you?” I asked.

“I don’t want you to get your heart broken, Emma. That’s all I’m saying. He isn’t the kind of man to get attached, but you're the kind of woman that does.”

“I’m not attached. I like spending time with him. I like having someone to indulge carnal desires with.”

“Carnal desires? Are we really not going to say ‘sex’?” she asked.

“You can say it however you want. The point is, I enjoy what I’m doing, and I know he’s not playing me,” I said.

“Well, at least you’re not as cynical as you used to be.”


Tags: Nicole Elliot Romance