Rhett

by E. L. Todd

“A cheater?” Dad asked.

  “Every time we play Battlefield, she creams me,” Rhett said. “I think she has something up her sleeve.”

  “Did you ever consider the possibility that you might just suck?” I asked.

  He nudged me in the side again. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

  “You’re lucky I love you.”

  I stole another bite of ice cream.

  He growled at me.

  Dad watched our interaction. “This is serious, isn’t it?” There wasn’t disappointment in his voice.

  “Very,” Rhett said as he looked at me. “I asked her to move in with me, actually.”

  “I agreed but now I’m not so sure.” I gave him a teasing look.

  “The only reason why I offered is so I’ll learn your secrets,” Rhett said. “I’ll get to the bottom of your unusual game-playing talents.”

  “Good luck with that,” I said sarcastically.

  “So Rhett,” Dad said. “You’re an escort?”

  I suspected this would come up eventually.

  “Yes,” Rhett said with confidence. “I founded the company years ago. I escort men and women—”

  “Men?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” he said simply. “So?”

  “I just didn’t know that,” I said with a shrug.

  Rhett turned back to my father. “I pose as a boyfriend and only allow handholding and waist touching. There’s no kissing or anything more intimate involved. I like my job and Aspen doesn’t mind it.”

  “I don’t,” I said. “But if any girls get the wrong idea, I’ll take them out.”

  “I’d like to see that,” Rhett said with a smile.

  I acted like I was clawing someone.

  Dad stared at us blankly. “As long as you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

  He was really trying.

  “The fact you started your own company is impressive,” he said.

  “Thanks,” Rhett said. “I like being my own boss.”

  “Is this lucrative?” Dad asked.

  “Dad.” I gave him a pissed look.

  “Sorry.” Dad held up his hands in surrender. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  “It’s okay,” Rhett said. “Every father wants to know his daughter is well taken care of. To answer your question, I do very well and made smart investments so Aspen will want for nothing. I’m not loaded by any means, but I’m more than happy with that salary.”

  Dad nodded. “That’s very impressive. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you,” Rhett said.

  “You make way more than I do,” I said with a laugh.

  “Not anymore,” Dad said. “Now you’re a very wealthy woman.”

  “Ooh…” Rhett leaned toward me. “You’re my sugar mama now.”

  “I am, aren’t I?” I snatched his cherry then ate it.

  “But you can always have my cherries,” he said.

  Dad continued to watch us. “You two remind me of me and my late wife. We were very playful together. The moment we met, we just knew it would last forever.”

  Dad never talked about Mom, even when she was alive.

  Rhett nodded. “I think I can speak for Aspen when I say we feel the same way.”

  “We do?” I asked with a smile.

  “Would I have asked you to move in if I thought otherwise?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “You’re my future wife,” he said. “I just know it.”

  My heart melted when I looked at him. When I first saw him in that coffee shop, I never expected an intense love affair to happen. I assumed a gorgeous man like him could never want an average woman like me. And I never expected our souls to connect in such a profound way. It seemed like I’d known Rhett my whole life, that the past had always included him even if I couldn’t recall it.

  Dad looked down. “Aspen, I’m sorry I forced John on you. Now I feel even worse.”

  I turned to him and saw the remorse in his eyes. “It’s okay, Dad. I forgive you.”

  His lips upturned in a smile. “You do?”

  “Yeah.”

  Rhett put his arms around my shoulders and held me close. “To new beginnings.” He held up his cup of ice cream then clanked it against mine. Then he tapped his against my dad’s.

  I held mine and pressed it against my father’s. “To new beginnings.”

  Also by E. L. Todd

  When we decided to be escorts, we agreed it would only be professional. We drew up a list of rules, a bro-code.

  But now that Harper is my new client...I want to forget every single one of them.

  It's been a long time since I've felt this way about anyone. The one woman I loved cheated on me and I couldn't forgive her. My heart is still shattered from the betrayal.

  But somehow, Harper makes me forget all of that.

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