Rebel Heir (Rush Series Duet #1)(40)

“I’m not sure. But if that’s the case, and he avoids relationships because of something in his life, how would I even get past that?”

Riley tossed a throw pillow she had been holding on her lap at me. “You don’t, silly. You give him what he thinks he wants, and let the relationship happen naturally. Tell him you just want a fuck buddy for the summer. Set his mind at ease that he doesn’t need to worry about the relationship part. Start humping each other, and if it’s meant to be, the rest will just fall into place, and he won’t even realize it until it’s too late.”

“I don’t know…that sounds like someone could get hurt...”

“Yes. You. If after your fuck buddy time is over, he breaks it off, of course you’re going to be hurt. But what do you have now? A weird friendship and celibacy. Look, when you leave after the summer is over, you’re going to be crushed if he doesn’t want to keep in touch, right? So why not have a bangin’ summer—pun intended—if you’re going to be sulking in September anyway?”

I suppose she had a point…there was just one problem. “But Rush doesn’t see me that way.”

“So make him see you that way.”

“How?”

“How long until you have to work?”

I looked at my phone. “About an hour and a half.”

Riley stood. “Come on, that’s not a lot of time to turn your nice ass into a whore.”





I felt like the pink ladies had just turned me into sexy Sandy from Grease. Getting out of my car, I looked down at my outfit one last time and took a deep breath. Red, low-cut shirt, short skirt, and heels that I doubted I could last an hour in, no less working all night. Riley had added a ton of body to my naturally wavy hair and done my makeup with all that contour stuff that I see people doing on YouTube, but never bothered to try out.

I glanced at my reflection in the window as I walked toward the door. I looked good. Sexy, in a slutty kind of way. Definitely more like the women Rush went out with. Oak whistled and opened the door. “Looking good, Gia.”

I blushed, but his comment actually helped my confidence level a little. “Thank you.”

Inside, I looked around, and a rush of relief washed over me finding no sign of the boss. Dressing for the part was only half the plan. I needed to actually cough up the courage to approach Rush and offer him…well, my body.

I threw myself into my usual prep before dinner—going over the reservations, checking in with the kitchen on what the specials are so that I knew them when people called and asked—they always called ahead and asked—bringing the bars extra bottles of whatever liquor was in the drink special of the evening, and helping the busboys set up the tables. I’d been there about an hour, with no sign of Rush still. It lulled me into feeling at ease, thinking maybe he wouldn’t show up tonight, and I wouldn’t have the chance to make my proposal to him.

Which was why when I opened the door to the back office to put one of the cordless phones on the charger, I didn’t expect anyone to be inside.

I jumped finding Rush. His desk was unusually clear, and he was sitting there staring off into space. “Rush! Sorry. I didn’t think you were here yet.”

His eyes made a slow sweep down my body and an even slower ascent. They snagged on my abundant cleavage on display for long seconds before his gaze met mine. “All dressed up tonight for a reason?”

Shit.

He’d just handed me the perfect opportunity to open the door. I swallowed and tried not to squirm. “Yes.”

Rush’s eyes narrowed. “Date?”

“Maybe.”

His stare was intense. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

My pulse started to race. It was about to happen. Don’t chicken out, Gia. Don’t be a chicken shit all your life.

Rush stood from his desk and walked around it. The office wasn’t very big to begin with, but having him two feet away while I said what I wanted to say made it feel like the walls were closing in on me.

He folded his arms and his jaw ticked. “Who’d you put that slutty outfit on for, Gia?”

I looked down at my feet, took a deep breath, and then met his gaze head on. “You. I wore this outfit for you.”

Rush took a step closer. His face was hard, not giving anything away. “You like to wear skimpy things for me, don’t you?”

I nodded.

“You like to tease me?”

My palms started to sweat. “No. Well, yes. But I don’t want to tease you anymore.”

He tilted his head. “You’re done teasing me?”

“Yes.”

“But you wore that outfit anyway?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t understand the definition of teasing then?”

Spit it out, Gia. Spit it out!

I took one last deep breath. I was either going to hyperventilate or get through this. “Teasing is when you provoke someone with no intention of following through.” I looked into his eyes. “I’d like to follow through. I think you and me…we should have sex.” Now that I’d popped the cork off the bottle, words started to pour out of me. “You don’t do relationships. We’re obviously attracted to each other. Sometimes we get along…although sometimes we fight, too. But it’s summer and…you know…we both have needs. So why not just be fuck buddies?” I cringed after that last part I said, thinking I sounded like a whore. Or Riley. Well…Riley did sleep around a lot. But that was beside the point. Now I couldn’t stop the rambling in my head, much less the rambling of my mouth. Great. Just great.