Chapter 10: Beau

Beau

"The nerve of that man." Running a hand through my hair, I pulled on the ends in frustration.

"Dick pic or obnoxious?" Zoe asked from her perch on my bed the morning after we'd set up my account. She looked so out of place. Nothing like the well-put-together chick from school; she was in sweats and an old tank top, having spent the night. "Bet you twenty bucks it was both. Am I right?"

My mature reply, I flipped her off. "Shut up."

We were eating breakfast from a bagel place down the street while she helped me navigate the mass of messages I'd accumulated since last night. Not even twelve hours into my sugar baby journey, and I was overwhelmed.

Felt like cattle on display for the highest bidder. As if I had "fresh meat" tattooed onto my forehead.

So far, I had looked at ten invites to connect, and all were creeps.

Three pictures of small dicks offering a good time.

One serial clinger who'd begun to plan our wedding.

And six pompous I own everything jerks.

All wrong and turned me off. If I was to be someone's "baby" for a year, I wanted to at the very least not be repulsed by the thought of their touch. Kiss.

"Demanding ass is more like it." Looking at his profile picture, I couldn't deny this man was hot. Sexy in that I'm a brooding jerk sort of way. "I'd prefer looking at his cock than the message sent."

Zoe placed her food down and crawled up to the headboard where I was sitting. "That sounds like potential to me. Let me see..." She turned my laptop to face her and let out a whistle. "And I am officially hating on you right now. He's handsome and rich. Perfect embodiment of what all babies want."

"He's too hot to be on this site." My green eyes left his face and focused on hers. Didn't like what I saw. The way she stared at him, as if calculating.

Mine.

Where the hell had that thought come from? No. Not mine. Nothing more than a potential match.

"Quit looking at me like that." She laughed while raising a hand up. "I'm matched and happy. No poaching, I swear. Just admiring."

Couldn't fault her there, no matter how much it seemed to bother me. There was just something about his direct approach - the demand that we meet - that was pulling me in.

Hendrix Parker stood out from the rest.

Raising a brow, I didn't acknowledge her "poaching" comment. "Seems fishy to me, Zoe."

"Why?"

"He's too hot to be single." I shrugged.

"You'd be surprised how many hot men join these sites. It's easier to know someone's motives than going in blind."

"And traditional doesn't afford that?"

"Not going to dignify that with an answer, Beau. Look at your friend Ruby for example..." the look I gave her made Zoe a bit defensive "...wasn't going to bad-mouth the girl. Give me some credit."

"Sorry, please continue with what you were going to say."

"She's back with Max and benefits from being his girlfriend. Does she not?" Solid point, and Zoe knew it. Trip to the family summer home planned, automatic invitation to all the parties he'd show up at - best seats for all the games next season while she was on his arm. "They want beauty, and us, financial security. Everything is on the table. No surprises."

"Okay, I get it."

"Then answer him before someone else does."

Dammit, I hadn't thought that far ahead. How many women was he talking to?

"What do I say? Wouldn't it scream desperation to reply that fast?"

"Depends on his wording." Reaching toward the end of the bed, she picked up her latte, and then sat back down next to me. "Read it to me."

Looking at his message, I read it once more. "Just that he demands my presence tonight at some place called Zuma - " Zoe made a sound of approval at the back of her throat. "What?"

"Good taste. Food there is fantastic."

"Woman, pay attention!"

"You're freaking out for no reason, Beau." Grabbing one of my pillows, she tossed it at my head. "Just answer him as you would any man that approached you as he did. Just be tactful."

I smoothed my hair back while contemplating all the ways I could tell him to go to hell. How fast to get there.

But do you want to? Didn't know.

"Tactful...I can do that." My fingers flew over the keys, countering his offer; reminded him that this was on my terms. "There." I sat back, mimicking Zoe's relaxed posture.

The ping of his reply caught me off guard, and I almost fell off the bed.

"Looks like someone's a little eager."

"Is that a good thing or bad?" I asked, and she knocked her shoulder with mine. Didn't reply, instead, she tilted her head toward my laptop. "Fine."

One click to the icon, and I was smiling. Almost giddy.

From: NotOneForGames

To: HigherEd-CoEd

Date: Mon at 9:44 a.m.

Subject: You win...

Name the time and place, nymph. Must be today, though. I insist.

Hendrix Parker

Holyshit.

Zoe smacked my arm. "Answer him back, dork. Let him know the when and where."

"Ummm?" I looked at her with pleading eyes; I had no clue on where to go. There was no way in hell that man would eat at some dive with me.

Heck, his bio alone was intimidating enough and making me rethink the entire situation. Why would he be interested in a financially drowning college student?

From: NotOneForGames

To: HigherEd-CoEd

Date: Mon at 9:46 a.m.

Subject: Or better yet...

Meet me at Tap42 at 1p.m. and don't be late.

We have much to discuss, Beau.