Page 35 of Same Rogue
“Already planning on breaking up with me and I haven’t even taken you on a date yet,” Bridger teased.
“Boy, look at you. You’re the hottest man in existence who already had the love of his life. We’re both clear that I’m not her, or even close. I’m a bartender from Alabama who never went to college and is scraping together tips for a one-bedroom apartment. You had to give me gas money just to leave you in peace. My ducks are not in a row. You’re here for the poontang. We both know there is an expiration date to this thing between us. We just don’t know when it is.”
“The poontang?” he repeated.
“You know it’s true.”
“Okay,” he said, opening her door for her. He nodded and looked tired. “Whatever you say.”
“Sending me off?” she asked, feeling spicy.
“Sending you to my house. You still have the address, right?”
“I’m not staying with you, Bridger. I told you I will be fine in a cheaper hotel.”
“Oh, I’ve already paid for another week here. I did that this morning before I met the notary here.”
“W-what?”
“I didn’t want you to go. I already knew I was going to ask you to stay, so I paid for another week.”
“A week at a fancy place like this? Bridger! That’s a lot of money.”
“Okay.”
“Wait, are you rich or something?”
“No.” He grinned, as if he knew he hadn’t even tried to hide the lie in his voice.
“No, no, no, Pretend Bridger said you work at a travel agency.”
“Well Pretend Bridger doesn’t actually know what I do for a living. Vic has been trying to get me to tell him for two years. It’s a game hiding it from him at this point. Get in.”
“But…” She looked from him back to the hotel and back again. “I can’t take this kind of money from you.”
“I understand. I’m also the one asking you to stay to spend time with me. If I hadn’t done that, would you be on your way back to Alabama right now?”
“Well, yes.”
“Cool. If a man asks you out to dinner, and he plans an expensive steak experience, picks you up, takes you there, tells you to order whatever you want, and then the bill comes, do you feel like the man should be responsible for the bill?”
“Well…” She frowned, thinking about it. “If he planned it and asked, then yes.”
“I’m planning this, and I asked. It’s my responsibility to make it as easy as possible for you. This week should be fun, not draining. I do realize you are independent, and I respect it, but you are doing me a favor by staying here. I’m the one who is not ready for you to go.”
She had to make sure this wasn’t a trick, or a manipulation. “You aren’t one of those men who use money as a way to manipulate or control, are you?”
“Never,” he said, and the truth rang out so clearly in his tone, the tension eased immediately in her shoulders.
“In that case, I would like to take you out somewhere. I want to pay.”
“Oh yeah? Where are you wanting to take me?”
“I was thinking a steak house that serves creamed spinach and roasted broccoli—”
“Okay, okay. Wherever you want. I will do my best not to yack whenever you are devouring your rabbit food.”
“Oh, I’ll be eating a steak too. I just like a well-balanced diet because I’m an adult. Give me a few more shifts at The Mark, and I’ll take you to the nicest place around as a thank you for paying for the hotel.”
