Page 25 of Playboy For Hire

“I just meant, I like you as a person, so I wouldn’t be pretending to care,” he finished, still looking embarrassed.

“How many first dates have you been on?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Oh God, I don’t even know. In the past month? At least six.”

“How many turned into second dates?”

“None. I mean, obviously.” He looked away.

I wasn’t sure what was supposed to be obvious about it. That if he’d been on a second date with someone, he wouldn’t have hadto hire me? Or that his self-esteem was so low that he thought it was self-evident why no one would want a second date with him.

I wanted to ask, but didn’t want to start another argument. Instead, I said, “Is gay dating the same as straight dating?”

Quinn looked at me in surprise. “Well, I wouldn’t know, would I?”

“Good point.”

He tilted his head to the side. “But in my world, dating and hookups aren’t necessarily the same thing. I’m not sure it works that way for straight people.”

I snorted. “Yeah, no. That’s not so common for us straights. A lesson I’ve learned the hard way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Eh, nothing in particular.” I tried to laugh it off. “I’ve already pissed you off once tonight. Don’t need to do it again.”

“What would you say that would piss me off?”

“Nothing.” My stomach felt squirrely again. How did he keep zeroing in on the topics I least wanted to talk about?

“No, seriously.” Quinn stopped dancing and took his hand off my shoulder. “What lesson did you learn?”

The look he gave me was wary, like I’d just announced I was personally responsible for melting the Arctic ice cap. Dubious, but leery all the same. A couple twirled by us and the woman stared at the two of us, frozen still.

“Okay, okay,” I said. We didn’t need to start a rumor that we were on the outs. “I’ll tell you. Just put your hand back. Look like you’re having a good time.”

He did put his hand back on my shoulder, but his eyes narrowed. “Are you a murderer after all? You kill women after hooking up with them or something?”

He added a short laugh to the question, to show he didn’t really mean it, but I could still see the worry in his eyes.

“Not a murderer, I promise. I just…” I trailed off. “I’ve just learned the hard way that unless you’re super clear with people that you’re not looking for a relationship, you can end up hurting someone’s feelings without meaning to.” I frowned. “Sometimes youaresuper clear that you’re not looking for anything serious, and you still hurt them. And rejection sucks, even when it’s not personal.”

Quinn looked astonished. “Don’t tell me someone’s actually rejected you. I won’t believe it.”

I looked at him with remorse, and his eyes widened.

“Oh. Of course. You meant it the other way around.You’rethe person doing the rejecting.”

“It’s not rejecting,” I said. “I just like to keep things casual, you now? I don’t do relationships.”

“Oh my God, is my fake boyfriend a playboy?” Quinn’s voice was amused. “A love-them-and-leave-them ladykiller?”

“Ladykiller?” I blinked. “Just to be clear, I haven’t actually—”

“It’s just an expression,” he broke in. “It just means you’re like, a Don Juan type of guy.”

“Don Juan?” I was feeling dumber by the second.

“Oh God, you’re really not helping me feel less nerdy. All my references are for octogenarians.”

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