Page 22 of Man Seeking Woman

"We'll get to that, first I'd really like to find out more about you. There's no point in me getting into any details if I don't think you'll be a good fit."

"But you're not asking me anything that has to do with my schooling or past jobs, the experience I have or how I'd interact with your kids."

"None of that really matters to me."

What the hell is he talking about? Of course it matters, why wouldn't it?

"But shouldn't it?" Not giving him time to answer, I said, "Your ad said this was to secure a future for your child, I'm assuming it's a nanny job or some sort of caregiver position."

"It's something like that."

"That's not an answer."

"Ella," he said, closing his eyes as he took in a deep breath. "I'll explain everything, I will. But it's important for me to get to know you first, that's why I wanted to do it this way. This is how I'll know."

"This is how you'll know what?"

"If you're the one I want."

"I'm sorry, I'm confused." Holding up my hand, I stared at him. "You need to tell me right now what this is exactly." I was getting frustrated and uncomfortable with the thought that he was just looking for sex.

I didn't like how he was bouncing around my questions, and not openly telling me the job he was offering.

There was a long silence, and I refused to break it until he told me the truth. Either there was a job for me at the end of this or there wasn't. But if he thought at any point in time I would just become his for the night, he was sadly mistaken.

"Alright," he finally said, letting his hand fall flat on the table.

"Alright what?"

"Alright, I'll tell you." Scooting his chest closer to the table, he leaned in and spoke with a whisper. "But, I need you to promise me you won't make a scene when I tell you."

Alright, I'm done. Kay was right, I shouldn't have come here.

"Okay, you know what, forget it." Standing up, I grabbed my clutch off the table. "I don't want to know anymore. I can already tell there's something weird about this whole thing. I told you before I wasn't a hooker, and I meant it. But if you—"

"That's not it, that's not it at all," he said, cutting me off. "Just sit for a minute and let me explain." August stood up, reaching out to touch my arm. "Look, I really like you, I do. And that's what I've been waiting for, someone I felt a connection with, someone who had a good head on their shoulders. I'm only asking these questions because who you are is important, all the little things that make you you matter to me."

His fingers brushed the bare skin on my arm, sending a surge of tingles over my body. I could feel them on my skin, passing through the surface and spreading up into my chest and down into my belly.

The way he looked at me, the gentle touch of his fingers, it was this new magic I hadn't ever felt before. My body became warm, I could feel my cheeks flush and my skin start to sweat.

"Please, just hear me out."

There was something in his voice that seemed innocent and sincere, as if he really wanted to soothe me and set my mind at ease.

"Okay," I said, taking my seat. "But no bullshit, tell me exactly what I'm here for. And if you say it has anything to do with sex for money, I'm gone." I was done with whatever game he was trying to play.

He might have had the power to make my body come alive, but that didn't mean I was a gullible little minx that would only see his mouth move and not hear his voice. Maybe he had the ability to work the women from his past, but not me, I wasn't naive.

No more questions. No more insignificant details about my life. I needed an answer.

August sat back down and ran an open hand across the top of his head, his face falling flat. "I've been trying to perfect this part of the conversation. It hasn't really been easy, and honestly, it had been a waste of time up until now. No one has really struck me the way you do. You're real, a real woman that knows what she wants in life. You want to be a teacher, you have a goal and you're the first woman I've met with whose life wasn't based on just money." Stroking his jaw, he scratched through his beard. "But what I want you to know first is I'm willing to pay you good money, all the expenses, all the medical care, everything and anything you would ever need." His eyes fluttered up to mine, mouth turning down into a thick frown.

What the hell is he getting at here?

"For what? What are you asking me to do? Because I'm sorry, but this sounds like you're asking me to be your personal whore or something."

His eyes searched my face as he took in a big breath. Letting it out slowly, he rested his hands on the table and braided his fingers together.

"There's no easy way to sugar coat this, so I'm just going to say it. Ella, I want you to have my baby."

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