Page 16 of Honey Bun
“Yeah. I guess.”
“There’s probably a medical explanation. Making love should not be painful.”
I met his concerned stare. “Let’s not talk about this to others. I’m embarrassed.”
He reached out and squeezed my hand. “Don’t be. My brother is an ob-gyn.”
Well, now he knows the most intimate of my secrets, and he didn’t judge me.
He said, “Look, since you signed the contract, I have my first event for you to handle.”
I sipped my tea and reminded myself that I would get paid to help Arman. In a way, it was better than marriage, as there were limits and he would pay me. “What do you need from me?”
He flashed that smile of his that always got to me. “The company will hit its three-year mark and its first ten-billion-dollar deal.” I jumped at the price. I’d never seen more than a hundred dollars, but he continued like what he’d said was an everyday occurrence. “Normally, I hit my mother up to plan events, and she’ll help, but she’s also working on something for Elon’s office, and he asked first.”
I connected the dots. My first job was party planning, in part. Maybe that was why I’d been sent to the main house. His family always acted as one loving, cohesive unit.
“I’ll help your mom.”
He finished his sip of tea and shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.”
I tilted my head. I didn’t want to screw up this job. “What did you mean?”
He poured me a second cup of tea. “Learn about planning events so you can handle the Christmas party on your own.”
Once again, Arman knew me and knew what I would love to do. I sat back. “Really?”
He finished his croissant. “You used to enjoy being social and planning events. You took me to those awkward teen dances.”
The few summer ones, yes.I’d forgotten that part of my life. “You were the best dancer.”
He finished eating his breakfast. “That’s not why you took me. Weren’t you on the planning committees?”
In high school, I’d been on every committee, and my GPA was great. My counselors all pushed for me to go to college, but that had never really been in the cards. “That feels like a different life. I haven’t done anything like that in years.”
He drank his second cup of tea. “I believe in you.”
And I need to be worthy.He really was determined to ensure that his company was successful. I realized that if I stayed, I would fantasize about him kissing me, and I shouldn’t do that, so I jumped up and said, “Good. I need to go home and get dressed for our date tonight.”
I tugged my shoes on, and as I finished with my laces, Arman said, “Sounds good. Tomorrow, would you want to take your daughter to the summer carnival with me?”
I blinked.He wants to know my daughter?My own husband hadn’t even wanted to spend time with her. “You want to hang out with a ten-year-old who thinks she’s sixteen?”
He walked me off the porch, still wearing his house shoes, and joined me on the garden path. “Sure. She’s yours.”
Arman would have been a dream to have married and been with. I’d been so weak for not following all my dreams. I hugged my waist. “I’ll ask her and let you know what she says.”
As we walked beside each other on the path, he said, “Okay, I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“Two?” My mind raced. I’d packed one dress. I massaged my head. “It’s still early in the day.”
We made it to the truck, and he opened my door for me. “Do you have big plans?”
I shrugged. “Not really.”
He held out his hand to help me inside. I took it, not because I needed it but because he was sweet. “Then I’ll see you soon,” he said.
My heart felt a flutter. “Okay.”
