Lily |18+ [Paraíso, #1]

seven

|J U L I A|

"I told you to wear something you'd not be afraid to get dirty in."

Twenty minutes ago, I got into Jake's truck when he pulled up beside me at the mansion. No words were spoken but it became adamantly clear that he wasn't letting me proceed with my initial plan to hand in my resignation letter.

I almost told him no but a subtle reminder from my brain that he all but dared me to show up halted any retort I had prepared. I could always reschedule my resignation.

"Trust me, these are the only clothes I own that I won't weep if I so much as get a dust on them." I'll not even get into the double entendre his earlier words must have meant because thinking about it will no doubt give me a migraine.

I picked out simple jeans and ankle boots and a t-shirt with a plaid button-down thrown over it. The whole ensemble is worth nothing south of three grand and I can't blame Jake for asking me that.

"Of course," he says before getting out of the car.

Of course? That sounded dismissive as hell. Pretty sure he sees me as this spoilt, rich, daddy's girl. Which I'm most definitely not. Okay, maybe I was but not anymore and last time I checked, it's not a crime to have a fancy taste in clothes.

And why do I care what he thinks about me anyway? I'm just here to fulfill my end of the bargain, which until now, is unclear of what exactly he expects from me.

"Anytime now." I look to see he's already opened my door and his hand is held out to me. I take it because I'm afraid I'll fall the moment my heeled boots touch the gravel, not because I crave the feel of his hand gripping mine.

Once I step out of the car, I'm immediately floored by the beauty of the place. A lush green field stretches on for miles and right next to it is the woods. There's a winded up road that leads to a log cabin.

"I'm not supposed to be here," I say, just for good measure.

He slips his hands inside his jeans pockets. "Why, because it's so repulsive to be seen with a social pariah like me?"

"No. I was going to quit the job today."

His eyebrows shoot up. "Then why are you here?"

"Because I gave my word and that has to count for something."

He snorts. "Funny you should talk about keeping words."

I'm not doing this. Not today. I'm not in the mood for a round of heated words with him.

"Why did you give me that card?" I ask instead.

He shrugs. "To be honest, I wasn't really counting on you showing up. I figured you'd get cold feet and I'd have a good reason to tell you to fuck off with your whole tutoring me stuff."

God, what will it take for him to understand my predicament. "You don't understand. I really need the money."

"And I need you to stop fucking around with me, Julia. Five times was enough and you were very vocal about what you really thought of me all those times."

And I paid dearly for each of those times.

I wrap my hands around myself and rub my upper arms.

"I'm not fucking around with you."

He snorts out a laugh. "Could've fooled me. Get in the car, I'll take you back to town."

He starts to head for the driver's side but I remain rooted in place.