waiting.”
Tyler nodded. “I understand, but if I could just have a moment of your time I would appreciate it. I promise to be quick.”
Gracie nodded. “Okay, go ahead.”
Tyler took a deep breath. “I have already paid for a ninety-day stay at Hazelden for your sister.”
Gracie’s pulse quickened and a feeling of genuine gratitude spread through her body. Nobody had ever done anything so sweet for her, but she didn’t feel right accepting the gift. Tyler was a stranger and there were probably strings attached.
“Tyler, that’s awfully sweet of you, but I can’t accept. I barely know you…It…It just wouldn’t feel right.”
Tyler shrugged. “Who cares how it feels? And who cares where the money comes from? This is your sister’s life we are talking about here. I don’t mean to be curt with you Gracie, but I think you should stick your pride in your back pocket on this one.”
Gracie flared. “It’s not just pride, Tyler, and you know that. Nobody gives a complete stranger a gift like that without wanting something in return.”
Tyler stood and shook his head. “I don’t want anything from you. Well, let me be clear on that subject. I am very attracted to you Gracie and am not afraid to admit it. I want to get to know you better and I can’t very well do that if you’re cooped up in an apartment babysitting your sister. With that being said, however, I am somewhat insulted that you think I would dangle an offer like this in the hopes it would lead to sex.”
Gracie folded her arms across her chest. “Nothing is free in this life, Tyler. That’s one thing I have learned over the years.”
Tyler sighed. “Gracie, have you ever given somebody less fortunate than you a helping hand?”
“Well, yes. But this is a different sit—“
“Why is it different?”
Gracie bit her bottom lip and looked away. “Because when I have lent a helping hand to someone, I didn’t expect sex from them in return.”
Tyler shook his head and frowned. “Gracie, it hurts me that you think of me that way, but I will try not to take it personally. You don’t know me all that well and I shouldn’t blame you for thinking all men act a certain way. With that being said, I can tell you need to think about this. I am going to leave now, but I want to let you know the room is paid for in Tamika’s name. All she has to do is show up at the front door and she will be set. I hope you reconsider.” Tyler headed for the door and looked back with a smile on his face. “I also hope to see you again in the future, but again, that’s your choice.”
Gracie trembled and watched as Tyler opened the door and stepped through the entrance. Every fiber in her body told her to run to this man and wrap him in her arms. She fought the desire and remained rigid. Gracie knew one touch from Tyler could render her helpless. Still, she felt bad for hurting his feelings. Perhaps all he was trying to do was help.
“I didn’t mean to offend you Tyler, I’m sorry.”
He looked back at her and offered a tight smile. “I know you didn’t and I take no offense. If you need anything, please let me know. You have my phone number.”
With that he closed the door and disappeared from view.
Gracie collapsed in a heap and began sobbing.
*
“So, let me get this straight. A man, who is filthy rich and used to be your boss, offers you a gift that’s probably worth close to twenty-thousand dollars and you turned him down?”
Gracie looked Lamar in the eye and frowned. “It’s not that simple, Lamar. He want’s to be with me. I can’t just accept a gift like that.”
“Did he say he wanted anything in return?”
“Well, no…but I know—“
Lamar shook his head. “Damn girl, enough with your pride. Your little sister needs all the help she can get. This Tyler dude sounds like a decent man and goddamn there are worse things than being the girlfriend of a billionaire anyway. Pull your head out of your ass and call this
Tyler nodded. “I understand, but if I could just have a moment of your time I would appreciate it. I promise to be quick.”
Gracie nodded. “Okay, go ahead.”
Tyler took a deep breath. “I have already paid for a ninety-day stay at Hazelden for your sister.”
Gracie’s pulse quickened and a feeling of genuine gratitude spread through her body. Nobody had ever done anything so sweet for her, but she didn’t feel right accepting the gift. Tyler was a stranger and there were probably strings attached.
“Tyler, that’s awfully sweet of you, but I can’t accept. I barely know you…It…It just wouldn’t feel right.”
Tyler shrugged. “Who cares how it feels? And who cares where the money comes from? This is your sister’s life we are talking about here. I don’t mean to be curt with you Gracie, but I think you should stick your pride in your back pocket on this one.”
Gracie flared. “It’s not just pride, Tyler, and you know that. Nobody gives a complete stranger a gift like that without wanting something in return.”
Tyler stood and shook his head. “I don’t want anything from you. Well, let me be clear on that subject. I am very attracted to you Gracie and am not afraid to admit it. I want to get to know you better and I can’t very well do that if you’re cooped up in an apartment babysitting your sister. With that being said, however, I am somewhat insulted that you think I would dangle an offer like this in the hopes it would lead to sex.”
Gracie folded her arms across her chest. “Nothing is free in this life, Tyler. That’s one thing I have learned over the years.”
Tyler sighed. “Gracie, have you ever given somebody less fortunate than you a helping hand?”
“Well, yes. But this is a different sit—“
“Why is it different?”
Gracie bit her bottom lip and looked away. “Because when I have lent a helping hand to someone, I didn’t expect sex from them in return.”
Tyler shook his head and frowned. “Gracie, it hurts me that you think of me that way, but I will try not to take it personally. You don’t know me all that well and I shouldn’t blame you for thinking all men act a certain way. With that being said, I can tell you need to think about this. I am going to leave now, but I want to let you know the room is paid for in Tamika’s name. All she has to do is show up at the front door and she will be set. I hope you reconsider.” Tyler headed for the door and looked back with a smile on his face. “I also hope to see you again in the future, but again, that’s your choice.”
Gracie trembled and watched as Tyler opened the door and stepped through the entrance. Every fiber in her body told her to run to this man and wrap him in her arms. She fought the desire and remained rigid. Gracie knew one touch from Tyler could render her helpless. Still, she felt bad for hurting his feelings. Perhaps all he was trying to do was help.
“I didn’t mean to offend you Tyler, I’m sorry.”
He looked back at her and offered a tight smile. “I know you didn’t and I take no offense. If you need anything, please let me know. You have my phone number.”
With that he closed the door and disappeared from view.
Gracie collapsed in a heap and began sobbing.
*
“So, let me get this straight. A man, who is filthy rich and used to be your boss, offers you a gift that’s probably worth close to twenty-thousand dollars and you turned him down?”
Gracie looked Lamar in the eye and frowned. “It’s not that simple, Lamar. He want’s to be with me. I can’t just accept a gift like that.”
“Did he say he wanted anything in return?”
“Well, no…but I know—“
Lamar shook his head. “Damn girl, enough with your pride. Your little sister needs all the help she can get. This Tyler dude sounds like a decent man and goddamn there are worse things than being the girlfriend of a billionaire anyway. Pull your head out of your ass and call this
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