She distracts me

It's a deal

Lacy McDaniels

Lacy hesitated outside the door, her skin starting the thaw and the slight breeze teasing the ends of her hair and the hem of her sundress. “I suppose a lunch couldn’t hurt anything.” Lacy responded, thinking if she came up with any questions at least he would be present to answer them.  “And since you made me suffer through that boorish contract, you’re taking me to Russo’s…” She laughed. 

Paul held his hands up in mock surrender, laughing quite loudly, his playboy smile returning. “Deal. I’ll drive. You can leave your car here,  Papa is a good friend. He won’t have you towed.” Lacy prickled a little at the thought at first but followed him to a very well kept Mercedez sports car, an electric blue color sparkling in the sunlight at the end of the sidewalk. 

“Nice ride…” Lacy mused aloud as Paul opened the door for her, waiting until she was seated inside before shutting the door. 

Paul chattered on with her about the city, how long she had lived here, a little about himself and his large family… the conversation was easy and flowed seamlessly as he weaved in and out of traffic, eventually parking perfectly outside Russo’s, an upscale Italian eatery. 

Lacy placed her hand on the door handle before Paul piped up. “Uh uh uh missy.” He hopped out and rushed over to her side, opening her door for her. “Gotta treat you proper on our first date.” She flushed brightly, holding her phone and the folio containing her paperwork and a small clutch. “This is -not- a date…” 

Paul flashed that Cheshire cat grin again. “Whatever you say dear…” he led her inside, the maitre-d recognizing him and getting them a slightly private booth in the back and a complimentary glass of wine. 

“I could get used to all this service… “ Lacy laughed sipping the slightly sweet house white wine. 

“Just say yes to the contract and this is all yours and more.” His face seeming more serious all of a sudden and she leaned forward, placing an elbow on the table. 

“You are good at your job Paul. Tell me, why are you pressing this so hard today? We just met. Surely you haven’t had time to even do a thorough background check on me or any of the other requirements listed?”

Paul sighed, raking a hand through his perfect hair, mussing it up a bit now as he took a fairly large swallow from his glass, suddenly wishing it was a bit stiffer of a drink. “Look, Lacy, if I may, I want to level with you. Roman is… he is my best friend, but he is challenging to say the least. The job isn’t an easy one, but you have every single thing needed for this position and all your clients have given glowing reviews for your confidentiality. And given some of the folks I have talked to, you have had your fair share of dealing with the prickly clients too.”

Lacy nodded, appreciating the sudden honesty. “I have, but obviously cannot mention who.” 

Paul waved a hand. “That doesn’t matter. My detective work is good enough, I already know who they are. And I’m telling you, if you think they were prickly, Roman is a goddamn porcupine or a man sized cactus. He is going to push you to your every limit, both mentally and physically. But he can provide you the money of your dreams, the opportunity to travel while doing and a professional recommendation like no other. It’s a one year trial and honestly I cannot imagine offering the job to anyone else after meeting you.” 

Lacy flushed a little at the last part of his confession and nodded some. She had intended to sit on this for a few days but got the impression that wasn’t going to happen. There was some sense of urgency behind Paul’s eyes that she couldn’t quite get a grasp of. 

“I.. I can’t just drop all my clients overnight Paul.” She paused… 

Sensing victory was on the horizon he quickly chimed in. “No need. Mr. Suarez will be in LA for the next two months. You can move in immediately, keep your current clients and end amicably over the next month as long as you are available when he needs you.”

Lacy slowly chewed her bottom lip in thought, interrupted by a waiter bringing bread with a small plate piled with herbs and salts that he poured delicious olive oil over. Paul and Lacy both thanked him, their eyes meeting after he left. 

“I.. I feel kind of strange accepting the agreement without even meeting Mr. Suarez, but… “ she hesitated a moment and then as if making up her mind while she worked out the details ahead of her she nodded. “I.. It -is- only for a year, I guess we can give this a try and see how it will work out?”

She smiled sweetly at Paul, obviously a little nervous about the whole proposition. Paul on the other hand was overjoyed that his dogged diligence had paid off. He whooped loudly once, causing a few patrons of the restaurant to look in their direction, Lacy flushing a bright freaking red instantly. 

Raising his wine glass Paul spoke enthusiastically. “Thank you. You have made my life immensely easier. A toast, to you Miss McDaniels and to new beginnings full of endless possibilities.” 

Lacy laughed blushing a bit, not used to such attentions. “To new beginnings Mr. Caldwell.” She clinked her wine glass to his and took a small sip. 

“Paul. Please call me Paul, Lacy. We will be seeing a lot of each other, I hope you will look to me as a friend. Lord knows we are both going to need each other.” He murmured that last part into his wine glass as he took another big gulp. 

She felt a little trepidation at his comment, but pushed it aside as she asked. “When does all of this start?” Their food arriving, piles of steaming pasta with chicken piccata for her and a spicy bolognese for Paul. 

Shoving a forkful into his mouth, Paul looked up at her with a grin. “Why, tonight of course?” Lacy nearly choked on her first bite of chicken, swearing a caper made its way into her lungs. “Tonight?!!?” she squeaked in panic. 

“I can’t start tonight. I have too much to do. Oh my gosh, and Esteban, what am I going to do with him while I travel?” She started gushing as thoughts entered her mind, one after the other about all the details required to move in with someone else, not to mention a client. 

Paul laughed, “Esteban? If he is your pool boy I can talk to Roman about letting you keep him?” An amused sparkle glinted in his eyes causing another flush from Lacy.

“No, he is NOT my pool boy. You perv. It is my cat. I do not imagine Mr. Suarez will appreciate me dumping my cat in his house.” 

Paul’s eyes lit up even more and he grinned. “I’ll just make it part of the contract and he won’t be able to say no.” Lacy almost choked again, patting her chest softly as she laughed until a soft snort could be heard. “Oh my goodness, no Paul, I cannot have him hating me before we even meet.” 

Paul wouldn’t be dissuaded though, enjoying the levity between them. “Too late. It’s done. Esteban is part of the package deal. His housekeeper can look after him while you two travel. Will keep her good company.” 

Lacy giggled and took another bite of her chicken, hoping Paul wouldn’t try to kill her with this bite as well. “Fine, I suppose I can pack up a suitcase and grab my laptop and get the rest later. You certainly could give a girl a little more warning though.” 

He shrugged, flashing his white teeth in a bright smile. The two finishing their meal as they poked at one another. They were almost like old friends who had known one another forever. 

Paul dropped Lacy back off at Papa’s, making sure to get her address from her. “I have a few errands to run, and I will have to get Roman to sign the contract. I will text you and let you know when that’s all clear and then I will stop over tonight and get you situated at the villa and get a list of everything you will need for the job.”

She nodded, texting her address to him as well. “Thank you, I still can’t believe all of this. I hope your faith in me won’t have been misplaced and I can live up to the expectations Mr.. Paul.” He grinned, instead of shaking her hand he brushed a playful kiss across the back of her knuckles as she snatched her hand back. “The pleasure was mine. Until tonight.” 

He hopped back in his car grinning. Ohhh… Roman was gonna kill him. But this was going to be so worth it.