Page 91 of Sugar

He shot me a look that said it wasn’t the time, and for once, I was okay with waiting—mostly because I was more than ready to leave.

But he wasn’t done.

“In regard to your other points,” he started before ducking back into my personal space.

Wayinto my personal space.

Even as close as he was, he kept his voice low. “I didn’t want to leave you alone at the table last week because I knew there were men who would take you being alone as an opening to try to weasel their way into the place I’m lucky enough to be. More than that, as I’ve previously stated, I like your company. I told you I would be greedy about it, and I am.” He ran his thumb along my jaw. “Just like I told you why I answer for you.”

I wasn’t sure if he was referring to his control issues or when he’d reminded me at Gilded that he’d bought me. Either way, the effect was still the same.

Feeling flustered and overwhelmed and thrown off my game—one I was no longer sure I should or would be playing—I wished I could undo the previous hour. Actually, the whole night could be scrapped, and I would be okay with it. I pushed away from the wall, but Easton didn’t immediately back up.

He stared down at me like he could read my thoughts. Maybe he could because the way he read me was disorienting.

Just in case, I forced a smile and tilted my head. “Should we say bye before we go?”

“No.”

He took my hand in his and didn’t speak as he hightailed it to the exit.

Once we were in the privacy of his SUV, I tried again. “Who is Jerry?”

“Jerry King used to be a real estate developer. About five years ago, he used his city connections to secure grants and funding from the government to revitalize some areas in need. Only nothing ever got done. At least nothing more than a shiny varnish. Turns out, he was pocketing the money from the city and other suckers dumb enough to invest.”

Between him and Wren’s piece of shit bio father, maybe she needs to shift her grudge from lawyers to realtors.

“You were a donor,” I surmised from the scorn in his tone.

“Correct. And then he held a grudge that I wouldn’t represent him after he scammed me out of money because he’s never met a consequence he couldn’t buy his way out of.” He shifted his focus from the windshield to look at me as he reached over to give my leg a reassuring squeeze before removing his hand again. “I wouldn’t have given a fuck if you said you were a college student. But if you would’ve said you were a journalism major, he would’ve started spewing his bullshit. He blames the media for his downfall, insisting he was tried in the court of public opinion and didn’t get a fair shot. It would ruin Dave’s night.”

I vaguely remembered the story, but not many of the details. The fact a con-artist was a party attendee was surprising. “Doesn’t it look, uh,improperfor the Deputy District Attorney to associate with someone like that?”

He lifted his chin. “I doubt Jerry was actually invited tonight, but since he’s Violet’s brother, no one was going to upset her by kicking him out.”

“That must make holidays interesting.”

“Dave does his best to not attend any King family gatherings to avoid any impropriety.”

“And the food.”

“And that. Speaking of, I believe I owe you a burger.”

I felt better about where we were, but it’d been an exhausting night. I was mortified at my outburst. And I got the feeling that when Easton thought about the very real feelings I’d allowed to seep in, he would quickly realize I wasn’t sugar baby material.

It was better not to drag things out any longer.

Not that I was being the bigger person by telling him so. Not right then at least. That would also be a problem for Sunday-me.

Unless he broke things off first.

Either way, I shook my head at him. “Raincheck? I am wiped, and I’ve got a full day of assignments tomorrow.”

He gave me that weighty stare. “Which is why you’ll do your work first next time. Correct?”

If there is a next time…

“Right,” I said instead.