Lindsey almost choked on her fries. “You mean a boob job?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“No, that’s not what I want. I guess I’d like some help paying off my medical debt. I was in a car accident a year ago, and I ended up with a whole heap of bills that weren’t covered by insurance. Plus, my apartment building has been shut down because it’s a health hazard, so I need a new place to live, but I can’t find anything within my budget. I’m sleeping on my best friends couch for now, but I can’t stay there forever. So, help with my living expenses would be great too.”
“That’s a very sensible answer,” Camilla said. “What made you decide to try sugaring?”
“Well, Faith—the friend I’m living with—told me about it, and it seemed like it could be a fun solution to my problems,” Lindsey said. “Plus, I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately. I wanted to do something exciting.”
“And? Are you finding this exciting so far?”
A smile tugged at Lindsey’s lips. “I am.” She’d been worried she’d have to fake interest in Camilla. But Lindsey liked her. “Did someone really ask you for money for a boob job?”
Camilla nodded. “A young woman with aspirations of being an actress. Lovely, but a terrible conversationalist. I’ve had more interesting chats with my ninety-year-old groundskeeper about the lawn.”
Lindsey wasn’t at all surprised that Camilla had a groundskeeper.
“Most of the women I’ve met through the Sugar Bowl have been the same,” Camilla said. “Nice, but we didn’t click. Don’t get me wrong, I’m under no illusions about these types of arrangements. Nonetheless, if we’re going to be spending time together, we need to be able to connect on some level.”
Lindsey nodded. But there was a question at the back of her mind. “Why did you sign up for the Sugar Bowl? It’s not like you’d have any trouble finding a real girlfriend.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Camilla asked.
“I didn’t mean-”
“To put it simply, I’m a busy woman. Relationships are hard work. And they’re messy. The way I see it is, I can go out on the dating scene and try to find someone who fits my strict ideas about what I’m looking for in a relationship. Or I can find a beautiful young woman who will give me exactly what I need, in exchange for being spoiled rotten.”
Lindsey remembered all the men who had sent her messages filled with innuendo. “What is it that you need, exactly?”
Camilla raised an eyebrow. “Darling,” she said, drawing out the ‘a.’ “If I wanted sex, I would have hired an escort. What I want is a companion of sorts. A girlfriend without all the strings and baggage that normally comes with one. A relationship on my terms, that fulfills certain requirements.”
Lindsey sipped her drink and glanced up at Camilla. “What kind of requirements?”
“You suddenly have a lot of questions.”
“We’re supposed to be getting to know each other, aren’t we?”
Camilla sat back and crossed her arms. “If you must know, I like to take charge in a relationship. And I don’t just mean in bed. I like control. I like things done a certain way. I like my routines. A lot of women have a problem with that. More than one ex-girlfriend of mine has called me a control freak.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Lindsey said. “And I don’t mind being on the other end. Of giving up control. It’s nice, sometimes, to be told what to do. To have someone else make decisions for you. It can be freeing, not to have to worry about the little things.”
Lindsey paused, suddenly realizing she was revealing her deepest desires to a woman she’d just met. And Camilla was watching her with an interest that made Lindsey’s skin prickle.
“It makes everything simple, that’s all,” Lindsey said. “My exes thought it was weird too. The last guy I dated thought that ‘taking charge’ meant being a controlling jerk. I’ve never broken up with someone so fast.”
“You date men and women, then?” Camilla asked.
Lindsey froze. She’d gotten so comfortable with Camilla that she’d forgotten about the small matter of her lack of interest in women. But she couldn’t bring herself to outright lie about it.
“It’s not a problem, of course,” Camilla said hurriedly. “I’m not one of those people who think bisexual women are just looking for a vacation from men. I just ask because I find it very hard to believe you’re still on the market when you have the pick of all the men on the site. There are so many more of them than women. You’re spoiled for choice. And I know someone like you has gotten dozens of messages.”
That was a close call. “I have gotten a lot of messages,” Lindsey said. “But none of the men who sent them appealed to me. Not like you did.” That was the truth.
“Oh? And what exactly appealed to you about me?”
“What can I say?” Lindsey leaned in a little closer. She was feeling daring. “You’re gorgeous, for starters. And your profile was interesting. It drew me to you. And your message was very direct. I liked that.” She paused. She didn’t want to seem like she was fawning.
“Oh, don’t stop,” Camilla said. “I was enjoying hearing all the wonderful things about me.”