NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Four

"Come on, we'll discuss this over some food and drinks. Found this amazing restaurant down town, expensive but great quality and service."

"You're paying." Nick laughed.

"Cheapo." Kevin rolled his eyes and laughed. "Come on, I'll get that lovely receptionist to hold your calls and meetings. "
Kevin winked as Nick shook his head. Securing his work space and grabbing his things they headed out.

☀️☀️☀️

Ten minutes later they were seated at the restaurant. The restaurant was expensive Nick noted as he'd scanned through the menu. But with a perfect location like that and decor he can definitely understand why.

"Welcome to Eden," A female waiter with legs for miles appeared at their table. "Do you gentlemen know what you'd like to order or should I start you off with the best wines?"

"I'll have the Beach Bar Club Sandwich hold the tomatoes in mines, he'll have the Surf and Turf and to drink I'll have the Whisky Smash and he'll have a Whiskey On The Rocks." Nick spoke not bothering to look up as his phone buzzed.

"I'll be right back with your orders." She said before modeling off back in the direction she came.

"Dude! That waitress was clearly hitting on you, purposely striking a pose so you can see all that beautiful legs." Kevin tossed the menu aside when the waiter was out of hearing range. "And how'd you know what I wanted?"

"I'm not interested, besides, you always order the same exact thing no matter which expensive restaurant we go too. Remember when we went Germany for that ski trip? You ordered the exact same thing. You never could choose between seafood and meat so you always order that to enjoy both flavors."

"Show off, really a detail guys. Anyways, you're having only sex with this girl you know little to nothing about, that doesn't count as a healthy exclusive relationship." Kevin continued their conversation from the car.

"It's not a relationship and I don't need to know much." Nick scanned through his messages.

"So you're telling me the only thing you're comfortable knowing about her is her name, work and age and that's fine with you? You can find out what someone was wearing from two decades ago but you couldn't find anything on her. You didn't do any background checks?" kevin said in disbelief. "I know you Nick, you thrive on facts, information, data."

"I know but I trust her, her health records are clean, she'd studied culinary at college so she's in the food industry."

"That is just painful, maybe your mother really do need to play matchmaker if we're ever gonna get a woman." Kevin frowned.

"No, I'm not getting her involved in my personal affairs. Besides, most of her records have been sealed away before the past six years."

"Since when have that stopped you from getting information you need?" Kevin frowned.

The waiter appeared again with their orders. "Anything else I can get you gentlemen." She smiled brightly at Nick.

"No thank you." Politely Nick rejected. "I'm not going to gain her trust by going through her sealed private records. Also, there's not much that she knows about me either."

"Bro, our entire lives are just a page away on a magazine. All she'd have to do is buy one, watch the news or search your last name on the internet. Your great grandfather was the president for crying out loud." Kevin chuckled.

"She's not interested in any of that, and if she did research she's never mentioned it. I don't think she cares about any of that." Nick took a large satisfying bite.

"What else can you even say about her?"

"She has the perfect body." Nick commented proudly, smiling at the memory of their recent encounter. "Besides, mom would be more disappointed knowing I couldn't get the one woman Im interested knowing I've turned down every single blind date she'd set up for me."

"And when are you going to say something?"

"About what, to whom?" Nick asked as he set his drink back down.

"Your mystery woman, does she know you're into her like that? You like this girl Nick." Kevin whisper yelled.

"No, can't do that. It'll ruin everything. The agreement is no strings attached, nothing personal whatsoever. " Nick stated clearly. "And I'm a man that honors his contracts, written or verbal, I've made a career out of doing contracts."

Kevin stared at his cousin. "You're also a master negotiator. I've seen you in action since we were babies. I'm sure you negotiated your way out the womb first before your sister." They both laughed. "What I'm saying is, if you wanted too you could convince this girl to go for more than what's currently agreed upon."

Nick shook his head. There was more to the story than he knew. He believed everyone had their reasons for avoiding something. He wasn't going to push her and ruin everything by having her run off on him. He was happy she was his at least, in bed.

"You're afraid she's going to reject you aren't you. You have got to get over your fear of rejection." says Kevin.

"Who said I'm afraid of rejection? I just don't want to ruin that bond we have, especially in my bedroom."

"So it's strictly sex, you're okay with just that?." Kevin said. "That sucks. What if you both meet other people?"

Nicky chuckled softly and lifted his beer to his mouth as a wicked thought clouded his mind, he shook it free. "I doubt she's interested in any other men, besides, if she were I'm in no position to stop her."

Sure as hell sucks, Kev. He thought bitterly.

"Anyways, you're gonna need an escort for the fundraiser if we wanna be off the matchmaking radar. Showing up to a city fundraiser alone is like walking around with a big 'Date me' target on your back. All the older folks will be Dieing to introduce you to their daughters and grand daughters."

Nick thought for a moment. It wasn't unusual for him to show up without an escort on his arm, if he really needed, he'd always had his secretary. He made a mental note to try his luck at having her be his guest.