Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 151430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
A ploy to secure a dream hotel that puts a big, beautiful exclamation mark on my grandparents’ careers.
“Paige?”
She meets my gaze.
Now for the awkward part.
“One more thing to sweeten the deal. I talked to a dealer downtown yesterday, and I picked up this.” I pluck the ring box from my pocket and flick it open for her to see.
“Ohhh, I get a real-life ring too?”
It’s a teardrop and barely a carat. I take it out of the box and slide it on her finger.
“You need a ring. This has to look real.”
She holds her hand up and examines it. “How’d you know my size?”
“Lucky guess.”
“I’m surprised it isn’t a big flashy rock. I thought that was your style.”
“And this is your style. Beautifully modern. Sophisticated, but modest. It seemed similar to some of your favorite work at the museum. If you hate it, there’s certainly time for us to exchange—”
She shakes her head. Her eyes are soft and that firestarter smile stretches from cheek to cheek.
“No. It’s perfect, Ward. I love it.”
“You do?” My voice is barely audible.
Goddamn. Why do I care so much what she feels about a fake engagement ring?
“Yes, it’s beautiful and sleek and just the right kinda glittery. You did a good job.”
She looks up with a smile that blows my heart to kingdom come. I reach up, fidgeting with my collar, wishing this damn shirt had a release valve for steam.
“Enjoy it while you can. If this works out, if we’re that lucky, we’ll never have to see each other again,” I say.
“How romantic!” she sputters, laughing. Then she studies the rock on her finger like it came down from the stars and spontaneously joined her hand.
I lift a brow. “Well, would you rather we share a bed like you suggested the night we met?”
A dark rosy color fills her cheeks.
I would rather share a bed, of course, or at least settle for her lips again.
Her face gets redder, but she grins.
“Does it matter what I prefer?”
I can’t help but grin. Damn her. She’s got me, alright.
“You’re so red, you’re almost purple. Cute.” Fuck. I didn’t mean to say that.
Way to not make things more awkward.
She rolls up the contract.
I’m about to protest. She can’t back out of this. It’s too late now. But she doesn’t crumple it up and tear it to shreds the way I expect.
Instead, she taps me on the nose with it. “Bad bossman. Very flipping bad.”
I grab at the contract.
“Enough. I’m not a dog, Paige.”
She pulls it farther back, just out of my grasp. “Depends on who you ask.”
I reach for the rolled-up paper again, this time managing to grasp it between my fingers.
She doesn’t pull away.
“Careful. You don’t get the check back if you rip it,” she teases, those green eyes set to rain forest sunshine.
“The contract gets invalidated if it’s torn,” I snap, glowering. “Let go.”
She shakes her head. “No exchanges and no refunds.”
“I’ll cancel the check,” I warn her.
“And I’ll take you to court.”
“You and what lawyer dealing in damaged legalese?”
“I don’t know. This girl Brina and I used to hang out with in college is about to graduate law school. I’m sure she can come up with something,” she says with a pout.
I shake my arms like I’m trembling.
“How awful. I’m so petrified of an almost-attorney.”
Paige stares at me with a firm face.
“It’s JD to be, dude.”
God, I’m breathing fire, my veins churning blood so hot it burns.
I want to shut her up.
I want to do bad things to her cursed mouth.
I want to show her exactly what kind of Wardhole I am.
I could grab her and kiss her right here. Right now.
Hell, I won’t be able to resist if I don’t get my ass up now. So, I stand and take a few steps, forcing some space between us. “We should head out soon.”
She nods but makes no effort to get up.
“I’ll text Reese. She’ll be here soon,” I say.
“You’ll drop me off?”
No. We’ve talked about this.
She doesn’t want to move in with me. I can’t blame her and I hate that she has to.
She twists the ring I placed on her finger between her thumb and forefinger of her right hand. “Reese said she’d take me home.”
“Right. We’ll make a pit stop at your place to collect your belongings,” I say.
She does a double take, whipping her head around so fast that blond hair gleams in the light.
One more fatal blow to my sanity.
“Oh. I know we talked about having a room at your place, but I didn’t realize it meant, um, tonight.” She’s quiet for several seconds. “I thought I’d have an evening to get used to the idea.”
“It’s only a ninety-day contract. Better we dive right in and get accustomed to living together. I’m sorry. I know it’s a lot to ask. Again, you’ll barely see me. There’s ample living space.” My voice shouldn’t sound so ragged, so conflicted that we’ll have the promised space between us.