Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“No,” I say too fast. “I mean, stop it, you’re not funny.”
“You’re too easy,” he says softly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Teasing you. It’s too easy. You walk right into it.”
“Okay, I’m not here to talk about teasing—” I picture him really dropping that towel, think of Allison’s description of his penis, and a shiver runs down my spine. “We should give her a job.”
He cocks his head. “Who?”
“Don’t joke. I’m serious.”
“I don’t think that girl’s ever worked a day in her life.”
“Exactly. Let’s find a job at the hotel for her. Something she might even enjoy. Throw her behind the front desk, let her vacuum the rooms, I don’t know. Give her something to do. Give her some purpose.”
He opens his mouth like he’s about to tell me it’s the worst idea in the world, but he stops and grunts. “Could you turn around?”
“Sorry, what?”
“I’m going to put on clothes. You’re looking at me like you’re about to drop down to your knees and yank my towel off which is very distracting. So turn around, please.”
I whirl away, cheeks bright pink. “I’m not looking at you like that. Seriously, I’m really not.”
“Sure, Isabel. I’m sure you’re not.” Drawers open and close. I could die of embarrassment. “Okay, I’m decent.”
I turn around and he’s sitting at the end of the bed in a pair of dark joggers and a t-shirt, looking thoughtful.
“She’s always just been given everything,” I say, sitting down next to him, feeling very out of place in his bedroom. It’s a masculine space, done up in earth tones with simple geometric patterns and mid-century style furniture. “But having a job might be nice for a while.”
“It could buy us a few days at least. Problem is, I don’t know what task to assign her.”
“We’ll think about it and talk to her tomorrow.”
He nods once. “That’s a plan.”
“Right.” I clear my throat, very aware of being alone with him in his bedroom. “I’d better go.”
“Leaving already? I thought we might get acclimated.”
“What now?” I stand and move to the door.
“Since you’re my wife and all, I figured you’d want to share the master bedroom with me.”
I laugh once. “No. You’re joking, right? I mean, we don’t really need to share a bed.”
Sleeping under the same roof as him is bad enough, but sharing sheets?
Hell to the no.
Who knows what’s happened on that mattress.
Very, very bad things.
He shrugs. “It’s in the paperwork you signed.”
“What—” I suck in a breath and blow it out. He’s teasing me again. “I’m going to my room. Good night, Conlan.”
“Good night, Isabel. Wake me up tomorrow, will you? And make some coffee?”
“Make your own coffee,” I say and slam his door.
Chapter 17
Conlan
The last thing in the world I want to do right now is deal with that pain-in-the-ass girl waiting back at my hotel.
It’s bad enough I slept with her. But now I have to babysit her all while married to Isabel. The situation is more than a little fucking awkward.
“You know, she seems to listen to you,” I say in the car on the way over the next morning.
Isabel’s eyes narrow. “Are you going to try to pawn her off on me?”
Yes, absolutely.
“I’d never,” I say, hand over my heart.
“You absolutely would, and no, I’m not going to take point on your problem. I’m doing my part already.”
“Meanwhile, you’re neglecting your other duties.” I lean closer. “You’re still my assistant, and there was no coffee this morning.”
“You woke up at five in the morning,” she says, indignant. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Set an alarm.”
“That’s unreasonable. You never expected it before we got married.”
“I factored in your commute, but now that we’re living together—” I suppress a grin at the rage on her face. It’s too easy.
“I think we need to have a discussion about my role in your life going forward.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“I am no longer cleaning up your messes. I am no longer making you coffee, doing your stupid grunt work, and generally letting you take advantage of me. From here on out, I’m your wife, and I occasionally help out with your schedule.”
I have to admit, this bossy attitude is kind of attractive. But it’s also a real pain in my ass. “That’s not going to work for me.”
She looks at her nails. “The way I see it, you need me right now. Which means I have leverage.”
I laugh out loud. “You’re kidding me.”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Who’s this girl all of a sudden?”
Her cheeks turn red. “I’m just sick of doing your dirty laundry, that’s all.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more attracted to you right now.”
“You like that I’m standing up for myself?”
“A little steel in your spine gets me hard.”
“You’re gross.”
“But honest.” And I really mean it. Nothing more attractive than a strong woman. I’ve always known Isabel had it in her, but she’s been hiding behind her job title for so long, keeping her head down, just getting by. Now she’s got a taste of power and she’s flexing with it. Still, I can’t have this. “If you want to discuss your role, I’m open to it, but you’re still my assistant for now.”