Page 180 of Charming Deception

“What is this about?” he asks gently, and strokes my cheek. “Something’s bothering you.”

I sigh. The man can make me melt with nothing but a look or the slightest touch. “I’m feeling guilty,” I admit. “Damian thinks I’m engaged to you for your money. And I am. I don’t feel good about it. And I don’t want you to hate me for it.”

Jameson gathers me to his body and holds me close, making my heart speed up. I’m wearing my soft nightshirt but he’s naked, and his skin feels so right against mine. “A lot of people are always going to think that, Megan. It doesn’t matter. I know you care about me.”

“I do.”

“There’s nothing to feel guilty about. You and I are the only ones in this engagement. And we both went into it honestly.”

“Right.”

“We agreed to the terms.”

“Yeah. One year, for two million dollars.”

“And then you get that fresh new start you wanted.”

Silence stretches as my heart pounds and I know, for me, that fresh new start includes him. In my fantasies, at least.

But does his vision of the future include me?

I still don’t know.

“Why did you really say yes to my proposal?” He’s studying me as I study him. “At that point, I was pretty sure you didn’t think too highly of me. I can’t imagine you saying yes to someone you couldn’t stand or respect, for any amount of money.”

“Because you won me over with the new suitcase. And what you did for Romeo. And reading my books. And…” I laugh softly and roll my eyes a little, knowing this part is some part ridiculous. “Because it’s the Summer of Yes.”

His brows draw together.

“At least, it is for me. You know, like when you say yes to everything. Like Jim Carrey in that movie.”

“Yeah, I’m familiar with the concept.”

“You look confused.”

“Just confused about why a rational person would do such a thing.”

I laugh again, then sigh. “So maybe I don’t let life and opportunity pass me by, by always saying no?”

He twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. “You know… many of the most successful people in the world advise the opposite.”

“What opposite?”

“That it’s best to say no. That your level of success is directly related to how often you say no.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense. If you say no to everything you’re asked, you only do what you actually intended to do. Not what the world dangles in your way. Those are usually called distractions.”

I ponder that for a moment. “So instead of saying yes…”

“You should say no.”

“I see,” I say, thinking: That is the most unromantic thing I’ve ever heard. “But what about romance?” I ask him. Because isn’t he the romantic? “Adventure? Twists of fate? Thrills? Magic? The unexpected?”

His expression is oddly sad, and now I can feel his fear. “Pretty words for things that just distract you from what you really want.”

My heart slams in my chest as I make myself ask the question. “And what is it you really want?”

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