Page 48 of Love in Fine Print

Over my years in the NFL, I’d gone to enough events and parties that movie stars and musicians were at. There truly were certain people who when they walked into the room, the atmosphere changed. It shifted. They were magnetic without even trying.

That was what Olivia Bradshaw possessed. Whatever the DNA makeup of that elusive ‘it’ factor, she had it in spades. Adding to her mystique was the ‘maneater’ persona, which seemed to only amplify people’s interest in her.

She was the type of person who attracted stalkers who created an imaginary world where she knew them and loved them. It didn’t surprise me at all to find out that she’d had to file several orders of protection, which I’d found out from the background check I’d had done on her.

Every person who was registered in Ever After had a background check done. Gram insisted on them to protect her clients. It was a way to ensure the daters’ safety.

“Good news. You can go up. Let me grab you a pass.” Curtis scanned a plastic card attached to a lanyard and handed it to me. “This will grant you access to the forty-second floor, where Ms. Bradshaw’s office is.”

“Thanks. Nice meeting you, Curtis.”

“You, too. And good luck.” His fisted hand tapped against his chest in solidarity.

I appreciated his support even though it implied that I would need help against the “Maneater.” Little did he know, she’d actually been the one to propose to me.

As I rode the elevator up to the forty-second floor, the magnitude of what we were going to be doing started to close in on me. I felt my heart rate pick up and my palms begin to sweat. I thought it was strange that I felt so nervous. It seemed my body hadn’t got the memo that this wasn’t a real commitment. It was more of a business transaction.

Or, as Olivia had phrased it on the document she’d given me, a mutually beneficial one-year marriage contract.

When the elevator doors opened, I’d expected to step off and go find her office. Instead, I saw Olivia standing in front of me. The moment our eyes locked, my chest constricted, and everything around me faded away. It was the strangest phenomenon that I’d ever shared with another person, like we were the only two people in the world.

“Hi,” I said as I got off the elevator.

“Hello, we can speak in my office. Follow me.”

Her professional demeanor threw me off a little, but I realized I’d only ever seen her at the park, at Gran’s office, and out on a date. Seeing her in her element was different. She seemed different. I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty hot. Or maybe it was just hot the way her full hips looked in the pencil skirt she was wearing. Or maybe both.

“Wow,” I commented as she ushered me into her corner office then closed the door. There were floor-to-ceiling windows that provided breathtaking views of the city and bay. “This is incredible.”

“Thank you, please, take a seat.”

I lowered onto a leather chair.

“So, I assume you’re here to discuss the contract.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “I am.”

Her face was neutral. On the surface, she appeared calm, cool, and collected. But in her eyes, I could see a little glimpse of uncertainty. She was nervous about what I was going to say. Iwondered how many people got to see Olivia Bradshaw nervous. I doubted very many.

“I assume you read through the contract.”

“Yes, I did.”

“What are your thoughts?”

This felt so strange, so surreal, yet somehow…right. I wasn’t sure how that could be possible. Maybe it was because I’d never planned on getting married. I’d always assumed I’d be a bachelor for life. But I had signed a lot of contracts.

“I think…yeah…let’s do it.”

For a split second, the wall of poise and professionalism dropped, and her eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

“You didn’t think I would agree to it?”

“I don’t…” She shook her head. “I wasn’t…I don’t know.”

“Doyoustill want to do this?” I asked.

In theory, this might have made sense to her, but now that it was a reality, I would understand if she wanted to back out.

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