Page 27 of Against The Rules

She glares at me, and I can’t help laughing at the cute, frustrated expression on her face.

“And I teach you to be sexy, don’t forget that.”

The tiny smile that started to play around her lips during our stare-off disappears, and I regret saying it.

I clear my throat. “Do you like to cook?”

“What?”

“Are you a good cook?”

“If this is going to be some weird sexist joke—”

“No, no, I just, listen, I need help with something else, too. I was wondering if you could help me perfect some recipes I’m working on for the team cook-off at the end of the season. Or you could just taste-test them.”

I hadn’t even really planned to do the damned cook-off, but the email about it went out today, and for some reason it’s the only thing my brain latched onto to distract her with.

Anything to get her to spend more time with me.

“Besides,” I pause, putting the lid back on the half-eaten tray of sushi. “The more time we spend together, the better, right? We’ll be more natural in front of my family.” I say it like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

“Until the house of cards goes up in flame.” She mimes an explosion, throwing her arms wide, the movement so graceful and effortless that I’m speechless yet again.

“Fine,” she says. “That makes me feel better, actually. I’ll help you with your cook-off too. That feels more fair.”

“What’s your price? For the business, I mean—how much do you need?”

She glances up at me, her gaze distant. “Ten thousand to start.”

I blink.

“Five thousand,” she says slowly, her voice smaller. “I don’t have to—”

“Ten,” I agree quickly, hoping I’m not the idiot my brother would think I am for agreeing.

What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Might hurt my bank account, but with the smile blooming on her gorgeous face, I can’t really find it in me to give a fuck.

“Are you sure?” she asks, uncertainty making the smile disappear. “I mean, it’s a lot of money, I don’t want to take—”

“I’m sure.” You’re my wife, I almost add, but think better of it and shut my mouth.

I know she doesn’t think of herself like that. She thinks this is temporary.

For some reason… I don’t want it to be.

Not anymore.

Which is why I take the leftovers and pop them in her old white fridge, then turn around and say something that makes her blush the prettiest shade of pink I’ve ever seen.

CHAPTER 11

SAVANNAH

“Are you ready to tackle the other thing you wanted help with?” A slow, charming grin spreads across his face, and heat rises in mine. “I have to live up to my end of the bargain, right?”

I clear my throat, searching for words, but come up empty. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

“Don’t worry, Savannah,” my name is low, and mellifluous, and a shiver goes down my back as he closes the fridge and makes his way back to the scratched up kitchen table. “I’ll be gentle.”

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