Page 13 of Temporary Wife Temptation

“Holy crap.”

“Exactly. And you know what else? He’s melt-your-clothes-off hot, and for some reason that really pisses me off!” Natalie slammed her palms on the table. Shoot. Mrs. Kim was twice her age. She shouldn’t be disrespectful. “Sorry. I mean he’s very handsome.”

“Don’t be a prude. I’m not that old. He’s sex on a stick. I got it,” she said. “And you’re not pissed off. You’re just turned on.”

Natalie emptied her glass and glowered mutely at her.

“How did all this come about?” Mrs. Kim studied her face with concern.

“Suddenly.” Natalie couldn’t lie to her but couldn’t tell the truth, either. She inhaled a fortifying breath. “We...understand each other, and marrying him will help me adopt Sophie. I think it’ll be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

“And that’s enough for you? Sometimes doing what we think is best for our children comes at a cost, Natalie.”

Mrs. Kim sighed and opened up another bottle of soju. She raised it and glanced at Natalie, but she shook her head. She had urgent matters to deal with first thing in the morning, thanks to twice losing her wits over Garrett Song.

“There was someone...after my husband died, but I ended things with him to focus on my kids. Overcompensating for being a single mom, I guess. But now...” Her unflappable neighbor sighed, a small, forlorn sound. “My children have grown and left—as they should—and I’m a lonely old woman with only bygone memories to warm my bed.”

“Mrs. Kim... I...”

Natalie didn’t continue. She was in no place to comfort Mrs. Kim. She was too afraid to give her heart to anyone, knowing she didn’t stand a chance of keeping him. The one guy who’d wanted to stick around was a narcissistic jerk from college. No man worth having seemed to want her. Natalie poured Mrs. Kim another shot and lifted her glass for a refill. They raised their glasses in solemn silence and drank to bygone memories.

Unlike Mrs. Kim, who had loved and lost, Natalie didn’t even have memories to keep her warm. She only had a sexless marriage to an unfairly hot husband to look forward to.

Natalie didn’t hate giving presentations too much. She just had a hard time breathing and got a wicked headache. Even so, it beat “hanging out” and “socializing.” The actual event was never as bad as expected. She had to focus on that. Today it was just a quick office-etiquette seminar.

“You look bulletproof,” Garrett said, close to her ear. “Why the power suit?”

She squeaked, nearly jumping out of said suit. Immersed in her mental pep talk, she hadn’t heard him approaching in the hall. Her hand on her chest, she scanned their surroundings and didn’t see any prying eyes on them.

Even when her mind grasped she wasn’t in mortal danger, her fight-or-flight instinct raged inside her. The man next to her was dangerous. Seeing him, and in such close proximity, made her heart play hopscotch in her chest.

Natalie reined in her hormone-induced reaction. She lived in the real world with real problems, like bills to pay and a daughter to adopt. She didn’t have the luxury of lusting after her future husband.

“Good morning,” she said as she continued swiftly down the hallway. “Did you need something?”

“Not at all.” He fell in step beside her, his face a careful blank. “I’m just stretching my legs.”

She couldn’t help stealing a peek at his long, muscular legs, and heat rose to her face. Her gaze roamed over him, lingering on his strong jawline and full lips. When her eyes met his, amusement glinted in them. He was well aware of her perusal, and quite enjoying himself.

“Go stretch them somewhere else,” she said through clenched teeth.

He chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Rather than casually parting ways, as she’d hoped, he took her by the elbow and led her toward the landing of the emergency stairway. Too startled to react, she allowed the door to click shut behind them. She huffed an exasperated sigh and slumped against the wall.

“Why did you bring me out here, Garrett?”

“We need to discuss our sleeping arrangements.”

“What—what do you mean?” Awareness stormed through her, making her knees weak. After their kiss, she’d imagined sharing a bed with him. It involved very little sleeping.

“I want you to move into my place as soon as possible.”

“No,” she blurted in a panic, her heart jumping and stuttering.

Garrett shrugged. “If you’d rather buy a new place, I’ll have my Realtor call you.”

“It’s not that.” She pressed her palm against her forehead. “Why do we have to move in together already?”

He arrogantly raised an eyebrow. “Our engagement will be announced soon.”

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