Page 22 of Knot a Good Idea

“If this is some weird sex contract, I’m not interested.” My face burns, the idea of me being paid to sleep with him making my stomach sour.

I don’t even know if I’m capable of being intimate anymore.

But Donovan shakes his head quickly. “No. It’s not like that. It’s more…business.”

Trepidation makes my heart stutter. “…okay?”

“I’m looking for company for the next few months. Well, we are.”

I blink. “We?”

“My pack,” he explains.

I’m silent a moment before I respond. “I didn’t realize you were part of a pack.”

“You didn’t ask.” He raises an eyebrow. “We’re looking for an Omega to accompany us to social events.”

I frown as the next course is brought to us, locally caught fish with seasonal vegetables. The accompanying glass of wine is poured, and I mutter athanksto the waiter as I gape at Donovan.

“They have professionals that do that, don’t they?” I sip my wine, my heart racing. “Why on earth would you ask me?”

“They do,” he agrees. “But my search has been unsuccessful. Then I saw you and…I had a hunch.”

“I’m not for sale.” I quip. This conversation isridiculous. I imagine Skylar and Devyn’s faces when I screamI told you soat them.

“I don’t intend on buyingyou,” he insists.“Just your time.”

“And I don’t have time to offer. I havework.”

“Which is exactly why this could work for you.” His grey eyes soften, and he smiles, as if he knows I’m going to say yes. “Allow me to tell you exactly what I can offer you.”

I should leave. I should have left after I cursed at him. But I stay glued in my seat waiting for his next words.

“I’ll cover all the bakery’s expenses for a year—supplies, rent, utilities, employee compensation, and whatever else you need. As a bonus, I’ll pay off all your outstanding business loans. You can keep your employees, and your café would thrive.”

I swallow. There’s no way he just offered that.

“You’re joking,” I mutter.

He shakes his head. “You deserve it anyway,” he says. “I finally tried that cookie you gave me. Not only was the coffee great, but you’re a talented baker. Your café deserves more recognition. It deserves multiple locations, honestly.”

I can’t help it. I beam at his praise. “Thank you,” I murmur.

“So, you’ll accept?”

My eyes widen. “A verbal acceptance to be your date with no binding contract? I thought you were a businessman?”

There’s the old April coming back for a moment. My self-confidence is still inside me somewhere.

Donovan smirks. “Of course not. Everything will be finalized in writing. Taking you out to dinner was only the first step.”

I should say no.

But I could save everyone’s jobs this way.

What happens if Donovan finds out who I am, though? Would he still make this offer is he saw an article about me on the internet?

Part of me is also disappointed that this isn’t a real date.

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