Page 74 of Betting on the Brainiac

“They might want to do spot checks, but considering they’ve never come to my place once, they probably won’t? They might send my sister over, but I doubt that too. I honestly think they’re going to realize they got outplayed on this one and give up.”

“You would know,” he says. “As long as it doesn’t cause funding issues for the company, I’m fine with it.”

“Worst-case scenario is they could find out we’re not sharing an actual apartment, freak out, and sue me.Thatwill never happen because it would be too public. I’d make sure it is, and they know it. Which then means that the worst-case scenario is they decide to hold the remaining fifteen million until I turn thirty.”

“In which case you’re still ahead by 3.5 million dollars.”

“Yes. That leaves the final detail: you have to be Foster Cat Daddy. I can’t because of Ava’s allergy, and I can’t stand the thought of giving them over to anyone else. I need to make sure they’re big and strong before they go anywhere, and I need to choose who gets them. With myowneyes.”

He brushes a finger over Smudge’s exposed belly, and Smudge gives it a delayed swat but misses. “I did hate hearing the rescue found a foster for them.”

I reach over and take Smudge, then scoop Big Stripey and Tuxie from the carrier and settle them all in my lap. “All right, Oliver Locke. Will you take me as your lawfully wedded in-name-only bride and these kittens to be your roommates in your new Grove condo? And do you solemnly promise to give me a key so I can come visit them whenever I want?”

“I think so, Mad Mads,” he says, and I grin at the nickname. “But I want us to both be super sure about this. How about we each take the rest of the day to think this over. You can get all my paperwork checked and talk to any lawyers you need to confer with or whatever. Then we’ll meet here in the morning and decide for sure.”

“Tomorrow is Saturday,” I remind him. “I work tonight, so I won’t be awake until late, and I’d rather not come here twice, so maybe you can swing by the Grove around 11:00? I should be up by then. Which reminds me . . .”

How do I bring up dating other people while we’re married?

Hmm. That’s not a question I ever pictured myself asking. But if I’m asking, I’ll do it my way—straight to the point. “What’s our dating situation going to be?”

Oliver, in the process of stealing Big Stripey from me, freezes with the kitten in his hand, halfway between us. Big Stripey gives a small, annoyed meow. “We aren’t going to date, Madison.” His tone is very careful, as careful as the way he draws Big Stripey to his chest. “We’re going to be married.”

“I bet a lot of husbands say that to their wives,” I joke. “But I meant dating other people.”

“Oh.” His forehead wrinkles.

“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “I don’t mind at all if you date while we’re married.”

His lips twist. “That’s a relief.”

“I personally like the idea of taking some time off of dating. I hope I’m so busy with my revenge plans that I don’t have time for it anyway. But there’s one exception. You know how the girls were giving me a hard time on Sunday about kissing some guy?”

“The mask guy?”

“That was last Friday. If that guy comes around again, I’d want to see where it goes. Are you okay with that?”

“Sure.” He looks down at Big Stripey as he gives its tiny paws soft strokes. “It was that good, huh?”

“I’ve done a lot of kissing, but that . . .” I shake my head, not even sure how to find the words. “That was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I need to know if it was the setting, the mystery with the masks, the music, the quiet corner—or if it was real.”

“You want it to be real?” he asks. “What if it is? This marriage could be a big problem for this guy.”

“I do want it to be real. But it’s probably moot because it would depend on this guy coming back to find me.”

“You have no way to find him?”

“I could look through the security footage on the off-chance that he was unmasked when he walked in. But even then, I still wouldn’t know how to get hold of him unless he’s a regular. But he’s not.”

“You’re sure?”

“Dead sure. I would know if I had that kind of chemistry with anyone I know.”

Another slow nod. “Makes sense. Do you think he’ll come looking for you again?”

My shoulders slump. “No. I believed he would until closing on Saturday night.”

“You sound bummed.”

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