Page 25 of The Christmas Wife

He laughs, "Meanwhile, the debt is going to stop you from expanding your business further… And that, you do want, hmm?"

I scowl. He’s got me there. I have plans. I want to grow my business to set up a store front… Then a chain, not only in England, but abroad. And while I’m sure I won’t let debt stop me, not with the help of expert advice on how to structure my business holdings… Still, nothing like cash in hand to inspire confidence, especially from future creditors.

"One million, huh?"

His eyes gleam.

I frown. Damn it, have I walked into a trap? I shouldn’t have shown interest in his offer, but I’m human, okay? I mean… No, I won’t sell my principles for money… But this is an awful lot of money. Not something to sneer at, get me? Besides, what principles is he really trying to pay me to betray? It’s not like he’s offering to pay me for sex. I chew on my lower lip; his gaze drops there. The tendons of his throat move as he swallows. Huh? He’s affected by me as well? I mean, I know he wants me… That entire blowjob thing between us… It had confirmed he wants to get inmy pants… But this… His hooded eyelids, the way he watches me with single-minded focus… My scalp tingles. A bead of sweat trickles down my spine.

I clear my throat.

He jerks his chin up, "Per day."

"What the—?" I gape. "You didn’t… Why would you—?" I rake my fingers through my hair. "This entire thing is bizarre."

"It’s a little out of your comfort zone, I understand." He shoves his hand in the pocket of his jeans, "But opportunities like this don’t come often."

"You’re telling me," I laugh. The sound comes out weak. Shit, I sound uncertain. And I am not. Not about my answer… Just his intention. "Why?" I frown. "Why are you so keen on ensuring that I stay?"

"You said it." He tilts his head, "I am not much use with this—" He holds up his finger in the splint. “Until you pointed it out, I hadn’t realized it." He nods.

Nice one. Blame it on me that he’d come up with this insane idea, huh.?

"You could get a housekeeper…or something."

"Not over the holiday season. Besides, why would I look for a stranger when I want you?"

"Umm, because you don’t know me well either?"

His gaze drops to my mouth.

"That…that was a one off." I redden. "It doesn’t mean you know me as a person."

He raises his shoulders, "You’re a friend of Summer and Victoria’s, women who are trusted by the Seven."

"Right," I draw in a breath.

"So?" He tilts his head.

"So?" I shuffle my weight from foot to foot.What do I say?I twist my fingers together. "One million for every day makes it…"

"Six million pounds." He nods.

"S... six?" I squeak.

"It’ll set you up for any kind of expansion you want to finance for your business."

I narrow my gaze. How could he have intuited my plans? "How do you know that?"

"You’re ambitious, I get it." He stares back, "Not that much of a stretch, to know that you’d be planning to grow your enterprise.

"Right." I scowl at him. "I guess that makes sense. I mean, you weren’t stalking me or anything, before I came here to find out this information, were you? Although, it does beg the question, how did you know about my debt?"

He chuckles, "Don’t flatter yourself, babe. We check into anyone who enters our orbit. Can’t be too careful, you know?"

"Hmm." I fold my arms around my waist. "It’s what Sinclair and then Saint did before they proposed to my friends," I say, referring to the now-husbands of Summer and Victoria, respectively.

His lips quirk, "You think that’s what this is about? My sneaky way of trying to form some kind of fake marriage proposal with you?"

---