Page 24 of Fever

I dropped the phone back in the cradle and stared at it for a second. “I should’ve never answered the phone,” I murmured.

A warm hand cruised up against my back, and I shivered under Santana’s touch.

“Josiah, I know it’s none of my business, but from that conversation, it sounds like you have an excellent opportunity to run your dad’s company. But I don’t understand what it has to do with you being married.”

I turned to her, and she held a bowl of hot soup on top of a cool plate.

“This is for you,” she said.

I didn’t need to lean my nose into the steam that rose from it to smell the spicy scent that drifted from the ceramic bowl.

“Thank you, Santana.”

“You’re welcome.”

I took the dish off her hands and sat it down on the counter next to me then pulled her arms around my waist. With my face looking down into her beautiful eyes, I spoke.

“I love my father. He’s been the backbone of our family since my mother’s passing.”

“Josiah, I’m so sorry.”

I kissed her lips. “Don’t be. I was so young when it happened I don’t remember her. I only have pictures and the stories from my father and brothers. I’m telling you this because I want you to know why I feel the way I do about my father’s ridiculous demands.”

Santana’s brows bunched, but she didn’t respond, opting to listen instead.

“My father owns a chewing gum company, Gemz.” Her eyes widened; by now I was sure just the mention of the business name was enough for anyone to recognize it because of its popularity. “He wants me to run the business. He had a contract drawn up for me to sign. I would get four million direct transfer when I did. And next year on my twenty-eighth birthday, I’d get fifteen million plus become the company’s CEO with all rights transferred over to me.”

Santana’s eyes widened. “That’s incredible,” she said.

“Except that he wants me to find a wife. And if I don’t he’s interviewing someone to take that spot. Never has my father handed his company over to anyone outside of the family. Long story short, he’s trying to strong-arm me into getting married. I can’t figure out why. He has three sons who just married within two years.”

“Maybe he just wants you to show some responsibility. Maybe it’s not about you being married at all,” Santana said.

“You don’t think I’m responsible?”

“I don’t mean it that way. He wants to know you’re stable enough to run a company. It’s a responsibility like a marriage of sorts. Maybe it’s not about you getting married but actually considering marriage.”

I stared at her lovely mouth, letting her words sink inside me.

“You’re brilliant,” I said.

She smiled. Warm and beautiful. Santana took a step back and dipped into a curtesy then serenaded me with the sexiest laugh I had ever heard. My ears tingled, and a stroke of heat coated me.

“So, all you need to do is call Ms. Lean back and tell her you’ll sign the contract.”

“Mmm,” I said, pulling my eyes away from her lips. “What happens when my father wants to meet the woman that may be my potential wife?”

Her wide eyes dimmed a bit, and she straightened her posture. “Well, you’ll give him one. You have plenty of women to choose from. I’m sure any of them would be happy pretending to be your potential wife no matter how long. Just call Desmond back. He has two sets of twins.”

I squinted at her and cocked my head to the side. Santana shifted her weight and tugged at her dress.

“I don’t want what Desmond’s offering. But since you came up with the idea, it’s only right if you helped me execute it.”

She laughed again. A deep throaty laugh. “Sure.” She shrugged. “I enjoy your company. I could stand being around you for a while.”

I couldn’t say that I was shocked Santana agreed. I loved the wild side about her. It’s why I couldn’t help but seek her out when we were in Montego Bay. I took a step then another toward her and crossed my hands behind my back.

“You can stand to be around for a while, Santana?”

---