Page 50 of Fiona and the Fixer

“Over dinner,” he replied simply.

“What? No.”

“Look, I need you as much as you need me.”

“I know the sex is amazing and all, but–”

“I’m not talking about sex.” Then he grinned, clearly proud of himself. “And it is amazing.”

“Okay, then–”

“You need to save me from the women of Coal Springs,” he pleaded.

I stared at him. I’d never, not once in my life, ever heard a man say he needed saving from women practically throwing their panties at him. “What?”

“They’re crazy. Have you seen the bookstore? Do women have town-wide group texts? They’re like a militia but armed with estrogen.” He stepped close and ran a hand through his hair. This was the first time I’d seen him lessthan comfortable in his skin. “Do you have any idea what I had to do this morning?”

I shook my head and I knew my eyes were wide.

“I had to read a sex scene at storytime.”

I bit my lip and tried not to smile. He leaned in even closer, and I felt his breath fan my ear. It wasn’t with desire, but desperation.

“With two guys… and anal.”

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. “That explains all the women. We all secretly want anal.”

His brows shot up. “You do?”

I shook my head. “No. But I’m sure they’re all imagining it, with you.”

He actually paled. “I’m flattered. And freaked. Be my girlfriend and you can save me from them.”

“Are you hearing yourself? You’re armed! You’re asking me to protect you from eager, aroused women who want you to fuck them in the butt? Wereyoudropped as a baby?”

“I don’t know any of them.”

“So you have what, a three date rule before you go for the kinky stuff?”

His gaze met mine. Held. “The only woman I want to do anal with is you.” Oh my. My pussy clenched at the idea. What he was saying was that he knew me, when he didn’t. “Just say the word.”

I swallowed hard. “That’s quite a step for fake dating.”

“Dottie’s cooking dinner,” he countered.

I raised a brow. That changed everything and instantlymade my mouth water. I narrowed my eyes at his calm and very annoying expression. “That’s food blackmail.”

He shrugged because he had me. He knew it. Between the cheesy rice and the burritos, we both knew whatever Dottie made was going to be amazing. Turning down another covered dish of hers was plain stupid.

I growled. So did my stomach. “Fine. We’ll help each other.”

He grinned, then took my hand and interlaced our fingers. “Good. Then you’re coming with me to the shop.”

23

DAX

While I didn’t tellher I agreed with her that there was probably something shady going on in the pickle store, I really didn’t care. I knew bad guys and they wanted to do their shady shit and be left alone. To do things right to hide all the things they were doing wrong. The fact that this was happening right in the fucking middle of this Disney-like town was now a pain in my ass.

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