Page 17 of Contingently Yours
“No more insults about how we met. No more flinching when I touch you or pulling away,” I elaborate, so he knows I’m not asking for his heart and soul.
“They laughed when I said the stalker thing. All couples bicker and tease,” he says lamely.
“Yeah, but they also get along, laugh, and smile each other. Did you not see the way they all dote on each other? If you keep up the way you were today, they’ll be onto us in no time, and you can kiss our commission goodbye.”
His gaze rakes over me covertly before looking away. Huffing, he stares out at the tennis courts again. “Why is it so important toyou?You’ve got plenty of money.”
If that’s his shit way of saying I’m good at this job, he’s getting an F in the compliment department. One more thing we’ll have to work on in front of the Hepperlys.
“Because…”
Ugh. Isn’t there some unspoken rule that you never divulge your weaknesses to the enemy? He just flayed himself about his failed hillbilly wedding that never happened, though, so I guess I can throw him a bone if it helps get him with the program.
“Because my dad and brother think I’m not responsible enough to have a successful career. Never mind that to them, successful meansonlyif the career is at Broadhouse Publishing. So, I’ve been working my ass off for my Uncle Lou to show them I can do just fine on my own, whether they like it or not.”
I wait for derision or insults, but they don’t come. There’s something in his eyes that looks like respect. Fuck him and the surprise that’s there too, but the respect part has my face heating. I honestly can’t remember the last time anyone looked at me with respect. Maybe it’s just weird seeing him not hate me for five seconds.
“Fine,” he finally says.
Really? He’s giving in that easily? No headlocks or insults?
“Fine?” I parrot.
“Yeah. Whatever.”
Huh. Strange. Sass him around with logic and he complies. Noted. Maybe he has something ingrained in him from the military to take orders.
Shrugging, I nod. “Okay then.”
An awkward beat passes between us as we both glance toward the resort. If he wants to shake hands or thinks we’re friends now, this is going to get even more awkward. It’s just business.
“So…what do you suggest we do?”
It shouldn’t fluff my feathers so much that he’s actually looking to me to take the lead. I tried to tell him to do that fromthe beginning, but I guess some people are slow learners. He’s a few years older than I am. You’d think that would give him more life experience, but ruck marching in the military clearly doesn’t prepare people for the dirty real world. Alpha boyfriend, it is.
Sucking in a breath, I hold out my hand, hoping he gets the message. “Be as absolutely disgusting as we can.”
Glancing down at my hand, his face blanches and his lip curls down at the corner. Such a jerk. I don’t have time for his freak outs. Grabbing his big meat hook, I start for the door.
“I said disgusting as in candy-sweet disgusting, notdisgusted. Lose the grimace.”
His arm hair feels like a sherpa blanket underneath my forearm. Why did he go into island real estate? The man’s body was not built for warm weather.
“Why are you so hairy? Can’t you wax that shit or something?”
“No one waxes their arms,” he huffs, reaching for the door at the same time as I do, but then gives up. He jerks his hand away when he passes through, though not as violently as earlier, I’ll give him that much, but I can tell we’ve still got a long way to go.
“And if insulting me is what you meant by disgusting, I doubt that’s going to convince them,” he grumbles, but waits for me.
Snagging his hand again out of spite, I ignore how meaty it feels in my grip. His palm is surprisingly soft, not covered in calluses like I imagined it to be. Maybe he wears gloves when he chops wood back in the swamp or wherever he comes from.
“Sorry, lover,” I snark, squeezing his hand tighter when I notice how limp his grip is, like he can’t wait for the second I let go.
The color of his face says he has murder on his mind. Ha! Maybe this won’t be as miserable as I imagined. I can play the doting boyfriendandpiss him off at the same time. I am now committed to not letting go of his sweaty-ass dirt digger untilwe’re done with the showing for the day. If he wants sweet, I’ll be as sweet as a freaking toothache.
Shaw did say to be attentive. I have a feeling I’m going to thoroughly enjoy being attentive if it gets under Lucas’ skin this easily.
“Smile, baby. We’ve got islands to sell,” I mutter under my breath as we approach the lounge.
