Page 14 of Midnight & Mergers
“I’m sure, but none of us like being a rebound, either.”
“I can assure you that I’m over her. My clause had more to do with not wanting to get taken advantage of. I mean, I am a billionaire, after all. And many women I’ve dated in the past seem to think I should spend that money on them. You are the first woman I’ve met that doesn’t seem to think so.”
“Look, as my boss, I really think this is too much. And we are here to discuss the terms of my contract. So I say that there should be a budget for my wardrobe for the contract we agree upon. I’m not a Barbie doll, and I don’t need the yellow van as an accessory—nor do I need the Dream Home.”
“Fair enough. But this will not be a beer-budget type of thing, either. I pick the dollar amount for each occasion because white-tie affairs are extremely specific. And no woman on my arm will look lesser than a ten in the rags.”
Teagan let out a breath.
“I can see you’re going to give me an argument about this—aren’t you?”
“I won’t need to if you agree,” Brooks said with a smirk that reached his eyes. Damn him. He then tucked a strand of hair behind Teagan’s ear before continuing. “That dress is stunning, and it was worth every penny to see it on you. Now, getting back to the discussion about whether this is a date or business. What are your thoughts on that?”
Brooks’s eyes flicked to Teagan’s lips. Her body tingled with the mere action. She was sure her knees would buckle if she wasn’t sitting down.
Why is he doing this to me? He’s so hot, and if he kissed me right now, I wouldn’t stop him. I’m so damned fucked.
“I’d say that this could be a date if—”
Brooks pressed his lips on hers before she could finish her sentence. But they broke the kiss once Nico came to the table with the wine. He poured a glass for each of them, and Brooks raised his glass.
“A toast! Here’s to the start of a beautiful relationship.” He touched his glass to Teagan’s and took a sip.
“So about that whole Christmas Clause thing?” Teagan said as she took a sip of her own. The wine was dry and smooth on her tongue, just as she liked it. “What should we do about that?”
“Well, I think we will make a perfect pair this holiday season. What do you think?.”
“Um, I think you aren’t looking for a relationship, and neither am I at the moment. So we can go to these events as friends? That fits the Christmas Clause in the contract.”
“True, but I’ve got this need to kiss you again, and that won’t work with that Christmas Clause written the way it is.” He said as he cupped her cheek.
“Well, you are the boss. Perhaps we should add an addendum to the contract?”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He drew his lips to hers. The kiss was sweet and soft. “It’s settled. We will add an addendum, so I can kiss you whenever I want. In fact? Can we kiss on that instead of shaking hands?” He said with another smirk that reached his eyes.
ChapterSeven
“Wait—exactly what are you saying, Anne?”
“Her father was of Gaelic descent, and her mother was Italian and German.”
“Okay, I still don’t follow,” Brooks said as he shook his head.
“The father was a kelpie, and the mother was a Strega from the Kersh clan, and somehow the mother is related to Alec Christianson.” Said Anne with a determined look.
“That’s a trifecta.”
“Yes.”
“You understand what this means—don’t you?” Brooks said as he placed his hands on Anne’s shoulders.
“Yes, she needs our protection now more than ever. Hybrids are not well-liked, thanks to Keme’s proclamations in the past. She needs protection from the werewolves and the vampires.”
“That’s the understatement of the century. Werewolves were the ones that wrote the law, saying hybrids were a freak of nature. No intermixing of magical bloodlines is allowed. But I don’t see any of a shifter’s basic qualities in her. She doesn’t have the aura. Aside from her appetite and scent, little else would clue me in on her being a shifter.”
“Her witch side must be suppressing her shifter side somehow.”
“Do Raine and Skye know? I can’t picture them not protecting their kin—even if they are distant cousins.”
