Page 48 of The Arrangement
What the heck?
“I have a guesthouse if she’d prefer her privacy,” he says. “We can do whatever makes you two happy.”
“But me? I’d live with you?” I ask, each word measured.
A slow, seductive smile dances along his lips. My gaze is glued to his mouth as I try not to squirm.
If he wants this to be believable, that means our marriage will include things like …sex.
My stomach clenches at the thought. And by the way he looks at me, I think he’s thinking the same thing.
“Are we consummating this marriage, Mr. Brewer?” I ask, hoping I’m reading the situation correctly.If not…
“That’s up to you.” He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “But I hope so.”
My gaze flips to his, and I try not to melt from the heat in them.
“Remember,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “I’m happy just to give you the money. There are no strings unless you want them.”
I swallow to wet my throat. I’m afraid my words will stick otherwise.
“So my options are to take the money and run …” My cheeks flush as I meet his gaze. “Or take the money, have a place to stay,andhave sex with you for six months?”
He pins me to the spot with only a look. If this intensity is a promise of things to come, I’m in.I’m so fucking in.
“Option B, please,” I say.
A flicker of a smile kisses his lips.
I’ve made my choice, and it’s truly the one I want to make. It’s the decision I’m certain he was hoping I’d make, too. But these sinful rewards have risks, and I’m not too turned on not to consider them.
What if this ruins us?
My stomach flips upside down.
“Just promise me that we’ll still be friends when this is over,” I say. “Tell me I’m not delusional, and this will work out.”
“I promise. You have my word. I would never do anything to compromise that, Chloe.”
“But you can see why I’m questioning it, right?”
He lifts a brow. “And you understand that if you didn’t trust me down deep, you never would’ve suggested this in the first place.”
That’s very true.
“So are we doing this?” he asks.
I give myself a moment to reconsider.
I want to do this. I need the help he’s more than willing to give me, and I can help him win a bet in the process. And I’ll also have the excuse to do something I’ve wanted to do for years—sleep with my boss. He obviously wants that, too. And this allows us to do that without violating every rule in the employee handbook.
My mind is made up. This feels like a gift, and I’m not one to turn down a present from above.
“We’re doing this,” I say.
Relief washes over his features. “What happens in our marriage stays in our marriage.”
The ridiculousness of that statement makes me laugh.
