Page 16 of On Her Terms

“Granddad was harassing me again, so I told him Luca and I are engaged.”

I press my thumb to my bottom lip, recalling her sweet taste. “She’s even thinking about staying with me for the week to prove it.” Brianna glares at me from between her fingers.

Tate leans back in his chair and gives a slow whistle, while Summer sits there with a smirk on her face. “It was a stupid thing to do, but I panicked,” Brianna says, and finally drops her

hands. She takes another drink and finishes it off.

“I’d say,” Tate says as he gestures the server.

“It’s not so bad,” I pipe in. “We told him we were keeping it a secret because we didn’t want to take the focus off you two.”

“Good thinking—but he’s a meddler, so pretending to stay together might not be a bad idea.” He glances at Brianna, who flushes again. “What are you going to do when we go back home? Granddad is frail and weak, a breakup just might...” He lets his words fall off, unable to vocalize them. His mouth turns down and Summer reaches out and takes his hand in hers. She gives him a warm, understanding smile.

“He’s expecting to see a ring on my finger,” Brianna says and holds her jewelry-free hand up.

“As hard as it might be on your granddad, you’ll have to pretend a breakup sooner or later,” Summer says. “Or not.”

“Or not?” Brianna practically shouts. “Of course, we have to, but that will destroy him. All he ever does is worry about me. He says it’s not healthy to be alone. He just...he just wants to see me happy, and...” She pauses and waves her finger back and forth between the two of us. “And I did this to make him happy.”

“Then you’ll have to just keep on pretending,” Summer says, like there is absolutely no problem with the two of us staying together forever, to keep an old man happy.

“Summer,” Tate says, quietly. “They can’t do that.”

“I can’t hurt Granddad, either,” Brianna says.

Summer squeezes Tate’s hand. “You know, sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out. Just ride the week out, act like you’re in love with each other and try not to stress out about it too much. Doctor’s orders.” With that she stands and reaches for Brianna’s hand. “Come on. These two are going to drink beer and get stupid, and you and I are going shopping. There’s this great little boutique I found last time I was here. They have the best lingerie.”

“Nice,” Tate and I say at the same time, and Brianna shoots daggers my way. I hold my hands up in surrender and laugh. “What, a guy can’t appreciate lingerie?”

“This isn’t real,” she says. “And I’m not wearing lingerie for you. Ever.”

“Hey, you’re the one who sprung this on me. The least you could do is consider it,” I say, and Tate laughs as he punches me in the arm. I know he’s secretly loving this. In the first month I worked for him, he mentioned Brianna often, even joked once about setting up us two workaholics.

“Dude, are you not fond of your nuts?” Tate asks and shakes his head at me like I’m insane. Yeah, I get that Brianna is confident and a take-charge kind of woman—a woman a guy should never mess with—but the blush on her cheeks when I tease her is so goddamn sexy, I can’t seem to help myself.

I cross my legs to protect my nuts. “I just might give up one to see her in lingerie,” I say, and Brianna opens her mouth, likely to shoot back with some kind of profanity, when Summer captures her arm and gives a little tug.

“Ignore him, Bri.” Summer winks at me. “It’s the beer making him stupid.” She puts her purse over her shoulder. “Behave yourselves, boys.”

“See you tonight, Bri,” I say and then fish my key from my pocket to hand over to her. “Just let yourself in.”

She looks it over before shoving it into her purse. “It’s Brianna.”

“I know.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Brianna

THE CHALET’S OUTSIDE solar lantern is on, brightening the path as I drag my suitcase along the walkway. I grab my key card from my purse and stare at it for a moment. Truthfully I can’t believe I accepted Luca’s terms and agreed to live with him for the week. Things are always done on my terms. I set the rules. Then again I got him into this, so he should have some say on how it all plays out, right? As I consider that, my mind goes back to the incredible sex we had, how he said he wanted to keep fucking me. I shut him down at the time, which begs the question: Why did I throw myself into his arms and kiss him hours later? Was it really all for show, my way to let Granddad know I was okay? Or was there some other reason behind it—like the fact that I wanted back in his bed, and this was the perfect excuse?

Oh Jesus!

I quietly let myself in and listen for sound at the door. The light above the sink in the kitchen is on, and I leave my suitcase in the foyer and tiptoe farther into the chalet. It’s late but it’s possible Luca is still out drinking. After we went shopping, Summer and I met up with her friends Cara and Amber. We all went out to the wine bar for a drink—my idea. I kept them there longer than I normally would have—I’m still exhausted from the travel—but I was hoping Luca would be asleep when I returned.

I’m half to blame for this situation, I realize. I did get myself into this mess. Honestly, I could be the poster girl for screwed-up good intentions. I walk down the hall and find Luca stomach down on the bed, stark naked and sound asleep. The sheets are a crumpled mess near the footboard. My heart picks up the pace as I let my gaze roam the long, hard length of his beautiful body. He must work out a lot to be in such good shape. Which reminds me, I need to hit the gym in the morning for a good cardio workout.

There are other ways you can work off the calories, Bri...

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