Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
All at once, the adrenaline wore off and Skye swallowed hard when she realized how much she’d spent. While she was slightly horrified that the number had escalated so high, Tripp didn’t even flinch. Instead, he winked at her, then strode off the stage.
Lauren still hadn’t returned, and Skye hoped that everything was okay at home with her friend’s family and grandfather. Not sure when or if Lauren would be back, Skye made her way out to meet Tripp. She found him in a sectioned off area with other bachelors and their winners, and she couldn’t help but grin as she approached him.
“Congratulations,” he drawled when she reached him, the low, husky sound of his voice and the way his eyes slid down the length of her, and back up again, making her breathless. “Is it wrong of me to say that your determination to win really turned me on?”
She laughed in an attempt to ignore the way her nipples tightened and heat pooled low in her belly. An instantaneous response when it came to this man. “That’s what you get for giving me free rein with your money,” she teased, then bit her bottom lip, truly feeling contrite. “I’m really sorry about that astronomical amount.”
He shrugged and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his tuxedo slacks. “You’re worth it. And it’s all for charity and it’s going to a good cause so I really can’t complain.”
He was so casual about the money, which told her that finances were not an issue for Tripp, as they were for her. When she divorced Jack, in order to expedite the process she’d asked for nothing of monetary value, which hadn’t helped to speed things up at all since her ex dragged out the proceedings for as long as possible. Still, in the end she’d been awarded a small settlement, which had been just enough for her to start out fresh and new and have a bit saved away for the insemination process. Now, she was grateful that she could put that money toward other things for the baby.
Tripp tipped his head to the side as he regarded her curiously. “So, now that we’re definitely doing this baby thing, what changed your mind about us having a child together?”
“You,” she said simply. “Because I know the kind of supportive, encouraging father you’ll be, especially after listening to you talk about your young patients and how compassionate and capable you are with them. And I think it’s important that a child has their biological father in their lives. There’s also the fact that I know we can be friends as well as co-parents. And most importantly . . . I trust you and the man you are.”
“Yeah, trust is important,” he murmured, and gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from her cheek.
She shivered at his touch, wanting more, and had to remind herself that this wasn’t a courtship between them, but a mutual agreement to share a child. No emotional or romantic entanglements involved. Hopefully. And that meant she had to be the one to establish those boundaries as soon as possible before she did something incredibly stupid . . . like fall in love with him all over again.
She exhaled a breath. “We need to set rules about how this arrangement between us is going to play out.”
He frowned, not looking thrilled at her request or mention of rules. “Such as?”
Her list was . . . complicated, and it wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have with other people around. “I don’t think tonight is the time or place to discuss those terms, so why don’t we both think about what we really want and expect out of this agreement, and how we want to handle the sex part, as well.”
A slow, wicked grin lifted his sensual lips and his eyes darkened. “I don’t think either one of us has an issue with the sex part of this agreement. We both know what we’re doing and that we’re good together. Sex will be the fun, very enjoyable part of this arrangement.”
She felt her cheeks warm, which was ridiculous considering all the dirty things this man had done to her body the week before. “There’s more to it than just sex,” she said, trying to keep this as business-like as possible, which was important to keep those boundaries established. “I mean, yes, we’ll be having sex. It’s the when we’ll be having sex, but I’ll explain all that later. How about we discuss the specifics over dinner at my place tomorrow night, around six?”
“Sure,” he said, and that devilish smile remained.
Despite his easy going response and seemingly laid back attitude, she caught the glimmer of a challenge in his eyes, and she had to admit that confidence caused a bit of concern. She knew from experience how persuasive and charming Tripp could be, how when he set his sights on something or someone—namely her—that her own willpower had a way of crumbling beneath his determination and fortitude.