Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
His tone is so businesslike, it’s making me uneasy. “You have no intention of staying married, correct?”
His brows furrow, his lips pressing together. “Correct. This is a means to an end for both of us.”
So cold. Jeez. “Why don’t you just hire someone to marry you?”
“Because I want it to be believable,” he says quickly, and then he lets out a breath. “I trust you, and I know you won’t get in the way of my goals. You won’t demand anything from me. You’re not like that.”
I scoff. “You don’t even know me.”
“I do, though,” he says simply. “You come in every day. We chat, and even though the town tries to dislike you guys, they never say anything bad about you.”
I bring my lip between my teeth. “You’re right, I won’t get in the way. But what if we develop feelings for each other?”
“Won’t happen,” he says simply. Confidently. And it does nothing for my confidence. He apparently isn’t affected by me like I am by him. I don’t like how that makes me feel. “I don’t want anything more than a friendship.”
Now, I’m pissed. “When you asked me out, it wasn’t because you were attracted to me, but because you need me to do this.”
His jaw ticks. “You’re a gorgeous woman, McDavid. There is no denying that. But yes, it was for this.”
“So, if I say no, there will be no future for us?”
He looks over at me. “There is no future now,” he says simply. “I only need a year, and if you say no, I have to find a different wife. As much as I do enjoy your company, I can’t spend time with you when I have to find someone to marry me.”
His honesty is refreshing, even if it does feel like he’s stabbing me in the gut. “Okay. What about outside relationships?” Not that I plan to have one, but I want to make sure he doesn’t plan to either.
His gaze whips to me, and I’m surprised he doesn’t break his neck. “There will be no outside relationships. For either of us,” he demands, his voice low and dangerous.
My pussy whines for him, wanting desperately for him to say that while he’s buried inside me. His eyes are dark, heat flaring deep within them, and yeah, I like that answer. A lot. It feels intimate, but that can’t be. He doesn’t want anything more than a wife on paper. A friend.
Can I do that? Can I just be his friend? I know I can, but I also know I could fall deeply for him. I’ve always been attracted to him, and I want him. Badly. Which scares me. Being around him daily? Working beside him? Sleeping beside him? Existing with him? I’ll fall. I know I will. And he’ll walk away.
Because he doesn’t want this.
He doesn’t want me.
CHAPTER 13
Coleson
The question hangs between us, but I don’t think either of us will ask it.
This isn’t going the way I wanted it to. I wanted her to just say yes—boom, bam, married, and I’m on my way to the NHL. I hadn’t expected her to ask me what I wanted from this. Or even what about outside relationships. I’ll be damned if she is gonna cheat on me. Even if it is a marriage of convenience, she’s mine. Er. I mean, she’ll be mine. My wife.
Jesus Christ on a cracker.
I look out at the horizon as the sun rises over the mountains ahead, trying desperately to calm my thoughts and my breathing. It’s beautiful and, honestly, my favorite time to hike. It cracks me up that she truly thinks a bear will come for her. She’s so damn cute. A grin pulls at my lips, though I don’t let it form.
While this view is picturesque, nothing compares to the beauty who stands beside me. I glance over as we walk, taking in her red cheeks and how she has her drink in a death grip. She’ll probably hurl it at a bear, or me, so she can get away to let me get eaten.
I’d let her.
I’d get eaten for her.
What the hell? What kind of thought is that? Why would I even think that? She hasn’t even agreed to be my wife, and I’m willing to die for her? I’m insane. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as she smiles up at the sky, the sun kissing her jaw and throat. It’s like the rays are outlining where I should run my lips, and fucking hell, I want to. I swallow, gripping the straps of the backpack so I don’t grab her and do what I want.
What I need to.
“Do you want to have sex with me?”
Her question catches me off guard, and I trip over my own damn feet. I right myself before I eat dirt and bark out a bit of laughter, shaking my head. “Damn, McDavid, trying to kill me?”