Page 33 of The Truth of Us

I didn’t answer; instead; I moved towards his private elevator and pressed the button.

From behind me, I heard, “I’ll have legal draft the agreement.”

The doors slid open; I stepped inside and turned back toward him. For a second, neither of us spoke. Elliot looked unfairly handsome standing there with his shirt half open and his hands in his pockets, as if he didn’t realize the effect he had on people. Or maybe he knew exactly.

“Thirty days,” he said quietly.

Thirty days. What was I doing?

I nodded once. “Goodnight, Elliot.”

His eyes held mine steadily. “Goodnight, Harper.”

The elevator doors closed between us.

And the second I was alone, I lifted my fingers to my mouth instinctively. To my lips. To the memory of what it was like to allow Elliot Vale to kiss me in New York. How his lips could go from hungry to soft in an instant… The kiss rule suddenly felt less smart than it had an hour ago.

Which was exactly the kind of thought capable of ruining a woman’s life.

9

ELLIOT

Astrange sensation settled in my chest and lower gut after Harper left the night I suggested the thirty-day arrangement. The sex was fucking incredible, but a part of me felt like something was missing. It was similar to when we were in New York, but so different. I wasn't sure if the arrangement or her need to set boundaries because of our professional entanglement caused it to feel so different. All I knew was that when we finished, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and bring her to my bed for another round and maybe try ‌sleeping next to a woman for the first time.

But Harper pushed me back and grabbed her clothes off the floor, as if we hadn't just made each other cum, like it was just a transaction.

And, fuck me if that didn’t hurt.

But the truth is… I don't know why.

Because all my sexual interactions have rules set in place and end with me walking away.

Is that what was bothering me? That she set the rules, held steady on the boundaries, and walked away like it was nothing?

I stood with my hands in my pant pockets far too long, staring at the elevator. I knew she wouldn't come back up; she couldn't without a code or key. But I still stood there and stared.

I barely slept that night, and when I woke up the next morning, the first thing I did was text Harper asking if she had plans for the rest of the weekend. Her response was brief, asking if I had the contract and list of dates for her.

So first thing Monday morning I went looking for Julian to get the arrangement drawn up, but for once he wasn't the first one in his office so I made my way to the team of lawyers we employed and had one of them draft the basic terms to our arrangement and I completed the rest.

With the agreement all sorted, I decided the only way to get New York Harper to come out and play was to get her to let her walls down. Convincing myself that in order to get her out of my system I needed to get her to break her rules. I needed her out of her head and completely in the moment with me.

At least that is what I told myself when I showed up at the restaurant her assistant said she was meeting a client at and walked up to her table like it was something I did every day.

I recognized the woman from the gala right away, and her eyes lit up when she saw me moving towards their table.

Want to know the best way to get the word out about a billionaire who is no longer single?

I winked at the woman and held one of my fingers up to my lips, silently asking her to keep quiet.

But Harper caught on right away, and she turned in my direction, taking my breath away. Suddenly, I understood Julian’s stumble.

She was in a light grey dress that covered every inch of her, from her ankles to the sleeves that went to mid-palm and the neckline that teased her collarbone. Her hair was swept back in a low bun, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands into it and make it messy.

The only jewelry she wore was a pair of diamond studs, a heart pendant on a simple chain, and a ring I now realized I had never seen her without. It was always on her ring finger, but on her right hand.

I smiled at her, and she tilted her head in confusion. But I didn’t slow, I did what I had been wanting to do since Harper walked into my boardroom. I walked right up to her, leaned down, with both hands cupping her face and kissed her. Harper tensed up, and I felt her try to pull away. So I leaned in closer, whispered in her ear, “We are in public, baby.” and then pulled back slightly so I could see her eyes before kissing her again. This time she didn’t pull away, but she didn't melt into me either. We would fix that.