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As she studied his expression Gabby shook her head. ‘I didn’t mean it as an insult. I just want to explain why you aren’t my type.’
He couldn’t let her get away with that. ‘Don’t you remember that kiss?’
Her lips parted and he wondered if she’d have the gall to deny any memory, to say What kiss? But instead, she shook her hair forward slightly to hide her face.
‘Of course I do. But that didn’t mean anything. It was just an anomaly.’
‘Then why don’t we try it again?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘You heard me.’ Zander wasn’t a hundred percent sure where he was going with this but... ‘Why don’t we try it again? Another kiss?’
‘That is a ridiculous idea.’
‘No, it isn’t. Because I don’t think it was an anomaly. On a physical level I think I am your type, and I know you’re mine. And that is exactly why we can pull this off.’
‘Relationships are about more than the physical.’
‘Sure. But without a physical attraction there is no relationship. And in the case of a fun-filled interlude the physical aspect is the most important.’
‘I am not kissing you now.’ Gabby glanced around, then narrowed her eyes at him. ‘I bring my grandma here, for goodness’ sake.’ Her forehead scrunched into a scowl. ‘In fact I am not kissing you ever. If you think you can pay me to—’
‘No!’ How could he, Zander Grosvenor, king of the boardroom, dealmaker extraordinaire, be making such a hash of this? ‘That isn’t what I meant. I don’t want to have a real physical relationship with you.’
Liar, liar, whole suit on fire!
Deep breath. ‘I just want to demonstrate that whether we like it or not, act on it or not, there is a real physical attraction between us—and that means I think we could pull this off. Convince everyone that we are in a real relationship. Even though we won’t be. On any level.’ He leant back. ‘Can you look me in the eye and tell me this attraction is a figment of my imagination?’
Against all odds her eyes scrunched further shut, and then she expelled a sigh. ‘I can’t do that. But believe me, I wish I could.’
Bingo! ‘Then I respect your reservations, and I appreciate your honesty, but I believe we can do this. If I’m wrong that’s my bad—not yours. So what do you think? A few social events and you pocket a hundred grand?’
Indecision hovered on her face, etched her forehead with a crease. She closed her eyes as if picturing the cash.
Finally she opened them and gave a small, decisive nod. ‘OK. I’ll do it. But only if I can tell my grandmother the truth.’
Zander hesitated.
‘She won’t tell a soul. I give you my word. Also, it’s a non-negotiable condition.’
‘Then so be it. You can tell your grandmother. Now, do we have a deal?’
‘We have a deal.’
CHAPTER FOUR
‘SO THAT’S HOW I made a deal with Zander Grosvenor.’ Gabby summoned reassurance and a smile as she came to the end of her edited explanation to her grandmother.
Lucille had interspersed the recital with questions aplenty, and now her expression tended more towards dubious than joyful. ‘I don’t like it, Gabby. I especially don’t like it that you are doing this for money to look after me.’
Gabby grinned. ‘So if I was doing it for money for me, that would be all right?’
‘It would be better!’ Lucille settled back on the chair and tucked her shawl over her knees.
‘It’s not exactly a hardship. Most women would volunteer for the job, forget getting paid for it!’
‘You aren’t “most women” and I am sure you have no wish to have a temporary fling with a man just because he is good-looking and rich.’
