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“Three months’ free rent and a two-year guarantee of no more rent raises in exchange for Thanksgiving with my family, including participating in the three-legged race,” I summarize.
“That’s right.”
“I think I might be getting the better deal,” I admit, grinning.
“So, you agree?”
I nod. “It’s a deal.” I extend a hand.
She hesitates, leaving my palm hanging in the air between us. “Bailey is coming too,” she informs me. “I’m not spending Thanksgiving without my daughter.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to.”
Mia’s shoulders drop, and a small, victorious smile steals over her lips. She slides her palm into mine and seals the deal, shaking once. “Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Thomas.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” I answer. “Believe me.”
That beautiful flush returns to her cheeks, and Mia gives me a full-fledged smile. She takes her hand back, inhaling deeply. Then her eyes narrow. “This is a professional arrangement,” she says. “Nothing more.”
“Of course.”
“I’m not going to sleep with you.” For some reason, her voice lifts slightly at the end of the sentence, making it almost sound like a question.
I can’t help the grin that lifts the corners of my lips.
She points an index finger at me. “I’m serious.”
“No sex.” I nod, my body screaming at me to grab her around the waist, lift her onto my lap, and make her forget that stupid rule.
“No sex,” she repeats, voice trembling the slightest bit. “No kissing. No touching.”
“I might have to hold your hand,” I hedge, “if you’re going to be my date.”
She inhales deeply and dips her chin. “Fine. You can put your arm around my shoulders. But no PDA. I don’t want to confuse Bailey.”
“That’s fair.”
“Do we need to come up with a backstory? Some funny anecdote about how we met?” she asks.
“We could tell everyone I took over the management of your building and raised your rent so much that you hated my guts.”
Mia laughs again, and the sound of it sends all my blood rushing south. God, she’s beautiful. I can’t stop looking at her. Everything fascinates me: the way her nose scrunches, the lines around her eyes, the shape of her teeth.
Her face settles into a fading smile, and she shakes her head. “I have a feeling this is a terrible idea.”
“Maybe. Just think of the trophy. That’s what I’m doing.”Sort of.
She giggles again, sending another wave of desire rushing through me. I need to get out of here before I break her rules. The need to kiss her is mounting inside me with alarming speed. I stand, but Mia doesn’t step back. Her chest is inches from mine, that sweet face tilted up to hold my gaze.
Her lips—beautiful lips—are begging for a kiss. Her eyes are more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen them, desire sparking.
This woman needs to be reminded that she’s allowed to want. I bet she doesn’t even remember what it’s like to be treated like she deserves, to be worshipped and cherished.
But I already messed up by not telling her I was the one talking to her on the app. I’ve only just regained a bit of ground with her and gotten her to agree to come to Thanksgiving with me. I can’t screw that up by acting like a horny idiot.
“Des…” Her voice is so soft, it makes me ache all over.
Needing to leave before I break the no-kissing rule before we even make it to Colorado, I take a step back. “I should get going.”
