AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You could also go a little easy on yourself, you know. If you did sleep with him—"
"No. Absolutely not."
She rolls her eyes. "From the perspective of a woman who, more likely than not, will end up in an arranged marriage, if I were in your shoes, I’d do it."
"Arranged marriage?" I stare. "Is that still a thing?"
"In my family, it is."
I shake my head. "If I were forced into such an arrangement, it would be the end of the world, as far as I'm concerned."
"But if you did sleep with him"—she waggles her fingers—"it wouldn’t be."
* * *
Oh, my god, this is what the end of the world looks like. I’m running late for my first meeting. Also, I’ve been told I don’t have a room in the house. "But I’ve already checked out of the hotel, and I was assured I’d have a room, on the top floor and away from the men."
The woman in charge of admin who met me at the entrance to the house wrings her hands. "I’m sorry for the mix up. But there’s only one master room on the top floor, which is allocated to the captain of the team."
"And which I’m willing to share with her." That detestable voice reaches me over my shoulder.Don’t look. Don’t look at him. Don’t lose your temper, either. You’re a strong accomplished career woman. You’ve worked hard to build a persona and get to where you are. You didn’t even let your bastard ex hold you back—so you might have run from the city where he lives but that was self-preservation. This is a new start with the kind of job anyone in your field would kill for. You've got this. You can do this. You can get through today without losing your temper at that asshat.I glance over my shoulder with a sweet smile. "No, thank you."
He ignores me as he walks over to us. "The room’s the biggest in the house; there’s enough space for the both of us," he addresses his words to the other woman.
"Oh, that’s so nice of you," she says with a grateful smile. "I have no idea how this mix-up happened. And the other rooms are taken by the players." She turns to me. "This is a great solution, until we can work something else out."
"No, it’s not." A migraine begins to thrum behind my eyes. I rub at my temple. "I can’t share the room with him."
"Yes, you can," Rick says in that calm voice that sends my blood pressure shooting.
My pulse rate spikes. Tension churns my stomach. This can’t be happening. Nope, no way. "Can you understand how uncomfortable this could be for me?" I turn on the woman. "Imagine if you were in my place. How would you feel?"
She looks from me to the hulking figure next to me, then back at me. "I’d thank my lucky stars."
The douche next to me shoots her a warm smile. What the—? I’ve never seen him smile before. Honestly. And he’s turning the full effect of his curved lips on this woman who turned my life upside down.
"Thank you, Rick. You’re a life saver." She flutters her false eyelashes at him. "If you need anything—"
"We’re good," I snap.
She looks between us again, then nods. "I’ll try my best to clear things up and allocate you another room."
I open my mouth to tell her off, but she scampers out of there.
In the ensuing silence, I refuse to look at him. Iwill not throw a tantrum. Will not stamp my foot. Will not allow my frustration to show. I will be the best version of myself.I secure my handbag under my arm, then reach for my suitcase. "Where’s the elevator in this place?"
9
Rick
"There isn’t one."
"What?" She slowly straightens. Her eyes flicker with those golden sparks which only happens when she’s close to losing control. Something I’d love to see happen. Woman is wound tighter than a goalie at a shootout. It can’t be good for her to keep all that tension locked in. Says the man who’s used to never showing his feelings, either. The two of us have more in common than she realizes.
"No elevator. This is a private townhouse. Also, we’re on the fourth floor."
"The fourth floor?" She pales.
"Yep, and we’re running late." I brush past her, heading for the steps, and she cries, "Wait, aren’t you going to help me carry my bag?"
