Page 41 of Imperfect Arrangement

There’s some rustling behind me, and I can practically feel her wrapping herself up. After a moment, she speaks again, much calmer this time.

“You can turn around now.”

A SHARK OR AN EVIL CANNOLI?

WILLOW

Ihave never been so mortified in my entire life. And one thing’s for sure—I’m officially boycotting these towels. I don’t care if it means wasting an entire linen closet full of them. No more risking another one of Captain Lick’s possessive antics.

Focus, Willow. Towel-related PTSD can wait.

Right now, I need to face this humiliation head-on, because there’s literally no other way out.

I lift my eyes, doing my best to erase the last few minutes from my memory. We’re not talking about what just happened. Ever. Period.

“You came to say something,” I prompt, trying to steer the conversation back to the land of normal.

“Yes. Yes,” Raymond repeats, like he’s scrambling to reset the vibe.

Thank God it’s awkward for him too.

His eyes drift around the room, and I follow his gaze. The lavender bedding, the dainty cream-colored bed frame, the powder-blue accents on the otherwise white carpet. It’s almost shocking that a room this feminine exists in Raymond Teager’s house, not at all what you’d expect from the infamous brooding bachelor.

“Do you mind coming back to the garden for a few minutes? I need to say something.”

“Yeah, sure.” I nod, probably more times than necessary—anything to end this nightmare a little faster.

“Okay, I’ll wait while you get…” His words trail off, and I can practically see the verbs dancing through his mind—dressed, decent, clothed—all left unsaid.

Raymond spins around, and just as I let out a shaky breath of relief, he whistles again. I can’t freaking believe my eyes as Captain Lick, my own dog, trots after him like they’re lifelong pals, completely abandoning his loyalty to me and cozying up to my biggest business rival. That damn traitor.

Please, God, let this entire night be some twisted dream I’ll wake up from, and preferably soon.

As he reaches the doorway, Raymond glances back over his shoulder, that irritating grin slowly making a reappearance. “I’ll take him outside. We don’t want any more accidents.”

Before I can even think of a reply, he’s gone, leaving me standing here with my pride in tatters and the faint memory of his cocky smile burned into my brain.

Minutes later, I make my way down the stone path, lit by tiny solar lights hidden beneath the rhododendron bushes. The soft glow leads me to the pergola, where Raymond is already seated, looking entirely too comfortable under the twinkle of fairy lights tangled with green vines.

On the table in front of him is a wooden tray with two mugs of steaming hot cocoa and a bottle of Advil. For me?

“Youmade hot cocoa?” I ask, eyeing the foam with a dusting of chocolate powder on top.

He snickers. “Don’t sound so surprised. I can navigate a kitchen.”

I blink, trying to process this latest addition to his résumé of annoying perfection. Of course the man who looks like he belongs in an Armani ad can also whip up comforting drinks like some kind ofHallmarkmovie hero.

“Good to know,” I murmur. “But I pegged you as more of a whiskey guy.”

Raymond leans back in his chair, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin. “Should I be worried that my new nanny is already asking for booze on her first day?”

Without missing a beat, I cross my arms and give him a pointed look. “And here I thought you were trying to patch things up.”

“Shit. Sorry.” His grin vanishes as quickly as it came. He rakes a hand through his hair, looking genuinely remorseful for once. “I swear, it never happens with anyone else. But with you? It’s like every word out of your mouth is bait I can’t resist.”

This time, my chuckle is one hundred percent real. “Trust me, I get it. The way you handled him earlier—it was impressive.” I nod toward Captain Lick, who’s now acting like a model canine citizen, curled up contentedly beside Raymond’s feet.

“I thought he wasn’t much of a walker.”