Page 16 of Kyle

He gestured towards the ingredients. "What kind?"

The lifting of that brow again and the coolly amused look on her round face made him feel as if he was two.

"Loaded. Ham, cheese, salami, lettuce, tomatoes. The list goes on. I did not have much to eat at that joke of a ceremony. You want?"

"Thanks. We both agree it's a joke."

"Oh, absolutely."

She had finished the dicing and slicing and was cutting off chunks of wheat bread. "I thought you would have been out of here by now."

"Where would I go?"

Lifting her head, she gave him an arched look. "You really want me to answer that?"

She had finished loading the sandwich. Sliding it onto a plate, she pushed it across to him.

"I have to be discreet."

He muttered. Picking up half the sandwich, he bit in and closed his eyes in satisfaction.

"I suppose. Poor Kyle and what's the actress' name?"

His eyes darkened at her amused tone.

"I refuse to talk about her with you."

Turning to grab another plate, she prepared her sandwich. "Are you in love with her?"

"That's none of your damned business. We're married in name only, so I don't owe you an explanation."

"In name only?"

A smile curved her lips, and he was made painfully aware that she had very sexy lips. The bottom one made him think of a juicy ripe plum. "You do realize that eventually we're going to have to have sex, right?"

Forcing himself not to jolt at the words, he tried to stare her down. "I don't want to think about it."

"The rents, as in the grandparents, expect us to copulate and produce an heir or two."

"And that doesn't bother you?" he demanded.

"Not really."

She shrugged and settled on the stool, intending to enjoy her sandwich. "The way I see it, we plan for it. Not now, because," she bit into her sandwich and eyed him, eyes twinkling. "We're going to have to get used to the idea. And I have my work, projects up to my ears. Another thing. Marriages in both sides of our families have proven to be unsuccessful or painful to say the least. At least we went into this with our eyes wide open. We dislike each other and there's no pretense."

He simply stared at her, unable to believe she could be so cool about the entire thing.

"It doesn't bother you that we're not in love?"

She laughed, a sultry low sound that sent his nerves dancing. Her teeth were very white, and her dimples dipped into her cheeks. My God, he thought dazedly. She was beautiful.

"Love."

She scoffed. "Something I can do without."

She eyed him curiously. "But it's obviously a complication for you and the actress."

She shrugged. "Tough deal."