Page 90 of Not In The Contract

We were regulars at this restaurant, but so were at least a dozen of my fellow classmates, and the last thing I needed was for them to hear Tamera cry about shipping me off to a convent tobe with my people.

“You may as well have been.” Tamera sighed. “You were so picky that I’m surprised you even allowed Alex anywhere near you.”

“I kind of hate you right now.” I pouted.

“Oh, you love me.” She giggled. “I can’t help teasing you! I’ve listened to you harp on about finding theoneand now that you have, I need to exercise the rest of my material.”

“Who said Alex was the one?” I asked, my heart kicking into high gear at the mere suggestion that Alex might be the one for me.

Tamera side-eyed me, and then pointed out the window. “Tell me, honey, what color is the sky out there?”

I rolled my eyes. “Blue.”

“That’s right, and what about the grass where those trolls are scheming?”

“The grass is green and those arechildren, and they’re not scheming. They’re playing.”

“Potato, po-tah-to,” she huffed. “The point is you’re in a lot deeper than you think, and I know you’re a big girl, but I don’t want to see you get hurt. I can’t kick a billionaire’s ass. I’d be behind bars before I could lift my Chelsea boot off the ground.”

I snorted and squeezed her hand. “What do I do?” I asked.

Tamera took a deep breath and blew it out. “You talked to her about it, right?”

I nodded. “We agreed that there’s something there and we should let it develop naturally,” I explained.

Tamera nodded in approval. “Then that’s exactly what you’re going to do,” she said. “Work on your research and explore whatever is going on there.”

“What if,” I paused, gnawing on my bottom lip. “What if it’s nothing?”

Tamera shrugged. “Then it’s nothing,” she said. “Then you finish your research, get your PhD, and move on. If it’s nothing, let it be that. Let it be something fun you shared with someone you cared about. Not everything has to be a groundbreaking romance, you know.”

“Says the sap who’s texting heart emojis to Katya.”

“Hey,” she said, pointing a finger at me in defense. “You do fun your way, and I’ll do fun my way. Our differences are what make us such a great team. When I’m dumb, you need to be smart for me. And when you’re pining after losing a love interest that hasn’t even rejected you…”

She left the remainder of that sentence unsaid, but I knew what she was saying. As many times as I’d plucked her up off the ground, sobbing and heartbroken, I knew she’d do the same for me.

“I get it.” I sighed. “I just wish things could be a little less complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, I feel like the timing is off.”

“She wasn’t going to propose to you after one night.” Tamera frowned. “I mean, I’m sure you’re a hit in the sack, but people have boundaries.”

“Be serious for once!” I groaned.

“No, I’d rather irritate you to the ends of the Earth.” She giggled. “At least it makes you smile.”

30. Easier Said Than Done

Alex

Iglaredatmycomputer screen, willing the words to make sense to my thoroughly distracted brain. For the first time in decades I was at war with my own mind, fighting to pay attention to the things that needed it. My mind, on the other hand, had different plans.

Just one, really. Devon.

She’d monopolized the limited real estate in my head until she’d woven herself into each thought. It was even worse when she was in the same room with me. No matter how hard I tried, my gaze drifted back to her, wherever she sat. From meetings to site visits, she turned my gaze like my body was keenly attuned to her presence, and it was driving me mad.