Page 110 of Scandalous Contract

What the absolute fuck?

“Julian?” I asked hesitantly.

The bear didn’t respond at first. But then, my suspicion was confirmed.

“Hello, sweet Stefanie.” His voice was smooth. Too smooth. Too real. Too... not pre-recorded. “You look beautiful today.”

I gasped, lurching back on the couch. “Oh my God,” I whispered. “Julian?”

Could he see me? How? My gaze roamed over the bear. Then I saw it. How had I missed the tiny red dot that blinked from just under the bowtie?

“You put a camera in this bear?” I shrieked, half-impressed, half-horrified.

“I did,” he admitted, not sounding the least bit ashamed.

This motherfucker!“Julian Cattaneo, you know this is illegal, right?”

He chuckled, a deep, sultry sound that rolled over me, making me want things that I had no business wanting.

“Stefanie, I would break into a prison to get to you if I had to. I’d kill to be with you. I’m not concerned with what’s legal and what’s not.”

Why did that sound romantic to my crazy ass?

“You... You should be!” I stuttered. “You could go to jail for this.”

“All’s fair in love and war, Stefanie.”

I gaped at the bear. “You’re spying on me through a stuffed animal, Julian!”

“I wouldn’t call it spying,” he said, voice light and teasing. “It’s more like... keeping an eye on someone I care about. Besides, I wanted to see your face when you hugged it.”

My level of mortification had never been this high!

“This is insane,” I whispered, still not believing this was happening to me.

“You’re right. This is crazy. I guess it’s because I’m crazy about you.”

“That’s no excuse.”That was the perfect excuse. Fuck, was I toxic?

“I have no excuses,” he replied. “I’m just stating facts.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. I opened it again, only to shut it once more. I had no words.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Julian said.

I narrowed my eyes. “Which one?”

“Can I have you, Stefanie Adams?”

Throat dry, I looked away. “Julian...”

“I get it,” he said, voice softer now. “You’re not feeling very brave about us. I can understand that. I just need you to understand this. You don’t have to be brave yet. Take your time and work up your courage. For now, I’ll be brave enough for both of us.”

He made it sound so simple. And I truly wished it could be that simple. But I knew it couldn’t. I swallowed hard, a whirlwind of emotions swirling around me. There was so much I wished I could say.

I wish I could explain why this could never work. But I couldn’t tell him the truth. So, half-truths were all I could give.

“It’s not just about being brave. There’s so much more to this. Our age difference. Our connection through India. Your sister is her roommate. It’s all just... messy.”