Page 31 of Slumming It

I worked only four shifts a week, but asking for fewer hourstherewasn't exactly an option because I was working the bare minimum as it was. Plus, my tips were the only thing keeping food in our fridge.

Vivian's eyes filled with new understanding. "Sorry, I forgot. I mean, I didn't forget-forget. I just wasn't thinking, that's all." She straightened. "You know what? If you really like him, you should go for it." She gave me a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "We'll manage here somehow."

Andthiswas one of the many reasons I loved her.

I was dying to tell her which guy I meant, but until I saw the nondisclosure agreement, I figured the less said, the better.

Until then, I only had tomorrow to worry about.And really, how bad could it be?

Chapter 11

Emily

I stared at the clothing laid out on the bed. "You can't be serious."

Standing next to me, Reese Murdock replied, "I can. And I am."

We were alone in the hotel room adjacent to his. Laid out across the bed was a pair of Daisy Duke shorts along with a red flannel shirt – cut for a woman, not a man.

I turned to face him. "Why can't I wear what I'm wearing?"

The truth was, I'd put an embarrassing amount of time into my appearance – even in spite of the fact that I'd waitressed through the night. This morning, after catching barely two hours of sleep, I'd changed outfits at least a dozen times before settling on a basic black skirt and emerald green blouse.

I'd even pulled out my highest black heels along with the most valuable thing I owned – an emerald ring that I'd inherited from my grandmother.

On top ofthat, I'd taken extra care with my hair and makeup, hoping to look my very best. And now, he was telling me that I had to change?

In reply to my question, he said, "Because I'm paying you to."

I felt my eyes narrow. "Not to wear your choice of clothing, but to show you around."

He gave me a cold look."Andplay make-believe."

As if I needed the reminder."Yeah, so?"

"So you're playing a part. Deal with it." His mouth tightened. "Or not. Your choice."

I felt my own mouth tighten accordingly.Again with the choice thing?

I turned and gave the clothing another look. Thanks to the internet, I'd seen plenty of photos of Reese Murdock with various women. Without exception, all of them had been wearing the very latest fashions even when it came to casual wear.

I was no fashionista myself, but I knew one thing for darn sure. None of those women would be caught dead in that getup, especially in September, which was too late for Daisy Dukes and too early for red flannel.

Sure, the outfit was cute in a country sort of way, but I still didn't like it – not the outfit itself, but his arrogant assumption that I would wear whatever clothing he tossed onto the bed.

And to think, we were less than five minutes into our arrangement.

This morning, at 11:59 a.m., I'd knocked on his hotel room door only to have him pull it open with no greeting whatsoever and usher both of us straight into the neighboring hotel room, where he'd pointed to the assembled clothing and announced that it would be my uniform for the day.

There had been no discussion of money, and I'd seen no sign of the infamous nondisclosure agreement – the one that had seemed so important to him yesterday.

To say we were getting off to a bad start would be like saying Lake Superior was a little chilly in winter.

I was still staring at the clothing when he said, "You can change in the bathroom."

I whirled to face him. "Oh, can I?"

"Unless you wanna do it here."