Page 21 of The Arrangement

I’d laugh if I weren’t annoyed.

“I would never marry someone to win a fucking bet,” I say, exasperated with the conversation. “Who does that?”

If I weren’t so determined to end this conversation with Tate, I’d warn Renn to wipe the smug look off his face.

“I’m not saying to marry someone to win a bet,” Tate says like I’m a child. “I’m just saying that in three years, you’ll almost be forty.”

“Your point?”

He laughs. “If you haven’t found someone, fallen in love, and married them by then, my point stands. And, therefore, I win.”

The swipe at my age—something Tate loves to point out at every opportunity—isn’t lost on me.

Bastard.

“I have work to do,” I say. “Scram.”

They head for the door, chuckling to themselves. I follow them to ensure they actually leave.

“I’ll let Gannon know the Royals is a go,” Renn says.

“Waste his time. That’ll be fun for you,” I say.

Renn groans.

“Be nice to Calvin on your way out,” I say. “Otherwise, I’ll have Ford assign him to your details.”

The sun dips behind the trees as my brothers step onto the porch. I gaze across the lawn, inhaling a lungful of clean air. Renn and Tate chatter back and forth as they head to the driveway.

“The bet stands,” Tate says, opening his car door. “I’ll be researching charities. I might go for something new this time. Maybe an animal rescue or a clean water initiative.”

“Fuck off,” I say.

“Love you, too.” He laughs. “See you later.”

“Later.”

“Bye, Jase,” Renn says.

“Bye.”

I shut the door and lock it, wishing I could lock out the non-possibilities from floating through my head … along with Tate’s words.

“You’re hardheaded as fuck. You’re used to being in control … of situations, airplanes, and corporations. We don’t help your hero complex because we defer to you, too.”

This is true and not new information. I’ve known this for years. But what gets me—what rubs me the wrong way—is that Tate seems to think I’m destined for a life alone.Does he think I’m incapable of love? Or unlovable?

I hate that it bothers me, but it does. And I can’t deny that I wish this were a bet I could win.

I groan and head back to my office.

But I can’t deny it’s impossible to win this one, either.

Chapter 6

Chloe

“No, Mr. Rigglen, I’m sorry. Mr. Brewer is unavailable next week,” I say, glancing at Jason’s calendar again. “The only dates available are the ones I included in my email.”