Page 35 of The Husband Contract

“So, she’s hot-hot?”

“You saw her. She looked fine at the Magnolia Club.”

“I wouldn’t say she washot-hotwhen we saw her.”

“She’s got one of those kinds of beauty that’ll stop you in your tracks if you see her on the street.”

“So she’s bewitched you.” There’s silence for a few seconds. “Do I need to come down there?”

“What? Why?”

“Because I don’t want to find out you’ve given away ten million, as well.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not giving away anything, at least nothing that’s going to hurt me.” There’s a knock on the door, and I pause, my heart racing. “Hello?” I shout out.

“It’s me, Willow,” she says through the door. “I have your breakfast.”

“Okay, give me a second,” I say. “Hey, Jack, she’s here.”

“Oh, shit,” he laughs. “She’s there for some morning sex?”

“No, it’s a bed and breakfast. She brought mebreakfast.”

“Oh, I see.” He chuckles. “Isshethe breakfast?”

“Get your mind out of the gutter.” I cackle. “I mean, if she wants tobethe breakfast, I wouldn’t say no, but it’s a little early for that.”

“Tell me if you think the same thing tomorrow.”

“We’ll see. I gotta go.” I hang up and head toward the door. When I open it, Willow’s standing there. Her hair’s in a bun, she’s wearing a T-shirt and a long skirt, and she’s holding a tray. “Morning.”

“Morning,” she says. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“You didn’t.” I sniff. “It smells good.”

“Freshly brewed coffee. African beans. Ethiopian, to be exact.”

“I love Ethiopian beans.”

“I had a feeling you would.” She grins. “Now, I haveto admit, I’m not sure if the Dutch apple pancakes came out the way you like, but it was my first time making them.”

You made them?I stare at her in surprise. “Not the chef?”

“Well… sometimes I’m the chef.” She laughs. “Not all the time. Sometimes it’s Katherine, sometimes Brielle. We all take turns. But they were off this morning, so… anyway, I hope you like it.” She carries the tray over, sets it down, then turns to me. “Is there anything else I can help you with right now?”

“There may… How did you sleep last night?” I ask.

“Fine, thank you. And you?”

“Well, I was thinking about our date and how I’d like to take you on another.”

“You’d like to take me on aseconddate?” she says, smiling shyly.

“Would you like that?”

She blushes and looks down, and I think to myself,How can she be such a good actress? How can she seem so genuine, so sweet?Then I see it—a sparkling diamond on her right hand that I didn’t notice before. I still. “Oh. Is that new?” I nod toward her fingers.

Her eyes widen slightly, as though she doesn’t want to answer. She licks her lips.