Page 41 of The Husband Contract

“Okay, I’d better go for a swim. I’m heating up, and I think I need to cool down.”

“Enjoy,” I say. “The water is very cool right now.” I don’t know what else to say. My body feels like it is on fire, as well. “Just like you.”

“I like that you said that,” he says, chuckling. “I’m trying to be cool as well. I just don’t think I’m quite there yet.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“I’m trying to play it cool with you, Willow. I’m taken by you. I feel a deep connection to you, and I don’t want to overwhelm you. I’m trying to play it real cool, but I don’t think that I am.”

“It’s okay,” I say softly. “I don’t mind.”

“You don’t mind that I very desperately want to get to know you better? That I very desperately want to make you a part of my life?”

I shake my head slowly. “I don’t mind at all.”

Because maybe, just maybe, I’m looking forward to that, too. Not that I’m going to tell him that. I don’t want him to know I want to jump his bones.

Chapter Ten

Sebastian

A slender, sultry Willow is waiting in the lobby for me when I get downstairs. She’s wearing a pair of black sweats, pink sneakers, and a tight white T-shirt. She’s got a NY Yankees cap on her head, and she’s talking to her friend, Katherine, who’s standing behind the front desk.

“Good morning, beautiful.” The words come out of my mouth without me even thinking about what I’m saying. “Good morning, Katherine,” I say as I greet her friend, who is also extremely pretty. Willow waves at me, and her friend smiles.

“Hi. Morning, Sebastian.”

“Morning, Mr. Laurence.”

“You don’t have to call me Mr. Laurence. You cancall me Sebastian.”

“Morning, Sebastian,” Katherine says with a wide smile. “Where are you guys going today?”

She looks at me in my shorts and T-shirt and then looks at Willow. “Are you taking him to the museum or—no?”

“We’re going on a hike. I found a really good one about an hour and a half away. That’s okay, right, Willow?”

“Oh, yeah, of course. That sounds awesome.”

“I figured I’d take her to Devil’s Peak. Have you already hiked it?”

Willow’s face goes white, and she licks her lips nervously.

“You okay?” I ask her.

She nods quickly. “Oh, I’m just superstitious. I don’t like going to places where the worddevilis in the name.”

“I think because she’s a good Christian girl,” Katherine says. “But I’ve heard of it.” She frowns slightly as she looks at Willow. “That’s a pretty intense hike, isn’t it?” She makes a face. “Not really one that new?—”

“It sounds great.” Willow half grins and grimaces.

“Are you a good hiker?” Katherine asks me.

“I climbed a couple of mountains and at one point thought I might try to summit Mount Everest, so I would say… I’m not bad.”

“Mount Everest?” Willow looks impressed. “Wow, that’s crazy intense.”

“Well, I haven’t done it yet, but maybe one day we can do it together.”