Page 9

Ken

The Hamptons morning sun fills our suite as I watch Bree get ready for sailing. She's humming while she applies sunscreen, still glowing from last night. My body stirs at the memory—her taste, her sounds, the way she came apart in my arms.

"You're staring," she says, catching my eye in the mirror.

"Can't help it." I move behind her, pressing a kiss to her neck. "You're beautiful in the morning."

She leans back against me, fitting perfectly. "Last night was..."

"Yeah." I turn her to face me. "It was."

Her fingers trace my chest, and I capture her hand, bringing it to my lips. This feels dangerous—too real, too right.

"Ken." Her voice is soft. "I've been thinking."

"Dangerous habit."

"This is working, isn't it? Us? The way you handle Matthews, how Dad respects you..."

"It's working. "

“We are a great team.”

“Happy you feel the same way I do.” I study her face, trying to read where this is going.

“I guess I do. I’ve realized you’re just what I needed. So… what if..." She takes a breath. "What if we didn't stop?"

"Stop what?"

"This. Us." She steps back, reaching for her purse. "I talked to the board's compensation committee yesterday."

My stomach drops. "About?"

"A special consulting contract." She pulls out an envelope and hands it to me.

"One hundred thousand per month, plus benefits. Here’s the first check.

The official version would be that we're hiring you for PR to the company, but you and I would know it's really a contract for you to keep being my ‘partner.’”

The room goes silent except for the distant sound of waves.

“I see.”

“That would be another little secret just between you and me."

“And by benefits you mean you’d keep sleeping with me?”

“Well, I haven’t heard you complain about that.”

I stare at the envelope, remembering another one just like it, left on my nightstand three years ago.

"Wow. That’s generous." My voice is cold now. "Better than the five hundred. I guess this means I’ve been promoted."