The Contract (The Contract 1)

“Another asshole moment?”

“A big one,” I acknowledged. “I was angry at you—but it passed quickly.”

“I think you were allowed.”

“I’ll get someone in to clean up.”

She shook her head with a grin. “It’s not bad. We can get it done fast.” Bending, she picked up her bag. “But you’re ordering dinner and doing the dishes.”

I grabbed my bag, following her through the condo. “There you go—issuing orders.”

“Get used to it.” She turned her head and winked.

I swatted her ass, causing her to yelp and try to hurry ahead of me. She tripped, almost falling on the steps, except I lunged, catching her around the waist. “Sorry, sweetheart. I forgot about your leg. Are you okay?”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’m fine. You can carry me the rest of the way, though.”

Lifting her, I captured her mouth with mine and kept it there all the way to our room. Inside the doorway, I set her on her feet, releasing her lips. “Welcome home, Mrs. VanRyan.”

She smiled up at me, running her fingers along my jaw. “You’re scruffier than normal.”

“I’ll shave later.”

“I kinda like it.”

“Then I’ll leave it.”

Rising on the balls of her feet, she pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Okay.” She glanced around. “Where do you want to start?”

I sat down on the mattress, pulling her beside me. “I didn’t change the sheets. They smelled like you—like us, and I couldn’t . . .” My voice trailed off. “I couldn’t.”

“I’m here now.”

“I know.” I stood up. “I’ll get your things. I want them back in here. They never should have left.”

“We weren’t ready. We are now.”

“Yep.”

“All right, then. Let’s get started.”I stepped out of the shower, toweling my hair. Entering the bedroom, I looked around with a low sigh. Katy had moved in. Her clothes were in the closet and dresser, her lotions and girly things in the bathroom. Her bedside table held her books, and her scent was already in the air. She’d been a little shocked when she saw the mess I had made in her room, but she had it straightened while I carried things back and forth.

I dragged on some sweats and a T-shirt and jogged downstairs. The bottles, papers, and broken glass were cleared away, the kitchen already back in order. She sat at the counter, a bottle of wine open, and a glass waiting for me. I took a sip, appreciating the bold flavor of the red wine.

“Dinner?”

She looked up from her book. “Pizza is in the oven, waiting.”

I grabbed some plates and set down the box between us. We ate in silence, and although it wasn’t an uncomfortable one, I wanted to know what she was thinking. She seemed contemplative.

I covered her hand with mine. “Where did you go, Katy? What are you thinking about over there?”

She smiled, flipping her hand so our palms pressed together. “I was remembering my first dinner with you. We had pizza and wine that night, too.”

“We did.”

“I was incredibly nervous. I didn’t know what you wanted to discuss with me. You never spoke to me in the office unless it was to bark out an order or tell me what I was doing wrong. Sitting beside you, I had no idea what to expect. I couldn’t believe what you had to say.”

I smirked. “I couldn’t believe I was asking you—Miss Elliott—the bane of my existence, to live with me and pretend to be my fiancée.” I shook my head. “I was a rat bastard to you, wasn’t I?”

“Yes, you were.”

“I’m not sure I can ever apologize enough.”

“Stop trying. That was then, this is now.” She laced our fingers together and squeezed. “I like now.”

I lifted our joined hands, kissing her knuckles. “So do I.”

“We still have to face the Gavin family.”

Releasing her hand, I reached for my wine. “I know. I’ll call Graham in the morning. I’m sure we’ll be summoned to their house in due course.”

“What do you think will happen?”

“I don’t know. I expected him to fire me on the spot. When he told me he already suspected I was lying, I was certain of it.” I huffed out a laugh. “Of course, nothing is what I expect anymore, so I’m not the best judge of the situation.”

“Are you prepared for him to fire you?”

“I dread it, to be honest, but if it happens, then we move and start again. I certainly won’t get a reference from him or David. I can only hope my work speaks for itself. Brian can help me with his contacts and I have some of my own. Clients I’ve worked with in the past and such.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then we stay. I want to stay. I want to work for Graham. It’ll take some time, but I’ll show him he can trust me. I’ll work my ass off for him and his company.”