It’s the kiss. That damn kiss at the courthouse changed everything for me.
My parents are aware of the arrangement and served as witnesses to our ceremony. “Kiss the bride!” my mother had heckled. It doesn’t matter how awkward a situation is, you can always depend on Mom to clown around.
However, when Dex kissed me, it was the farthest thing from a joke.
I was so shocked by the softness of his lips, I gasped, opening enough for our tongues to touch, turning the ceremonial kiss into something more.
The pleasure of his tongue’s slow yet firm strokes astounded me. Warm hands cradled my face to tilt my head back. He delved deeply, heightening my senses and awakening my hunger. The sensual pressure of his lips weakened my knees, so I had to grab his shirt to keep myself standing. When his thumb touched the scar behind my ear, the subtle graze intensified the most erotic kiss of my life. I moaned and softened in a way that makes me blush, even now.
Then came the moment I realized that I had made a stupid and reckless mistake. If you’re going to kiss the most important person in your life for the first time, it shouldn’t be on your freaking wedding day!
Why didn’t anyone tell me that kissing my husband was going to ruin everything?
I clear my throat and ask, too chirpily, “Got any work for me today?”
Part of the arrangement is that I’ll be functioning as his personal assistant in exchange for room, board, and, well, a chance to return to a normal existence after my world fell apart. I’m eager to earn at least a portion of the benefits I’m getting out of our arrangement.
Apparently, moving to this “urban farmhouse”—am I ever going to use that term without quotation marks?—comes with more responsibilities than owning a downtown condo.
My focus, at least in the next month or so, will be furnishing and organizing his new home.
Dex is also the captain of a team amid a playoff-worthy season. Leading a young, dynamic group like the Mavericks, Dex will be expected to throw a few parties for his teammates during the year we’re living together. My job will be to support him in all of his responsibilities, including celebrating the team’s successes.
“The only work you’re doing tonight is stuffing your face with dinner,” he declares confidently. “I made our favorite mac and cheese.”
I clasp my hands in anticipation. “With smoked sausage?”
Before mac and cheese purists unleash their scorn, let me say: don’t knock it till you try it. We got the recipe from a barbecue place we discovered during a summer vacation in Memphis years ago.
Smoked sausages are life-changing.
“Obviously, yes,” he confirms.
“Where can I freshen up?” I ask, walking toward my bags. “Can’t wait to stuff my face with your smoked sausage.”
I stutter-step, because what the hell did I just blather?
He’s a good friend, though, so Dex clears his throat and pretends I don’t sound like a complete pervert.
I blame the kiss.
Chapter 2
Dexter
Promising healthcare benefits instead of a lifetime of love does not make for an ideal marriage proposal.
But it was the timely proposal, nonetheless. Calculating the financial costs of Sabrina’s injuries, I offered the solution of marriage before it even occurred to her to ask for help.
When Sabrina’s parents called me with the news of her car crash, my vision tunneled and my heart stalled. Hearing the worst news of my life took my legs out from under me. I had collapsed against a wall and slid down on my ass like those inflatable tube figures outside of car dealerships when they’re unplugged.
The threat of losing my best friend hit me like my own crash.
It took a lot of convincing by me and her parents, but Sabrina eventually agreed to marry me.
So, here we are: best friends for decades, husband and wife for a couple of months, and platonic housemates for the last two weeks.
Living with her is both the easiest and the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
