Michaela isn’t a mail-order bride. This is a business deal. Therefore, this arrangement comes with certain self-imposed restrictions. But damn if I’ve gone from needing her to wanting her. I want to tame this firecracker more than I want my next breath. If she’s this explosive, I can imagine what it’s like in the bedroom.
Sending her running for the hills wouldn’t do either of us any good, König.
I coax the beast raging between my legs to behave.
She’s staring at me with a cocked eyebrow, indicating she remains unconvinced.
“I will respect the boundaries of our fake wedding and I’ll keep it in my pants,” I say.
“I’m glad to hear we’re on the same page,” she says.
“The timeline is tight,” I say, changing the subject. “Sleep on it and let’s talk early tomorrow. How does that sound, Michaela?”
“Okay,” she says. “By the way, you can call me Mikki. Everyone else does Do you have a nickname?”
“I much prefer Michaela,” I say. “I don’t particularly like nicknames, so don’t ever get it in your head to call me Nix.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugs. “I was trying to create a rapport between us.”
“There are much better ways of doing that.”
She squirms in her seat.
I bite off a smile.
“Three hundred and sixty-five days, Michaela, and you’ll save your family’s legacy.”
She offers a shy nod.
“The meeting is adjourned.” I pause for effect. “But I’m too much of a gentleman to flip you the bird.”
Her face drops.
She didn’t see that one coming.
Chapter 9
Michaela
I’m back at Rhys’s place.
I had a lengthy conversation with my father about my meeting with Phoenix. He’s relieved we buried the hatchet long enough to set things in motion. Daddy reminded me time is of the essence because he’s choking in debt.
Copy that.
Once I ended the call with my father, I joined Keira for dinner. We’re sitting where we sat this morning, but nothing is the same.
After a light dinner—because I was still stuffed from my delicious lunch on Phoenix’s yacht—I spill my guts to my friend. She’s the only person on this planet other than my father I can confide in. I’m so grateful I don’t have to keep this fake marriage charade a secret from her. I can’t imagine having to deal with all of this on my own.
Since my mind is still a bit jumbled from everything that’s transpired in my life since I woke up, I blurt out everything in one go. I expected my friend to be shocked, but nothing like this.
“Say something,” I say.
She stares at me like a deer caught in headlights.
“Keira.”
She shakes her head. “You woke up this morning unaware your life was going to take an unexpected turn.”
