He cleared his throat, shifting on the couch.“Clara, you’re not expected—”
“No, I don’t mean with me.Of course not.”I X’d my hands through the air.“I know you’d never.And it’s inappropriate.And the contract.”The more I rambled, the stupider I felt.But we needed to get this clear.“I guess what I’m saying is that I, uh, I recognize that you might need to like, uh…step out of this marriage.Not that we’re married yet.But you know, when weare.I just wanted to know what the, uh, guidelines are.For that.”
“For sex?”he finally supplied, looking highly amused.
“Yes.Sex.With other people specifically.”
He rubbed his hand against his jawline, getting lost in thought.“Well, what makes sense for you?”
The question caught me off guard.He assumed I was having sex withanybody?That was sweet of him, but horribly off base.And I’d rather die than admit to him the last person I’d slept with washim, four years ago.
“I’m down with whatever arrangement you thinks work best.I don’t want to jeopardize the inheritance in any way, and with the committee…” I trailed off, unsure what else to add.
“I don’t want to give them any possible excuse to cancel the inheritance,” Nash said, finally swinging his sexy gaze my way.“I’m not planning on continuing any of the relationships that I had previously.I’m fine maintaining that until the contract ends.”
I nodded, trying to swallow the plural “relationships.”I was dying to know how many fuck buddies he had on the regular.Not that I needed to know.
“Yeah, me too,” I hurried to add, so he didn’t think I was a total loser.Wanting to lighten the mood, I added, “Celibacy is fine when there’s this much money on the line.”Didn’t matter that celibacy was standard operating procedure for me, even when I wasn’t getting compensated for it.
“Mm.”His lips curled up at the corner, but I couldn’t read his expression.There was so much behind this man’s eyes, and I was only scratching the surface.
“Mommy?”Mia’s soft voice broke through our couch convo.She appeared at the threshold between the living room and the kitchen, her hair mussed from her nap.She spotted Nash and tucked herself closer to the wall, going shy.
“Hi, honey.Come on out here.”I stood from the couch and walked her way, beckoning her toward me.“How are you feeling?”
“Sick,” she said, but with her three-year-old lisp, it sounded more likethick.Her gaze was stuck on Nash as I smoothed her hair.
“I want you to meet a friend of mine,” I said softly.“His name is Nash.Nash, this is Mia.Say hi, baby.”
Mia partially hid her face against my body as she murmured a quick hello.
“Hi, Mia.It’s so nice to meet you.”Nash leaned forward on the couch, his voice gentle.“Do you help take care of all these plants with your mommy?”
Mia’s eyes lit up and she nodded vehemently.“I water them with her and we take good care.”
“I can tell.I’ve never seen so many awesome plants before.”Nash was locked into this convo with Mia, and I could tell she was lapping up the attention.“What’s your favorite one?”
Mia seriously considered the question before spinning around and pointing at the pothos.Nash grinned, nodding.
“That one is really cool,” Nash agreed.
“She’s my special helper, that’s for sure.”I smoothed her hair, smiling down at her.“She knows just how to water the succulents too.”
“I’ve never been able to keep those alive,” Nash admitted with a laugh.
“There’s a trick to it,” I told him.“If you’re lucky, I’ll teach it to ya.”
Nash’s grin turned mischievous.“I didn’t realize I should have written succulent secrets into the contract.”
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Mia whispered loudly, pulling on my sleeve.
“That’s right.”Nash clapped his hands together and stood.“I’ll get dinner started.Mia, do you like noodles?”
Her eyes lit up and she nodded.
“What about chicken?”
She nodded again.
