Laila laughs when she sees me. "I thought that stockbrokers made decent money. You haven't bought yourself decent pajamas?"
I stick my bottom lip out. "In my family, buying me pajamas is my mother's department. Every Christmas I get two new sets which I promptly donate to charity." I slip into bed beside her. "I don't have the heart to tell her I get incredibly overheated at night and really don't wear them unless it’s truly freezing."
She bursts into laughter. "So what you're saying is that you usually sleep naked."
"In the winter I wear boxers. Sometimes."
She laughs even harder. After she settles down, she adds, "Well, I appreciate you making an effort for my sake."
I pull the sheet up to my chin, my eyes wide. "I also can't have you judging me on how little time I've had to work out recently. What if my pecs aren't toned enough for my beautiful wife's liking? She might leave me."
Laila giggles, then turns to look at the fire. "It really is cozy here. So much better than my house full of people and cameras."
"But it's your family. It can't really be that bad, can it?"
She sighs deeply. "Megan is completely obsessed with fixing me up with her fiancé's best friend, Bryce."
It feels like my entire body wants to growl, but I restrain myself. "You don't like the guy?"
She turns to shoot me a dark look over her shoulder. "Would you like someone who never stops bragging about how rich theirfather is, and who openly pities people who have to work for a living? Someone who describes what I do as “a cute girl job”? Someone who feels free to put their hands all over me when the cameras are out, using the excuse that it's just for the photo and he didn't mean it?"
My voice drops. "When we get back, and I drop you off at your house, I would like you to introduce me to this…person."
I pronounce the wordpersonthe same way I wouldcockroach. Orvermin.
Laila's eyes sparkle. "Is my new husband that overprotective already?"
"Damn right." I'm not a violent person, but the thought of any man touching this lovely young lady against her will makes me need to…Well, let’s just say visions of my hand wrapping around a stranger's throat just before I toss him into a wall spring to mind. That surprises me a little.
"Speaking of which," I say gently. “This is a large bed. But if I accidentally bump into you in my sleep, please, I beg you – push me away. Kick me. Poke me with an elbow. Whatever it takes. Don't think for a second that you have to be polite. Okay?"
"Deal. Now…" She lies on her back, her hair fanned out across the pillow. "Could you please explain your industry to me in a way I'll understand? If we've been married for a bit, I must know something about your work."
If Laila only knew how beautiful she is, and the amount of concentration it is going to take for me to run through Stock Markets 101 while staring at her lovely lips and sparkling eyes.
This weekend is going to be an exercise in self-control. Discipline.
Even though I'm going to be thinking up every possible excuse to be close to my sweet fake wife.
5
LAILA
It’s quiet. Blissfully quiet.
Megan and her shrieking friends must have left for the day.
There's a faint whoosh beside my ear. I don’t remember leaving the white noise app running on my phone, but…
I slowly open an eye, feeling unbelievably cozy. My entire body is surrounded by low, steady warmth.
The room begins to come into focus, and I realize I'm staring at a fireplace.Right. I'm at a mountain chalet with?—
A thick arm around my stomach tightens slightly.
The wall of heat enveloping me is Devin.
His leg is pressed completely to the back of mine. His firm torso is pressed tight against my back like a personal heating pad. His muscular arm is wrapped around my waist, and my bottom arm is reaching up and holding his hand.
