“More like trying to figure out why you feel the need to be wearing any such shirt to begin with. Though I do love seeing you walk around in my oversized button-downs.”
Her dark eyebrow arches up. “Ahh. The inner caveman is making an appearance this fine Monday morning, I see.”
“Mm-hmm.” Nuzzling my face between her breasts, I nod in confirmation, letting a staggering wave of possessiveness wash over me.
That white shirt currently riding up her thigh is mine. The pillow that she’s hugging is mine. And even though this arrangement of ours is only temporary, this smart, feisty woman is mine, too.
For now, at least.
Unable to help myself, I reach under the covers and pinch her butt. Her eyes shoot open, meeting my gaze for the first time all morning as she giggles.
Then she stops to observe my face. “Why are you grinning like that? What happened?” Jules murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.
“I closed the deal with those assholes.”
She shoots upright, looking much more alert. “When?” She squints at the clock. “It’s not even seven.”
I shrug. “I got the confirmation a few minutes ago. They invited me into their group chat and sent their preliminary offer.”
“Oh, Lincoln!” Eyes wide with excitement, she throws her arms around my neck. “Congratulations!”
I bask in the softness of her body against mine. “It’s not the most generous deal, but it checks most of my boxes. So as soon as we all sign the paperwork, it’ll be official. I’ll be the newest partner at WinningEdge Sports Management.”
It’s a bittersweet victory. A decade of eighty-hour work weeks all comes down to this. One text thread that ties my career to a handful of strangers.
Leaning back, Jules searches my eyes and asks a question I wasn’t expecting. “But are you happy?”
I hesitate. This is what I wanted. It is. Regardless of how I feel about those sleazeballs, this is my best shot at setting my family up financially.
“Yeah,” I finally answer with a nod I hope is reassuring. “Yeah. I did it.Wedid it. Finally closed this damn deal. Thanks to you.”
A sleepy grin stretches across Jules’s make-up free face.
Cradling the back of her head, I pull her into me for a kiss.
It’s not long before the heat starts to rise between us. Unable to keep my hands off her, I tug her half-naked body into my arms. “You know, I was thinking, since work is about to become busy for a while, we should get away together next weekend. Just you and me,” I make sure to specify this time.
Jules’s brow arches high. “Huh?”
“Yeah. Why not? We deserve a little time away. The past few weeks have been intense. Plus, we didn’t even have a honeymoon or anything.”
Jules stares at me with hesitation. “Lincoln, our marriage isn’t real. We filled out a business contract, not a wedding registry.”
“I know, I know. But your great-grandmotherdidcreate that honeymoon fund for us. What were you planning to do with that? Give it all back?”
I try to justify my proposal. It’s outside the scope of our deal. But who are we kidding? We left that marriage contract in the dust weeks ago.
Jules chews on her bottom lip. “Well…I…”
I’m not afraid to beg. “Hear me out. One weekend. No meetings. No laundry. No stress. Just me and you. Somewhere private. This is the perfect, airtight excuse to take a much-needed vacation with my wife. I know we could both use one.”
I hold her gaze, trying to convey what my words can’t. I really do want this time with her, away from the pretense of this fake marriage and the pressure of our families. I need to recharge, and the only way I know how is with her.
“Come on,” I coax her, my palm skimming up and down her spine. “I know the perfect place.”
Her nose crinkles and she gets that faraway look in her eyes as she takes her time mulling it over.
Say yes. Please say yes.
