“I’m going to go check on Van. We said we’d FaceTime Teddy this afternoon.” Jackson exited with a bit more decorum. “Just to point it out, we are trying to leave you on your own to get shit sorted.”
I looked at Sophie. She didn’t look back. Her gaze was fixed on anything but me.
I waited until Jackson was out of earshot. Seph was dicking around with Lainey, his cousin, and another friend of Victoria’s. The others were in the large hot tub, leaving me and Sophie alone.
And out of earshot.
“We need to call a truce.”
“Is that possible when your tongue is made from serrated blades dipped in poison?”
I didn’t try to hold back the laugh. “That’s actually really fucking quick. Had you been saving it?”
“I’m not saving anything for you, buster.”
Her glare was dramatic. Her words couldn’t hide the tease in her tone.
I didn’t soften my stance, even though most of it was hidden underwater. My arms folded over my chest, I glared at her, but I knew I was smirking.
“Buster?”
She shrugged and shifted to sit in on the chiselled out platform in the pool.
I stared at her tits, not even trying to hide what I was doing.
“You needn’t be so blatant.”
“You’re going to be my wife. I’d be remiss if I didn’t.”
“So we’re still on for this charade?” She left the seat and fully immersed herself into the water.
There was a look of bliss that crossed her face that had my mind going somewhere it shouldn’t.
Lying to myself at this point was an exercise in futility: I found most things about her a massive turn on. Most. Not her smart mouth or her inability to be co-operative.
“It would be easier for me to pay someone to be my wife and buy it that way.” I stared at her, ignoring the milky skin just above where her bikini top stopped.
“I think the owner would know that person wasn’t me, and as any of my ex-husbands could tell you, I’m not for sale.” She gave the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. “And after your childish tantrum last night, I’m not sure this is a good idea. You’re a complete dick so why I’m still considering it, I don’t know.”
“Because you want a base here.”
“Business.”
“Base. You like this place as much as I do. I could tell when I was watching your face when you saw the lights last night.”
“Creeper much.” The smile was genuine now. “It was amazing.”
“The lights or what came after.”
She responded by flicking water at me and I heard myself laugh. “We need to set out some terms.”
“We do. We need the plans of the building. Decide how it would be divided. Agree that we don’t kiss each other unless it’s for show. Or touch. Or have nothing to do with each other unless it’s to do with business.” Her chin was set firmly.
I managed not to laugh at her. “You seem to be protesting too much.”
She gave no response, but the look she shot me would’ve shrunk most men’s balls into raisins.
“And you owe me an apology for last night.”
