10
SOME FRIENDLY RIBBING
REN
Cassidy Logan is goingto be the fucking death of me.
That’s all I can think as I head out into the foyer in search of our bags. And a restroom.
Detouring to the bathroom, I have to wait a few minutes before I can piss with any effectiveness but then make quick work of cleaning myself up after.
I wash my hands slowly, giving myself a stern look in the mirror as I think over the events of the past few days. Mostly how shocked I am that it’s only been a few days, and here we are; ready to make this deal legal in every sense of the word.
If things go as planned, I’ll have her pregnant within the first month, and the clock on the arrangement will have officially begun. Because getting this over with as soon as possible is exactly what I want.
“Keep your wits about you, Rafferty,” I lecture my reflections sternly. “Don’t let that little vixen get under your skin.” Nodding at my reflection, I exit the partially open door, intent on finding her, and getting this show on the road.
“Have a nice conversation with yourself?”
“Goddamn it, Declan,” I shout, the sudden sound of his voice startling me. Looking around, I locate him sprawled in the middle of the sofa, arms outstretched along the back cushions, his feet crossed on the table in front of him. Ridiculously smug expression on his stupid rock star face.
Releasing the doorjamb where I was clutching it, I walk toward him, failing to keep the petulance out of my voice as I ask, “How long have you been there?”
Declan’s smirk intensifies. “Long enough to have already asked for a clean up in the first bedroom.”
“Voyeur.”
“Guilty as charged,” he answers easily, not at all embarrassed. “I would’ve put Issa on speaker if I had thought to get permission first.”
Glaring, I respond, “You could’ve given us some privacy.”
“And you could’ve closed the bedroom door.”
Honestly, it never even occurred to me, likely because just being in the same room with her makes me fucking insane. Ignoring his comment, I inhale deeply, expelling the breath slowly before saying, “We’re going to take a look around and decide how we want to do this.”
Declan quirks a brow at me. “Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
Declan sighs loudly, pushes himself upright and places his feet on the floor. Leaning forward he braces his forearms on the tops of his thighs as he responds quietly, “Just let the ladies handle it, Ren.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I go to respond, but he cuts me off. “Seriously. You don’t have to do anything, just put on whatever they tell you to, show up where and when they tell you to.”
“And do I have to say whatever they tell me to, as well?” I retort.
“Not exactly,” Declan answers, but then he pauses, squints, and adds, “But definitely think of something interesting to say, just in case.”
“Just in case what?”
Smiling, Declan comes to his feet, closes the distance between us, and rests a hand on my shoulder, his expression playful. “Just in case it matters someday.”
I meet his gaze steadily, torn between asking him what the fuck he is on about and not wanting an explanation at all. Choosing to change the subject I ask, “Where’s our luggage?”
“You walked by it in the hallway.”
I whirl around, scanning the hallway before turning back to him. “They’re not there.”
“That’s because Cassidy snagged them while you were talking to yourself in the bathroom.”
