“You’ve lost me,” Moreau said. “And thanks for that. Now, Melody is about to ask for a slide.”
“Oh, can I have one, Dad?” she asked enthusiastically. “We still have so much room in the yard.”
Moreau sighed heavily. “Melody, will you go upstairs and brush your teeth? I’ll be right up to tuck you in.”
“But I want to wait for Anna!”
“She’s meeting her brothers and won’t be home until late.”
“Dad? I want a brother too.”
Fox grinned. “Yes, Moreau. Why doesn’t Melody have a brother yet?”
Moreau glared at him before fixing his gaze on his daughter. “Go brush your teeth. Now.”
Pouting, Melody got up, walked out of the kitchen, and stomped up the stairs.
God, Hazel wished Gareth were that easy to boss around.
Okay, no. She didn’t. One of his best qualities was that he didn’t let her boss him around like all the men who had bored her after a few weeks. But Gareth…he was still as exciting as the first day. And he wanted a relationship! And their sex contract had worked so well.
Groaning, she shoveled another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth before resting her forehead on the table. There was a hot ache in her chest that was expanding with every passing second…and the stupid ice cream couldn’t fill it.
“Okay,” Moreau said calmly once Melody was out of earshot. “I feel like I’ve missed something important.”
“Me too,” Austin piped in. “What’s a playground contract? Sounds dirty.”
She grimaced. “Well, it kind of is…”
Moreau groaned. “Why did you have to ask, Fox?”
“Well, excuse my childlike curiosity! So if Clark didn’t break up with you, what happened?”
“Wait. Are we talking about Gareth Clark?” Moreau stared at him, dumbfounded. “You’re sleeping with Gareth Clark? I thought you hated him.”
“Your information is outdated,” Fox muttered. “Who did you think I meant by business associate?”
“I don’t know! Another Gareth. Not our boss, whose goodwill determines whether we’re sold or not.”
“Gareth wouldneversell you simply because he’s angry with me!” Hazel snapped. “He’s not an asshole!”
“The internet says otherwise,” Moreau grumbled.
“The internet’s wrong!”
“Okay, okay. So the boss broke up with you?”
“No!”
“Then what's so terrible? What did he do?”
“He…” She swallowed. “He told me he loved me.”
“What a jerk,” Fox replied drily.
“Yeah! Thanks, I knew you…” She trailed off when she saw her friend’s expression. “Oh. That was sarcastic.”
“You think so?”
