“I told you, I pay my own way.”
“You can’t do that.” He ran a hand over his back pocket, searching for a wallet he wouldn’t need.
“If you’re coming with me, you play by my rules. We split all costs down the middle. I have a rental to pick up, but I’ll pay for that and the gas.”
His lips formed into a thin line. “You don’t need a rental. I have a Jeep, and I’ll pay for all the gas.”
“We split the gas.”
He crossed his arms. One corner of his lips turned up, and he arched a single brow. “Does this mean, we’re negotiating?”
She laughed. “I guess so.”
“I drive. We split meals and any other activities straight down the middle?”
“Yes,” she said.
He held up a hand. “I’m not finished.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go on.”
“I’ll sleep on top of the covers if I have to, but we share the bed.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her retort.
“I get to hold your hand and kiss you as much as I like,” he stated his terms with another smirk.
“First base only but no sex,” she said. Kissing was good.Would she respond differently to him or grow cold and shut down?
“Well, let’s not get crazy.” His gaze flicked from her eyes to settle on her chest. “I mean, you have to give a guy something.”
She wasn’t sure if she wanted him touching her breasts, but she was willing to consider it. “Second base?”
His eyes narrowed. “Depends on your definition of second base. If you’re thinking of a little tongue, we’ve already done that. Quite successfully, I might add. If you’re talking about a little boob action, I’m all in. How about third base?”
That sounded dangerous. She didn’t want his fingers anywhere near down there. “I think second is far enough. Wouldn’t want to tempt you too much.”
His lips twitched. “I can keep my junk stowed, especially since we’ll be renegotiating on day four.”
His confidence had her smiling.
“We’ll see about that.” She thought of another condition. “And you wear pajamas.”
He frowned. “That’s ridiculous. I haven’t worn PJs since I was ten.”
“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.” Her insides flipped.Were they really discussing sleeping attire?What would he look like in pajamas, considering how hot a pair of jeans looked sitting on his hips?
He vented a deep sigh. “I’m going to have the bluest balls at the end of these three days.”
She burst out laughing at his brutal honesty. The freedom with which he joked at his own expense was refreshing next to the rigidness of all things Spencer.
He lifted his hands, palms out. “I’m just saying.” He made a classic hourglass motion with his hands. “On the seventy-third hour, we’re having a talk. Now, let’s blow this joint.”
As they gathered their things, she wondered which one of them would be more eager for the arrival of the seventy-third hour.
She fished her phone out of her backpack and drafted a message to Forest. He needed to know about Spencer cheating on her, Ash’s appearance, and whatever this three-day experiment was about. And, if Ash turned out to be some ax-wielding psychopath, Forest would need to recover her body.
Ash led her around to the parking lot out back. The lights of a beat-up black Jeep with oversized tires and a lift kit flashed.
