Page 24 of On The Edge

“Look. I’m serious.” He’s infuriating. And adorable if a man that’s as sexy as he is can also be adorable. “We need to—”

“What do you like to do for fun?”

“What?” I stare at him blankly.

“Fun. Let loose. Have a good time?” He lifts his eyebrows. “What is it that you like to do because your social media didn’t really show me.”

No doubt, my life is a bore compared to his. There is no jet-setting from one place to the next. There is no exotic travel or celebrity hob-knobbing. My life is one he would never understand in a million years. “I like to read.”

“How fun,” he says drolly.

“Don’t knock it.” I tap my knee against his.

“Oh, there’s that fire again.” He winks.

“And I like music.”

“Okay. I can get with that. Who do you like? What bands? What artists?”

Knowing him, I’ll say I like someone and he’ll say he knows him personally or some shit like that. “Does it matter?”

“Considering we’re supposed to be fucking each other, yes, it does matter.”

I cough over my own breath. “Well. Um. Okay.”

He shrugs and fights a smile. “Why sugarcoat it, right?”

“That’s one way of putting it.” I take my first sip of my drink and wonder why I haven’t already downed it and ordered another one to soothe my nerves. “For the record, I doubt anyone on this jet buys that we’re a couple.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I look nothing like the women you date. Because you’re the pie in the sky. Because this is just ludicrous.”

“Do you sell yourself short often? Is this a normal thing you do? I’ve gotta say, Madds, we just met and I’m already finding that trait of yours rather annoying. That might have to go on the things we fight about list.” He smacks his hands together and rubs them. “Do you fight dirty? I bet you do. I bet you throw the kitchen sink in there with it.”

“No. I . . . don’t.”

“Because hesitating when you answer says otherwise.” He rolls his eyes but his smile remains. “I need to know things.”

“Things?”

“Mm-hmm. Like what are your turn offs? Your turn-ons?”

“For someone who was wholeheartedly against this twenty-four hours ago, you sure are embracing this. Why?”

“Maybe I’ve seen the error of my ways.”

“Or maybe you’re being bribed.”

“The possibility of a billion dollars when all is said and done over the years is a pretty convincing bribe.”

I choke on my sip. I had no idea. Absolutely no idea that was what was possibly at stake here. There weren’t really any terms discussed at our meeting other than him having a girlfriend and appearing settled. No wonder the board is wanting him to chill and act like he’s more than the playboy prince of Formula 1.

“You were in on the meeting but didn’t know?” His eyes narrow as he studies me. “I take that choke as a no. Well, now you know. Michael is out. I’m in. And now we’re stuck together for better or worse while I do the song and dance for your boss until the board is satisfied. So . . .” He clasps his hands in front of him like he means business. “That’s where we’re at.”

“And no one is going to buy it.”

“So you say, but my incentive is worth it. Let’s hope like hell yours is too because I’m not the easiest fucker in the world to date . . .”