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I chuckle. It’s there again, this undertone of possessiveness that would be a total red flag if it wasn’t warming me like a big hug. Carl was never possessive over me. I don’t know that I ever gave him reason to be jealous or possessive. Clearly, I wasn’t possessive enough or jealous enough of him either because he fucked me over big time.

Maybe that’s yet to come in the short lifespan of my marriage of convenience. But in this moment, walking down the sunny street hand-in-hand with Jax, as weird as it is, feels safe and nice. Public displays of affection are not my thing. But since we both need to play the game, I guess I have a license, within the safety and confinement of the rules, to try it out to see if the style fits.

“Actually, I’m meeting with a guy I’ve known for a while, who produces the behind-the-scenes documentaries for sports clubs. You know the All In the Game documentaries?” I ask.

“Oh yeah, the seasons following tennis and the Formula One last year were binge worthy.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever managed to watch any TV series all the way through. I catch an episode of something when I log in to Wi-Fi on an airplane; that’s how I’ve always enjoyed them. Anyway, he’s someone I’ve known for some time and I thought, since the Dragons have brought in some new faces this year, next year would be a good time to see how the team gets on with them bedding in. Of course, as an added bonus, I get to push endorsement deals for you and other players alongside the show.”

“A perfect storm?” He chuckles.

“Something like that. I mean, I have no actual business to act as anyone’s PR right now, so I don’t know why I’m playing at it but it’s hard to switch off, especially when opportunities are on my doorstep.”

“You’re always playing chess, aren’t you?” he asks.

I shrug. “My mind doesn’t know how to rest.”

He nods. “It won’t until you unplug it, Si. It takes work and training to tell your mind to calm down.”

My brow furrows – have I ever tried? How would life be if I could breathe once in a while? Boring? Static? Like I’m underachieving and not pleasing people? I’m the girl who can’t even lie in Shavasana during a yoga class without planning a business strategy.

As if I’m speaking aloud, Jax asks, “So, what are your thoughts on a new business?”

“Well, before my husband interrupted, behaving like a silverback in a cage with his harem, I was chatting to Logan about potentially keeping him as a client. I’m working on it. I’m struggling to see how I can make it work from Canada. Technically, I’d be breaching my visa to even try and set something up. I’m going against the rules even talking to people with intent. I guess it’s innate or something. I’m preprogrammed to want to set up a business.”

“And reclaim what’s rightfully yours from your jackass ex.”

“He’s another problem I’m not dealing with right now. He’s been calling me and messaging me ever since the video of us getting married was released. When I quit, I also told him that on account of him making my working for the business completely untenable because he screwed our secretary that my restrictive covenants and my employment contract were extinguished. I mean, I don’t even know if I can legally enforce that but I’m sure if he gets wind that I’m going to set up on my own, he’ll try it on. He’s bitter and twisted. I’ve seen it on him but never aimed at me. And the fact I am refusing to give up passwords to my company accounts will be hurting him no end.”

“For a cute human, you play like a devil.”

I chuckle, trying not to focus on the word cute. It doesn’t matter if he compliments me.

“Anyway, I have another wonderful situation on my hands, which is my small-town parents. They don’t know that Carl and I are separated, that I lost my job, that I have a temporary job, that in a little more than nine weeks’ time I’ll be deported and that, oh yeah, I kind of got married on the fly dressed as a minion. So, I’m trying to figure out how to explain the absolute car crash that is my life when they eventually visit.”

“Do you mean to tell me that Miss Professional, the most outrageously structured woman on the planet, can’t rest for one minute, plays by the rules, control freak, perfectionist, chronic overachiever, is dealing with life by ignoring people’s messages?”

I drop his hand and give him a playful shove in the chest. “Shut up. I’ve bared my soul and all you’ve got is fucking with me?”

He chuckles – a deep, warm sound. “I’m only saying that’s the kind of thing someone immature and emotionally unaware, like me, is currently doing to my mom. You’re more of a tackle your problems head-on kind of person.”

I drag in a deep breath and sigh it out. “Jax, I’m so far from myself right now, I don’t even know who I am.”

He drapes a lazy arm around my shoulders and tucks me into his side. “Sure you do. You’re my pain-in-the-ass other half.”

Now I have to laugh.

“If anyone’s a pain in anyone’s ass, you’re a wooden spear in mine,” I tell him. “How about you, big man? Is it a glass of milk and naptime for you now?”

“I don’t like your being derogatory about my strict training regime, lady.”

“That’s a yes, then?”

“That’s a yes. Two-hour big boy nap coming up. Want to join me?” He wiggles his eyebrows so they rise above his shades. “I always sleep better after an orgasm.”

I look away from him so he can’t see me smile as I shake my head – I’ve regretted not giving myself that orgasm this morning a few times today, especially when he’s touching me.

“Jax Harris, I refer you to rule number one. You have as much chance of getting into my panties as the Pope visiting a casino.”