Page 43 of More Than a Match

“Do you trust me?”

I can only nod in response, the pit of dread in my stomach reaching a rolling boil.

“Good. Here’s what I’m thinking.” He takes another deep breath before continuing, “I think you should play along.”

“Excuse me?”

“Play along. Seduce him. Give him his ‘one night’, though you’ll make it a night he will never forget but hopefully will wish he could.”

“You want me to sleep with him?” I can’t help the expression of disgust that washes over my face and seeps into my voice. “Are you insane?”

“It shouldn’t get that far. Agree to his terms, get him excited, then turn him so far off he will never want to bother you again.”

“What if I can’t turn him off? What if he forces himself on me?”

“We’ll have a backup plan. We can flesh this out more later tonight, but for now, I think this is the best plan we have.”

It’s my turn to take a deep breath. “I trust you. I hope you’re right.”

CHAPTER 30: ALEX

“I trust you,” she says. “I hope you’re right.”

Shit, I hope I’m right too. I just nod and squeeze her hand. We ride in silence back to the hospital, and I don’t know about her, but my mind is still churning. That snake Jason could be the disaster that ruins the perfect thing we have going here. It’s my responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen.

I watch her retreat back inside, my thoughts swirling. I promised to pick her up after work, and I’m hoping that by then, I’ll have a solid idea for a backup plan in place.

I’m waiting out in front of the hospital when Mina scurries out, beelining for my car and hopping inside.

“Go, go!” she urges me, tapping the dashboard. “Drive!”

I don’t ask questions; I just throw the car in gear and pull out of there as fast as I safely can. Once we’re clear of the parking lot, I speak up.

“So, want to tell me what that was all about?”

“Jason saw me as I was leaving, and he was following me. I had to get out of there.”

“That scumbag. Hasn’t he harassed you enough for one day?”

“He probably wants an answer to his proposition.”

“Well hopefully tomorrow, you’ll have one to give him.”

“You thought of a backup plan?”

“I did. It’s going to sound a little nuts, but bear with me while I explain.”

“The whole thing is already nuts.”

“Fair. Do you want some food? We can grab something and bring it to my place.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

CHAPTER 31: MINA

My hands shake as I pace in the bathroom, my phone clutched to my ear like a lifeline.

“Pick up, pick up,” I mutter as I pace. The line connects and butterflies surge in my stomach when I hear his voice.

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