Page 19 of Say You Will

“How romantic.”

I frown.

She frowns back.

“I’m not talking about romance. I’m discussing marriage.”

“No thank you.”

“You like me,” I say slowly.

Her eye twitches. “Usually.”

“I would provide you with a comfortable life.”

“I’ll make my own comfortable life. It’ll just take me a little longer.”

“You wanted a job. You could consider it employment if you prefer. You can have your own bedroom. You’d essentially be paid to live in my home, wear my ring, and occasionally be available when I need you.”

She covers her eyes with her hand briefly before dropping it and saying, “I’m sure you wouldn’t be deliberately cruel, but you’re asking me to live my life for another person. I already did that with my mother.”

“It’s not living for another person.” I gesture with two hands to make my next point. “It’s you living your life. Me living mine.” I bring my palms together, nearly touching. “Next to each other.”

She shakes her head.

“I like you. I know that I’m not an emotional or romantic man, but I do know how to make money. I can provide things that will make you content.”

“In exchange for me providing a service.”

“Yes.” Spencer would never have found anyone else I deemed acceptable. And when he finally worked his way through my list of acquaintances, he’d have found Franki. I’d have had a legitimate excuse to explain why I’d tracked her down before she was ready to come home.

She’s here now. It didn’t come to that.

Come to think of it.I pull my phone from my pocket and addFranki Lennoxto my list of requirements, then put the phone back in my pocket.Sheis the primary requirement.

“What was that?” she asks.

“Hmm?” I assume an innocent expression.

“You just typed my name on something that looked like a list.”

I recall Gabriel and Dante’s less-than-positive reactions to my criteria. The way they compared my future wife to a golden retriever. This list is going to get me in trouble. I can feel it all the way down to the soles of my shoes. And yet, I can’t bring myself to lie to her. “I created a list of requirements for my future wife. You meet every criteria. Additionally, I like you, I trust you, and I could sleep with you.”

I can’t imagine any woman I’d permit to be near me when I was vulnerable like that. Except for her.

I’ve never seen Franki’s face go hard before this moment. I’ve fucked up these negotiations. Took a wrong turn.

Dammit, I should have stayed focused on what was in it for her.That was a rookie error. My only excuse is that I’m clearly coming down with something. My heart is racing and sweat prickles under my arms.

Franki’s reactions aren’t what I thought they’d be. There are years of her life I only know about peripherally. She’s not the same girl, after all, who stood on the library balcony with stars in her eyes and told me someday she’d be back. She’d said,“You could wait for me.”

I rub my aching sternum. The reports on her indicated she hasn’t had a single boyfriend. I thought when she responded to me so enthusiastically downstairs and told me she was back to stay . . . she’d come back for me.

My family reminds me often that I have an over-developed ego. Clearly, that was the case here, but I’m not ready to let thisgo. “You should know I’d have no expectation of sex unless it was something you were interested in pursuing.”

I can only interpret the look on her face as“You have to be joking.”

A strange burn lodges in my throat, so I reach for my water glass. Ice clinks as I sip and give her time to formulate her response.

---