Page 112 of The Contract

A pause. Then—his tone shifts.

“Anyway… let’s talk about something more interesting.”

I don’t like where this is going. “Marcus.”

“Elena.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“You gonna pretend you’re not interested?” he continues, amused.

“I don’t pretend anything,” I say dryly.

Marcus chuckles. “Uh-huh. That why you’ve got the sappiest goddamn smirk on your face right now?”

I glance at my reflection in the tinted window. Sure enough—there’s a fucking smile. I school my expression, jaw tightening. “You can’t even see me right now.”

“Don’t need to, Wolfe.” Marcus is loving this.

“There’s nothing there, so stop reading into things.” I try to act nonchalant, toying with a thread on the seam of my slacks.

“So,” Marcus presses, “you wouldn’t mind if I set her up with James’s brother?”

I freeze.

Marcus’s voice drips with feigned innocence. “He’s single, you know. And she’d be a great sister-in-law.”

A muscle in my jaw ticks.

The mere thought of Elena with someone else—with someone’s fucking hands on her, making her laugh, making her bite her lip the way she does when she’s trying not to smile?—

No.

Absolutely not.

“Marcus,” I say evenly.

“What?” he drawls, all smug amusement. “If she’s just part of the contract, then what’s the problem?”

I exhale slowly, dragging a hand through my hair. “You’re annoying.”

“And you’re dodging the question.”

I glance at the navy-blue bag sitting beside me.

Elena has no idea it’s coming. No idea I picked them just for her.

“Look, I need you to keep an eye on things tonight,” I deflect.

“Why? You got plans?”

“Yeah.” I'm thinking about Elena's reaction seeing the earrings. Her putting them on. Me putting my lips on the curve of her neck while she's wearing them.

Fuck.

Marcus keeps pushing because—he’s a nosy asshole. “You taking Elena out?”

“I didn’t say that.”

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