Page 34 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“In return, Colton Bishop promises not to abuse his power and will only use his authority over Sadie to help her complete her list,” I finished in a rush, having to go back and read a second time to really understand the meaning. “Wait,” I said, “does this mean I only have to do what you say when it’s to help my cause?”

Colton gave an exaggerated slow nod and said, “Finally, she gets it. Give the girl a prize or something. There’s one final provision, and I suggest you read it carefully.”

Right there, below where I’d stopped, was one final sentence. It was bold and underlined.

It read (and I’m being completely serious):I promise NOT to fall in love with Colton Bishop—no matter how hot and irresistible he is.

I snorted a laugh. “Fall foryou? Irresistible? As if.”

“I notice you didn’t dispute the ‘hot’ part,” Colton said.

“I do dispute it,” I said. “I totally dispute the ‘hot’ part.”

“Too late,” he said. “The fact that you think I’m hot isn’t a problem, Sadie. Falling for me would be, though, and it’s been known to happen. Especially when the girls are as innocent and naïve as you.”

I ignored that last dig, chose not to argue—Colton Bishop was hot,sohot, and the worst part was…he knew it. Instead I focused on his signature at the bottom. His name was written in close, slanted cursive. There was a line right next to it where my name was supposed to go—if I signed.

“Okay, let’s say I go along with this,” I said. “Let’s say I believe that you’re not just in this for yourself and the money. What happens if we don’t complete the list?”

“We will.”

“But what if we don’t?”

“If we don’t, then after 30 days, we forget about the list, and I pay Kyle.” Colton grimaced, his eyes hard. “But that’s not going to happen.”

“How can you sound so confident?” I asked. “It’s taken me months to even do that first thing, and we still have a lot more left.”

“Back then you didn’t have me in your corner,” he said, and there was the arrogant side of Colton that I knew so well. “I never lose, Sadie. I’m not losing this either.”

“Did you even read my list?” I asked.

“Yeah, a few times,” he said, a grin forming as I flushed. “It’s an entertaining read. We need to work our way from the easiest up to the hardest. I think that’s the best way to go.”

Could I really sign this? I thought. Everything seemed to be on the up and up, but Colton was a sneaky little bugger. If I gave him this power, would he use it to make me say or do stupid things? He said he wanted to help, and I wanted to believe him. Like he pointed out, he would lose something, too, if I failed. More than anything, though, I really,reallywanted to seize the freaking day…

Before I could think too much about it, I signed my name above his.

“Good choice,” he said, taking the paper, placing it in his pocket.

“Where did you get the idea for a contract anyway?” I asked.

Colton shrugged. “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

“Seriously?” I choked on air. “Colton that is so messed up.”

“Sadie, please,” he said, “as if you have room to talk after the reading you did for those horny old people. How often do you do that anyway?”

“It’s romance.” I sat there shaking my head. “And they pick the books, not me.”

Colton’s lips tilted upward. “Sure, they do.”

“They do,” I insisted. Though there was no denying, I did love a good romance. “I just read what they like.”

“Okay, I believe you,” he said. “No need to get upset. It’s not like you care what I think anyway. Right?”

“Right,” I said, crossing my arms. “It was just a shock. That’s all.”

“What was?”

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