Page 49 of An Inconvenient Plan
He took her hand and kissed the palm. “So now that you and I connected, you’re not going to Villroy Island for the wedding, right? You’ll cut things off with the prince.” That last part was not a question. More of a demand.
She pulled her hand away. “Of course I’m still going. I was invited. I couldn’t possibly turn down a royal wedding.”
He took a deep calming breath. “Okay, let me ask you this, are you going as a guest of the princess or as the prince’s date?”
Silence.
“His date,” he ground out.
“It’s not like that. He’s gotten a bad rep and he just wants me to help improve his rep by being seen with me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a classy lady.” She smiled, obviously trying for a light tone.
He frowned. “So he wants to buy you a mansion, and you’ve agreed to be his date. Anything else I’m missing here?”
She stroked his arm, probably trying to soothe him. “I’m his date at the princess’s wedding here too. That’s part of improving his rep. And that’s everything there is to know.”
“He wants you.”
Her lashes fluttered down and she dropped her hand from him. “I think he just needs my help.”
He ground his teeth and sat up. “No, he wants you. No man buys a mansion and expects nothing in return.”
Her eyes flashed and she sat up too. “Well, I’m naked with you not him. Besides, he didn’t buy Ludbury House. I don’t think the terms are reasonable.”
“Hailey, this is a deal breaker. I won’t share you with him. Tell him no. You won’t be going as his date to these weddings.”
“What’s the big deal? I went with you to several weddings completely platonically.”
“That’s because I’m a gentleman. He’s not.” He at least played the part of a gentleman, even when lust was in his way.
She huffed and turned to go. He grabbed her by the arm, stilling her. “What?” she snapped.
“Him or me.”
She yanked away. “Josh, you’re being a ridiculously jealous possessive beast and I don’t like it one bit.” She got out of bed and went to his dresser, where she’d set her clothes in a neat pile. She pulled her thong on, next her bra, then her dress. Any minute she’d get the rest of her stuff and take off.
He stood firm. “I won’t stand by and watch you be with another man.”
She slipped a heel on. “I’m not with him!” Another heel.
He got rid of the condom, got out of bed, and pulled his boxer briefs back on. “Then I’ll go as your date to those weddings.”
She jammed her hands on her hips. “You weren’t invited. It’s not a big deal!”
“It is to me. And don’t let him buy you Ludbury House. You should earn it.”
She tossed her tangled hair over her shoulder. “You can order me around in bed and I may or may not comply, but I won’t be ordered around on how to live my life, especially by a jealous lunatic!”
He clenched his jaw. “I’m not a jealous lunatic.”Choose me.
“Ha! Call me when you’ve matured.” She stalked out of the bedroom.
He followed her. “Call me when you give a crap about someone besides yourself.”
She gathered Rose and her purse and headed for the door. She stopped suddenly, and in that moment hope speared through him. She’d come to her senses. She was coming back to him.
He watched as she unzipped her purse, poking around in there, muttering to herself. That was when he remembered her phone. “Your phone’s on the nightstand. I’ll get it.”
She whirled and held up a handful of cash in one fist. “What is this?”
