Page 33 of Resist Me (Forget the Past 3)

The question throws me off-balance, and I lose the groove of our dancing. Luckily, Dash’s sister uses her strong arms to guide me back into the rhythm before I can injure her toes.

“Sorry. Uh, my place is nice.”Do you want to visit?“I rent the upper floor in a house. Have my own living space and kitchen and everything.”Come and stay as long as you want.

“Do you cook for yourself?” The tone of her voice coaxes my curiosity. I get the sense this is more than idle small talk.

“Most nights during the week, but they have great pubs over there. And their Hefeweizen is unmatched.”

“Are you a clutter person or pretty clean?”

Odd. Still, I enjoy the randomness of the question. As if Luna is interested in the small details that make me who I am.

“I’m neater than most. We traveled a lot when I was a kid. Easier to pack if I didn’t throw my stuff all around.”

She nods, back to staring at me, her intelligent gaze measuring.

“What about you?” The urge to get to know her better, get closer to her, has my fingers inching closer together on her lower back. “Do you like living in Nashville?”

Luna’s brows pop up, and I get the sense she didn’t expect the questions to be turned back her way.

“Nashville’s great. Especially now that I’m established. Business is good. My house is comfortable.”

That doesn’t sound like she wants to move to New Orleans.

“And the music scene?” I press.

Her eyes spark, a wicked grin curving that plump bottom lip. “Unmatched.”

An image forms in my mind then. Luna and I like this, surrounded by music all the time. Sometimes dancing. Sometimes relaxing. Always exploring and listening.

Always together.

If we were different people, I’d shoot my shot. Knowing that if she said yes, we’d only spend a few nights together before both going our own ways. Still, those few intimate moments would be better than nothing.

The band switches into a faster number, and our arms slide away from each other. But I don’t leave the dance floor, not ready to give up my time with her.

Luna keeps her focus on me as she bobs along to the beat. None of her moves are particularly seductive, but I’m still having trouble thinking of a woman I’ve ever found more tempting.

But she’s my best friend’s sister-in-law, and I can see the risk of a fling gone wrong between us.

Probably on my end.

Even without a kiss, I’m in danger of falling for Luna Lamont.

ChapterEleven

LUNA

This is a job proposal, not an actual marriage.

With that reminder to myself, I watch Charlie closely as we walk through New Orleans Animal Rescue. Judging every move and decision he makes as if this is the only chance I’ll get to figure out if he’s the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

Not the rest of my life, just a little over a year.

When I decided that going the marriage and inheritance route was a real possibility, I got back in touch with the lawyer to finally learn all those stipulations. One of the most important was how the inheritance would be paid to me. Apparently, Wai Po was thorough. She dictated that the money would be distributed in monthly installments over a year as long as I continued with the marriage requirements. If I tried to duck out early, I could keep some money for my troubles, but not all of it.

And to pay off Leo’s debt, I need as much as I can get.

Which means this can’t be a quick wedding, quick divorce. Whoever I convince to hitch themselves to me has to be ready for a long-term commitment.

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