Page 21 of An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle 1)
Still, there is a suspicious heat starting up between my legs. It isn’t something I’ve often experienced, at least not until a guy starts kissing and touching me. A small alarm in the back of my head beeps, “Danger, danger, danger.” But I can’t do anything except sit here and let the rest of this surreal insanity play itself out.
Instead of coming toward me to try something, he goes to his bar and brings out a bottle of scotch. “Now, about the perks of being my wife…” Back in his seat, he pours himself another glass. “Since you’ll need to look the part”—his gaze sweeps over my old Walmart clothes—“I’ll give you an allowance for clothes and whatever else women need. Transportation will be provided—I’m sure you don’t have an appropriate ride. And of course some jewelry, which you can keep after we’re through. I can’t regift old stuff.”
“If you just want to get laid, why go to all the trouble of marrying? Why not just go out and pick up some girl?”
“I already told you I need a wife for a year.”
“But why?”
“That doesn’t concern you.” He looks at me over the rim of his glass. “The only thing you should be thinking here is whether or not it’s a good deal for you, and how you can squeeze more out of me.”
“So you’re going to pay for everything, plus give me a million bucks when we divorce, in return for being my husband for a year.”
“Yes. ‘Husband’, of course, includes sex.”
His purring voice sends a frisson of heat to my core. “Right.” I swallow. “Sex.”
“There is one other requirement.” His eyes are hooded so I can’t read anything in them. “You will answer to Gigi.”
“That’s not my name.”
“So? I’m offering a lot of money.”
“Along with the ‘privilege’ of sleeping with you.”
“Exactly.”
I get to my feet. I’ve heard enough of this nonsense. There’s no way I’m going to waste more of my life, even if the man is so hot he could melt all the ice in Antarctica. “Go to hell.”
He’s on his feet now as well. “If you don’t like Gigi, you can choose another name. I thought it suited you.”
“My name is Annabelle, and that’s what I answer to. My god, how arrogant and obnoxious are you? I’m not some pet you can pick up and name. Will I get to call you whatever I want? Because Shithead sounds just about perfect.”
He comes toward me, his pace measured. A part of me wants to retreat, but my pride won’t let me. I’ll be damned if I cower before this obnoxious bastard. I don’t care how rich or smart he is. He’s absolutely horrible.
He stops when the tips of his feet are less than an inch from mine. I can smell the scotch on his breath, and feel the heat radiating from his large, muscular body. My lungs constrict, and I can only drag in half the air I would normally.
“You know…I’d be a little more careful if I were you. You have no prospects, no money and have a younger sister to support.”
I gasp. “How…?”
“Do you think I’d proposition just any woman off the street?”
I blink. I don’t know why it’s never crossed my mi
nd that he would want to look into the background of the woman he intended to marry. He has a lot of assets to protect. An old pain turns my voice scratchy. “Then you found out about my dad.”
“I did.”
“You sure you want somebody like me in your household? Who knows what I might take?”
His gaze drops to my lips, and they tingle. Anticipation starts bubbling as he leans even closer and his five o’clock shadow scrapes my cheek. My skin prickles, and the ache between my legs begins to throb. “Oh, it’s fine. I plan to take just as much from you,” he whispers, his breath fanning my ear. “If not more.”
My chest rises and falls shallowly, and I realize with shock that I’m panting. He hasn’t even touched me. Or does that delicious feel of his five o’clock shadow count?
He starts pulling back. His lips are so close to mine. All I have to do is tilt my head just so, and I can steal a taste.
My heart thuds, but I don’t make the move. He looks at me through hooded eyes, stopping with his lips hovering over mine for a fraction of a second.
