Page 10 of Dirty Secret Love

“So, do you want my help, or what?” His gaze flicks to the door. “From where I stand, you’re running low on options.”

He’s infuriatingly right, but sharing my space with him? “Why would you want to live with me?”

He chuckles, the sound rich and resonant. “I’d choose you over bunking in a cramped cabin with my fucking brothers any day. Seems reason enough, doesn’t it?”

Torn between gratitude and aggravation, I sigh and push back from the counter, needing some space. “Fine, but just so we’re clear, I’m not thrilled.”

“You and me both, darling.” He stretches, the movement highlighting the broad expanse of his shoulders.

“Stop calling me darling.” I cross my arms defensively.

He grins, the corner of his mouth ticking up mischievously. “Would you prefer ‘babe’? Sounds a bit generic to me.”

His irritatingly handsome face makes the whole ordeal harder to digest. How did I end up in a situation where I have to live with a man who is maddeningly attractive, yet so vexing? The thought of enduring this charade till my parents leave seems like a monumental task.

“You can always call me Sutton. That’s my name.” My voice wavers just a bit.

“We could experiment with nicknames,” he suggests, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smirk. “Perhaps on our date?”

“What date?” My voice goes higher, and my eyes widen in surprise.

“We need to get acquainted, don’t we?” he teases, lifting an eyebrow suggestively. “When I decide to work on a project, I go all in. You want a doted, wealthy fiancé, well, I’ll deliver.”

Sighing, I briefly cover my eyes with my fingertips. “The town won’t buy it. You’ve been with nearly every woman around.”

His reaction is a mix of indignation and amusement—a sort of choked laugh. “You wound me.”

“How exactly?”

“You’re going by town gossip?” he asks, a hint of challenge in his eyes.

“I don’t need gossip. I’ve seen enough with my own eyes,” I snap back, recalling the numerous times I’ve seen him surrounded by admirers.

With a chuckle, he leans in, voice dropping to a whisper. “For the record, I enjoy the company, and the conversations. It’s not my fault if people jump to conclusions.”

I hesitate, pondering his words. It shouldn’t matter who he’s been with before. “But we’ve never been seen together,” I remind him, because even if he’s not sleeping with the entire town, people know we haven’t been close enough to be engaged.

“It’s hard to believe we’re an item.” My voice holds a trace of panic.

“Yet, here I am, with you, every day. What goes on behind closed doors remains a mystery,” he says, grinning cheekily, and a casual wink makes my cheeks warm.

That’s a fair point, but there are other concerns. “What about your family? How will they react? And my mother thinks you’re some sort of introverted billionaire. You don’t exactly give off those vibes.”

He shrugs effortlessly. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll sort it out.”

A thought occurs. “If it helps, I can lend you money to keep up the pretense.”

Though, I almost stutter at the thought of having to buy a tennis bracelet and an engagement ring. I’m thrifty, there’s no way I’ll pitch in for something that frivolous. More so when I know I can’t return the ring.

His laughter fills the space between us. “Relax. I’ve got this.”

But the nagging doubts persist. I know so little about him. He claims to be caught in unfortunate circumstances, but what if he’s more involved than he lets on? Maybe it’s time to reconsider the whole arrangement.

I raise an eyebrow. “How can I possibly trust you?”

River smirks, leaning in conspiratorially. “Because, darling, we’ve met before . . . we just never told anyone.” He winks.

I blink, taken aback. “Are you for real?”

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