Page 119 of Perfect Satisfaction

Frustrated because the emergency meeting called by my father’s attorneys has completely derailed my day, I growl, “My father’s solicitors flew in late last night from London. They insisted on meeting with me in person. I take it from your attire, they didn’t insist on meeting with you.”

“Nope. They don’t need anything from me.”

“Need?”

“I mean want. Why do you think they’re here? Numbers One through Five don’t go anywhere without a purpose.”

I clutch the counter while laughter rolls out of me. “I love you named them like counting sheep. They actually do have names.”

“If I’d bothered to learn them, I’d still have given them letters likeMen in Black, but I don’t give a damn enough to care.”

“For a man due to inherit a significant amount of money for tolerating my ass for another”—I check my Rolex—“seven months, you should get to know who they are. You’re being terribly rude.”

Arek captures my hand and tugs me to him. “I don’t care about being rude to them. Now you? I’d love to be rude to you.”

“I’ve heard better lines waiting for my beer at a football match in Emirates Stadium.”

“It’s soccer. Stay here with me since I’m certain I could come up with better,” he offers.

“You’re a heathen. It’s football for most of the world.”

“I’ll take being a heathen. Now, tell me you want to stay.” His arms loop around my waist while he waits for my answer.

I lean back against them and pat his cheek condescendingly. “Your offer is actually tempting.”

He brightens. “It is?”

“You over a roomful of United Kingdom’s best solicitors, knowing they worked for my father? You win.”

“No contest?”

“None whatsoever.”

“That’s it. I’m calling... someone... and arranging for all your meetings to be with them from now on,” Arek declares.

Now, that has a certain amount of charm. I smile before leaning forward to place a light kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything,” he protests quickly.

“You made me smile.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Absolutely.”

He frowns before pointing to his lips. I tsk him. “Greedy today, aren’t we?”

“For you, I’m greedy every day, Sula. When are you going to realize that?”

“When I’m not one of a crowd,” I toss back lightly.

His eyes cloud over. “I thought we moved past this. Don’t you believe me? Nothing happened. I swear it.”

With a sigh, I drop a featherlight kiss across his lips. “Itis ... difficult. I want to believe you.”

“Try. For both of us.”

Reading the sincerity in his eyes, I nod. “Okay.”