Page 131 of Love What's Left
“So you admit I irritate you.”
“Not at all. I find your prickly nature endearing, but it would be rude not to acknowledge your efforts.”
My naturally tan complexion doesn’t show a blush the way my pale, freckled friend Clarissa’s skin tone does, thank goodness. I can only imagine how funny Gabriel would find it if he realized how much heat rushes to my face.
“What can you offer me in exchange for severing your contract? Quantifiably,” he asks.
“I’ll pay you back the initial lump sum.” I have no idea how, but I’ll figure it out.
He pops a bite into his mouth and chews.
I heave a breath and cross my arms.
His gaze drops straight to my cleavage. He coughs once, then his cheekbones darken with color.
Immediately, I lower my arms and lean forward in concern. “Are you choking on your chicken? Gabriel?”
He coughs again.
When I rise from my chair, ready to rush over and clear his airway, he waves me back into my seat and takes a sip of water. After a few seconds, he clears his throat, then watches me with humor in his eyes.
When he opens his mouth to speak, I cut him off. “If you’re about to make a juvenile sex joke about choking chickens, don’t.”
He sits back with a pleased expression on his face. “I was going to say I should have let youHeimlichme. That could have been fun.” He winks and shoots me a finger gun.
Dammit.Damn.It. I am not going to laugh. I arrange my face into something moreannoyedbecause that’s how I should feel. “We were discussing my contract.”
“Right.” He stretches the word out. “So, paying me back isn’t an option. It wasn’t a loan. It was a payoff that makes you”—he boops me on the nose—“complicit.”
I swat his hand away. “Tell me what I have to do to move on.”
For a long moment, I think he’s going to ignore my demand entirely. Finally, he says, “I’ll offer you a deal. You can cut out of your contract two years early. No penalty, no noncompete. A glowing reference and six months severance pay.”
I eye him warily. It’s too good of an offer. I’d only have one year left. What could he possibly want in retur—
“If you marry me and play happy couple for the next twelve months.”
43
Gabriel
Almost Sixteen Months Ago
After my meeting in James Mellinger’s office where he told me to put a ring on Sydney’s finger, I headed straight to the restaurant to chase off Sydney’s date. I hadn’t worked out yet exactly how I was going to change things between us, but one thing’s for sure—starting the next chapter of our lives with “Let’s make a deal” was never part of the plan.
Her eyes flare wide in shock at my, admittedly, asinine proposal. “You’re not funny.”
“I’m not trying to be.” I’m a desperate man on the edge.
She blinks repeatedly. Sputters. Lifts a hand.
“I said ‘play.’ For reasons I’m not interested in going into, I’m not asking for a sexual relationship with you,” I say.
“I don’t know which is more offensive: thinking you wanted me for sex or finding out you don’t, when you once told me yourself, ‘I’m not picky.’”
Heat curls up my neck. “I was emotionally unhealed, then, Walsh. I’m a changed man,” I say blithely.
Obviously, I want to have sex with her. It would be the highlight of my existence. What I’m not willing to do is pressure her into it.
