Page 30 of Arranged To Be Mine

The look she gave me promised retribution. Slow, painful retribution. How weird was it that I was looking forward to it?

“I don’t remember them announcing this in the bids,” Darcy said.

“Couldn’t take the chance someone might outbid me.” I shrugged.

She rolled her eyes. “You bought it without bidding? That’s wrong. That breaks the rules.”

“Ah, and you are not a rulebreaker.”

“You’re an attorney. You’re not supposed to break the rules.”

I gave her a dry look. “Rules are meant to be broken.”

“Oh yes, lawyers are snakes. Reptilian creatures.”

“Are dragons reptiles?”

“Dragons aren’t real.”

I slapped my hand over my chest. “Don’t ruin my childhood fantasy. Dragons are real. I’ll be a reptile, but only if I can be a badass dragon.”

She stared at me. “Do you ever stop?”

“Stop what?”

She waved her hand at me. “This. Whatever this is.”

“Breathing? Living? Oh, wait, I know what’s got you confused. This is called joy. Stick with me Ice Queen, I’ll show you happiness. Delight.” And then I lean a little closer. “And if you’re really lucky, I might show you euphoria. Ecstasy.”

Her eyes widened and her breathing changed. I grinned and leaned back.

“You just don’t stop, do you?”

Another casual shrug.

She shook her head. “Do you actually think anyone is going to believe you and I are a couple? We couldn’t be more different.”

“Opposites attract.”

“That’s not a real thing,” she retorted. “Opposites lead to divorce.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. We’re already getting divorced? Who said anything about marriage? I know I’m a hot ticket, but this man is not trying to put a ring on any fingers.”

She scowled at me again. “Oh great. I get to be the flavor of the month. That will definitely help my reputation. Yay me.”

She wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t thought beyond the kiss. I wasn’t trying to plan a whole scheme. It was a kiss. Some new content for the internet. A positive change in Darcy’s narrative.

“How about we just enjoy our champagne?” I said. “Not everything needs to be micromanaged.”

She sipped her champagne but it was clear the conversation had been tabled. It wasn’t forgotten.

10

DARCY

Isettled into the leather seat and leaned my head back, closing my eyes for just a second.

The kiss.