Page 36 of Top Shelf

“You sure?”

The question annoys me, because yes. I know. That is the problem. If it were someone else, the idea would already be dead. But Heidi is not someone else.

She is Dr. Heidi Grant, who talks too fast when she is nervous. She’s the woman who can hand a man his own arrogance, and the woman building something purposeful because it’s important to her.

“I would make terms,” I explain quietly. “Clear ones that look after her. Money for the studio—enough to secure the space and start properly—in exchange for a marriage with me for Solvik. There would be no romance or expectations beyond what is agreed.”

Carina’s face changes in a way I do not like. “Except you can’t just contract your way around feelings.”

“There are no feelings.”

She raises an eyebrow at me. “Is that so?”

I glance at Reid and remember what he said before she came home. Marriage is the easy part—everything before was the work.

He sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Are you thinking this is a plan because it’s practical, or because it’s Heidi?”

“I am thinking it’s a plan because both of us have deadlines and no way around them.”

Reid gives me a look that says I just provided him with a handleless door.

Carina shakes her head slowly. “You can’t just walk up to her and propose.”

I say nothing, and her eyes narrow.

“Viktor.”

“Yes, you’re right. It would be better to ask in private.”

“No. No, no, no, that wasn’t what I meant!”

Reid makes a sound. as though he’s trying not to laugh and failing, and Carina turns. “Don’t encourage him, Hutchison!”

“I’m not.”

“You’re smiling.”

“Because this is terrible.” He chuckles.

“It is not terrible,” I interject.

They both look over at me.

“Okay,” I sigh. “It might be a little unconventional.”

Carina stands, still holding Ivy. “I need more coffee before I continue this conversation.”

She walks toward the kitchen, muttering something that sounds like ‘men are the dumbest species alive.’ Reid waits until she’s out of the room before he looks back at me.

“You understand Heidi might say no.”

“Yes.”

“And you know money and marriage make people weird.”

“I know.”

He studies me for several seconds. “If you’re gonna ask her, at least do it with respect and not like you’ve just solved a puzzle.”