Page 52 of Defying Ella
“No, but —”
He covered my lips with his finger. “No but needed. Now, I have a sticky toffee pudding to make. Do we have a bet?”
“Fine,” I grumbled. Then an idea struck and I sat up straight, grinning. Jared eyed me with concern. “If you win, we play the board game. If I win, you tell me all your secrets.”
Jared chuckled as he held out his hand to shake. “Deal.”
I stared at his hand, my brows furrowed yet again.Why was that so easy?
He wriggled his hand. “Stop stalling, Els. I do not want to start over on a new pot.”
Against my better judgement, I shook his hand, and he grinned all the while with this smarmy yet secretive air about him.
After releasing my hand, he turned back to the stove and relit the burner with a match. He stirred the mix before glancing at me with that mischievous glint in his eyes again.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just relishing the anticipation of my coming win.”
My eyes narrowed. “You set me up, didn’t you?”
Jared chuckled. “You have an insane sweet tooth, and I can make one hell of a sticky toffee pudding. Babe, there’s no way I’m losing this bet, so you might as well go set up the board already.”
“That’ll be one hundred and eighty dollars, please,” Jared said, grinning from ear-to-ear at my misfortune for landing on Whitechapel Road.
“No way is that property worth nearly two hundred in rent,” I squeaked.
I studied the colourful board with tired eyes. I’d stopped looking at the clock after the two-hour mark when he’d started buying little green houses in abundance.
“Says it right there.” He flashed the card at me with such delight it stole my breath.
I’d become so used to fighting with him that these moments of genuine playfulness stood out starkly. I couldn’t get enough of his relaxed demeanour.
I shook my head at him, barely holding back my smile. “Just take it,” I said, holding out the notes.
He picked up his wineglass and studied me while he drained the red liquid. I cocked a brow at him, my hand left hanging between us.
“I have a proposition for you.” He placed the glass back on the table and leaned forward, his gaze unwavering.
“What kind of proposition?”
“The kind where we answer a question every time the other pays for rent.”
I chewed my lip while working his confusing answer through.Did he just offer to play twenty questions?
“How honest do the answers have to be?”
“The whole truth. No lies or omissions.” He grabbed my hand, accepting the cash but refusing to release me. Plastic houses scattered as he lowered our combined hands on the board. “Go on. Say yes. I can see the questions burning in your eyes. It’s a win-win, Sparky.”
“Anything off limits?”
He shook his head.
“Anything you wish would be off limits?”
“Just ask your question, Els.”
“You won’t answer.”
