Ten millio

o my head, playing over and over on a

ter how many times I flipped my p

g up at the ceiling, my heart pounding, my whol

o. I had

love, no real relationship. Simply a contract. You

six-month charade, and then I'd be gone-out of this

g. God, why does it sound so easy in my head w

wasn't the contr

. He was the kind of guy you didn't just

ere inside, I was scared I

to stand up from the couch. En

**************************

rough the front doors of Bli

as stuck in another realm, one where Malcolm's voice con

other minute, my gut clenching as if I expect

econd layer of skin, and I was aw

my space behind the bar,

and not in a leave-me-alone kind of way. More li

k smile. "Just

d better not be about Pamela. What did sh

ela was the leas

"I'm just-" I didn't get to finish, as

wants to

tanding there, his eyes unreadable. Lura

n't hesitate

skirt, glancing at Lura, who was a single heartbeat fr

t her, even while my ow

ast Pamela, who shot me a look s

red her, too preoccupied w

olas opened the door and

he click of the door shutting b

and silky as he finished up whatever call he was on. And the

lo,

a shiver down my spine. Like he already kn

sts. He doesn't

infuriating smirk. "I don't bite-" He p

here?" I asked, trying to keep

nating puzzle he'd already figured out. "I think you d

Six months. J

ching his face for any sign

mised. "And then you walk away. No s

a sharp breath. The weight of my en

ture unknown, the feeling of standing on the

, holding out a parachut

, my voice little

irk grew. "W

ar me say it. To acknowle

," I spat.

s hands together. "Good. Very good,

ward me. "All that's

g it. No way in hell I'm signing

a line. "Moving in with

completely unfaz

twisted. "Public dis

ris. You don't seriously expect people to believe we

ched m

occasional touch. Only in public, of course. I won't touch y

eeks. What the hell is

grabbing the pen. My hands shook as I sc

spat, pushi

ned with satisfactio

ran down

ding. "I'll send someone to fetch you at

ropped. "Wha

Iris. I'm not going to have you spend

swallowed my retort. Inst

ove toward

ow, Mrs. Slade," Mal

im and slam

**************************

ller that night. As if they knew I

apers. I had read them three times already, bu

phone

Call m

aking breat

you don't start talking

yes," I

le

ou're j

eyes tight

This is going t

oba

re still

pers again. "Yeah,