The Engagement

Chapter Five

Scribbling on the paper in front of her, Emme took her frustration out on the lead, breaking the tip for the third time. Tossing the pencil aside, she sat back in her chair and stretched, sighing. Sleep hadn't been her friend the night before, and when she did sleep, she dreamed. Dark, steamy dreams that left her aching and wanting things she had no business wanting.

"Are you all right over there? You look a little preoccupied."

"Just tired, Nici. I didn't sleep well."

"Something else? That poor paper looks like it took the brunt of your frustrations."

"Stop seeing right through me," she grumbled, folding her arms.

Nici laughed. "Want to talk about it?"

"I'm not sure. Talking about it makes it more real."

Nici held up two color swatches. Emme pointed to the one on the left. Her cousin set them aside, and hefted herself onto the edge of the desk.

"I'm always here."

Since dragging anything out wasn't her style, Emme swallowed the bitter pill of reality. "Alex asked me to marry him."

Nici blinked at her. "What?"

"It's not what you think. He needs a respectable reputation and he thinks... Well, I need my inheritance."

Nici held up her hands. "Wait. I'm trying to digest this. Alex asked you to marry him?"

"Nici."

Pushing her blonde hair over her shoulder, Nici leaned back. "Well... Are you considering it? You were talking about wanting to expand..."

"No! I mean, I can't marry Alex. We would kill each other inside a week if we lived together."

"It's an arranged marriage of sorts, right? All you need to do is live together for, how long?"

"Six months."

"Then you collect your inheritance, and you both go your separate ways."

Why didn't it seem that easy anymore? Since last night, on her porch, when he pushed past the boundaries of friendship. And she fell into him like a love-starved idiot.

"Emme?"

She bit her lip. "I'm not sure it's that easy, Nici."

"Why not?"

"He asked me to marry him, told me it would be a no-strings-attached sort of deal, and then kisses me!"

Nici's blue eyes widened. "He kissed you?"

"Yes! And he didn't ask permission. If any other man had done that, I would've put him on the ground. I just fell into him, Nici. I kissed him back!"

"Well." Nici rocked forward, a smirk pulling at her lips. "That's telling."

Emme narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare start."

Nici swung her legs, jumping down from the desk. "The way I see it, you have nothing to lose. You can expand your business, and, well..." She twirled her finger.

"Oh no, not with Alex. I'm not going to become another statistic."

"You think too much, Em. Any other man and you might be all over that."

She dropped her head to her desk. "It's been a long time." Lifting her head, she added, "But that doesn't mean I'm desperate."

Nici laughed again. "Somehow, I don't think sleeping with Alex counts as desperation. I wouldn't mind finding out just how good in bed he is."