Rules of Engagement- A CanEm AU

Chapter 2. Ground Rules

Previously

He loosened his grip around her waist, but didn't release her. Gently moving the lock of hair that had fallen across her face with his other hand, he said quietly, "I'm in"

--------------------------

Sanem drew back sharply. "Pardon?" The shock on her face mirrored his.

Can released her and shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. Did he just agreed to marry this girl? Had he completely lost his mind? "I'm sorry, Sanem, I...", he started, trying to backtrack on his response.

Sensing that he might withdraw his offer, Sanem interrupted him. "Please Can Bey, if you could just hear me out. My whole life depends on this. My crazy, dead aunt is driving me out of my mind! I mean, she's dead, but she's still doing it,  from her grave! Why should I have to get married?? Do I look like I need a man to make good decisions? I am just as capable...", Sanem let out a steady stream of jumbled words. She usually rambled when she was nervous, and she was at peak rambling right now.

Can held her by the shoulders and shook her gently. "Sanem, calm down. Take a deep breath. Shhhhhhh", his thumb rubbed soothing circles on her shoulders. "Tell me everything - from the beginning". He lowered his head so he could look her in the eyes and smiled. "Slowly this time".

Sanem took a deep shuddering breath. "Tamam, Can Bey". She proceeded to tell him about her aunt's will, and about her perfumes and how she wanted to start her own company and how she knew her perfumes would do well, because anyone who had ever sampled them had told her so. "See for yourself", she leaned towards him guilelessly, and stretched her neck out, as if to have him sniff it.

Ah! That was the scent that had warped his brain. The memory of it hit him again, and he had to fight the urge to bury his face in her neck. Damn those glass doors.

"Her will says I have to be 25 and married for 2 months before I can inherit the money. I turn 25 in 3 months. So, as you can see, I'm running out of time", she said, taking another deep breath.

"Sanem....", he interrupted.

"We can have rules, lots of rules! I'll do whatever you want, pretend to be your fiancee, go to your fancy gatherings, anything", she said, her voice edged with desperation.

"Anything, huh?", he grinned teasingly.

"Can Bey!", Sanem blushed furiously. "I mean, we can have rules that we both agree on. And after 3 months we can pretend like none of it ever happened". Her eyes were wide and hopeful. "Lutfen?"

Can sighed in resignation. It was hard to resist those big, brown eyes. She was right - there was something in it for both of them, and 3 months was not that long in the larger scheme of things. He'd been on assignments that had lasted longer. This would just be another assignment, he reassured himself.

"Okay, let's do this", Can said, chuckling at the little yelp of glee she let out. "But let's talk about it somewhere else. That's the third time Guliz has walked by my office and stared at us. Soon she'll be concocting a story in her head and spreading it around the office. We really don't need any more distractions. How about we meet for dinner. There's a sandwich place by the pier. It's casual and they stay open late. We can head there from the office, once everyone has left."

"Tamam Can Bey", Sanem agreed readily. "I''ll see you in the evening". She turned towards the door.

"Sanem", he stopped her. "Maybe the first rule should be that you should call me Can in private".

"Tamam Can Bey", she replied, before smacking her hand to her forehead. They shared a smile at her slip-up, and she headed out, a spring in her step.