All Jacked Up(6)
Anything? Now we’re talking.
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15
Lorelei James
A preposterous idea began to form. One so…crazy she might actually go for it. Maybe they could help each other out.
“Anything?” he prompted.
Keely’s steely, yet teary-eyed gaze met his. “Yes. Anything.”
Jack leaned forward. “Then marry me.”
16
www.samhainpublishing.com
Chapter Three
“M-marry you?” Keely sputtered. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”
“No. I’m dead-ass serious.”
“Why the fuck would I marry you? I don’t even like you.”
“Back atcha, babe, but this could solve both of our problems.”
“You are my problem,” she grumbled.
“Just hear me out, okay?”
“I’ll listen until the guys with the straightjackets arrive, because you are certifiable.”
Jack loomed over her, his vibrant green eyes blazing. “Didn’t you just say you’d do anything to get me to oversee your project?”
“Yes. But—”
“Then shut up and listen.”
Damn man. Bossing her around.
You like it. You like that he doesn’t fall in line.
“Last week I was shut out of consideration for a huge restoration project because of my marital status…or lack thereof.”
Keely blinked at him. “Why would it matter whether or not you were married?”
“It just does,” he said testily.
“Is the remodel job in a nunnery or something?” Heaven knew Jack Donohue would tempt a nun into tasting the sins of the flesh. Repeatedly. With absolute gusto and zero repentance.
“No. But you’re thinking along the right lines. The committee choosing the overseeing company for this project is very conservative, very traditional and they have the money to be choosy.” He sighed.
“Might seem weird, but religious organizations often select their contractors based on their religious preference.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Say the Catholic church is adding on. They have the right to consider only Catholic contractors. This group set up parameters that might seem unusual, but I’ve dealt with far worse constraints, believe me.”
“Is it an issue of the consultant having to live in this conservative town for the duration of the project?
Is the committee afraid a hot single guy will pose a threat to the unattached ladies?”
Lorelei James
“Hot single guy?” he repeated, tacking on a bad-boy grin. “Careful, Keely, you might give me the wrong idea that you’re somewhat attracted to me.”
Instead of saying, You are all that hotness and a bag of chips, baby, Keely rolled her eyes.
“After I visited the site and met with the committee last week, I knew they were interested in my ideas. But when it came to my personal life…their enthusiasm waned.”
Her brain warned, Don’t ask him if the committee thinks he’s gay, but it was no use; her mouth ignored the directive. “Are they afraid you have a male lover hiding in the closet at home?”
With that snarky comment, she’d pushed Jack too far.
He crowded her against the wall. “You looking for a firsthand demonstration of my heterosexual prowess, cowgirl? Because I’m more than up for the challenge.”
Please. Your body is hot and hard and you smell so damn good and it’s been ages since I’ve had a real man this sexy this close to me. “Umm…”
“Jesus.” Jack leapt back and rubbed the squished section of skin between his dark eyebrows. “You can rile me up in no time flat.”
“Which is why this marriage idea would never work. We’ve come to verbal blows more than a few times.”
“True.”
“Plus we don’t even live in the same state.”
“Let me think.” He paced, muttering to himself. He stopped in front of her with a triumphant gleam.
“A wedding is out. How about if we announce we’re engaged?”
“Engaged in what? Battle? Not a newsflash, Jack.”
He scowled. “Smartass. I’m serious.”
“So am I. How is an engagement any better?”
“It’d explain why we’re living apart.”
Keely stared at him. “You are insane. How do you propose we explain the fact we can’t stand each other?”
“We’d have to change that. In public we’ll have to moon around in love or some such sappy shit.
Pretend we rock each other’s world.”
She swallowed her immediate response— never fucking happening— and said, “That’s impossible.”
Those piercing green eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you in a relationship?”