Mr. Fiancé(10)
He chuckles. “Never married, and last girlfriend was over a year ago.” He scratches his chin, and for some reason, it makes him even hotter that he’s not totally perfect. I can’t help it. I’m relieved he hasn’t been married. “I recently quit my job, actually,” he adds.
“Why?” I ask. Here it comes, the big let-down. He spends his days playing video games and wants to be a YouTube ‘star’.
He pauses for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “I had a disagreement with my boss and decided it was time to go on my own way. So I moved here. Mom has a bad leg and needed help around the house. I wanted to help her and maybe start up something here in town.”
I nod softly. Better than I hoped. “That’s admirable.”
“I hear you work up at that coffee shop in the Grand Waterway,” Oliver replies. “Enjoy it?”
I roll my eyes. “Most of the time. I’ve been hoping to open my own one day. There’s a ton that we have to do to fit with hotel policies that I don’t like. I’ve been saving and saving, and I mean, working with Gavin and Bri is great and all, but . . .”
“Running a business is harder than you think. If you think you work a lot now, wait until you have your own,” Oliver says.
I stop, surprised. “Yeah, but it will be mine so—”
“You’ll work harder?” he interrupts. “Yeah, at first you will, but then it’ll become the same old, same old and you’ll want to slop the work off on some other poor bastard.”
“That’s not my style,” I say.
He shrugs, uncaring. “That’s what they all say.”
“Well, they’re wrong,” I say more sharply than I intended, and I realize it. “Sorry. But I don’t shirk shit off onto my workers.”
Oliver waves it off. “Don’t be. At least you’re being real. I imagine you won’t be as soon as we see your family.”
His little jab stings. But I feel like I have to do this next bit. “My mother, she’s uh . . . she’s marrying someone who has money. She’s become a little snobby.”
Oliver groans, rubbing at his temples as he gives me raised eyebrows. “One of those?”
“Yeah. One of those.” I pause, digging in my purse to bring out a picture. “I brought a picture book with names attached. This might be a little easier if you can recognize a few of them.”
I toss it over to him, and he opens it and begins flipping through pages. “Aunt Rita,” he mutters.
“You’ll love her. She’s a firecracker with a sharp mouth.”
Oliver keeps going, pausing a few pages later. “Roxy? Cute name. She looks like you.”
“That’s my sister. She calls herself a younger, better version of me. But that’s a lie.” I swing my hair around, lifting my nose to the ceiling. “You can’t top perfection.”
He chuckles and flips through a few more pages then sets the book aside. “I can handle it. I’ll give it a look over later.”
“Also,” I say, digging in my purse and pulling out a piece of paper, “I’ve prepared a list of rules, some dos and don'ts. Just so we’re on the same page here.”
I feel stupid. When I made it this morning, I didn't know I’d be walking right into a man who’s literally sex on a stick, but he just flashes me a little grin. “Hit me.”
I try not to tremble as I recite them. “First, when we’re not in the presence of my family, you’re not allowed to touch me. And if there comes a time where we display affection for show, only I initiate it. Also, in front of my family, you’ll never lay a hand anywhere on my body that can be deemed inappropriate. Last, you’ll always be respectful and laugh at my jokes.”
My heart is pounding as I lower the paper. “I’ll give you a paper with more, but that’s all I could think of for now.”
He chuckles, amused. “That’s cute. But I’m going to let you know now, Princess, that I’ve never followed rules well.”
I grip my throat as anger flares up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He smiles. “We’re supposed to be engaged, aren't we?”
“Yes, but—” I start, but Oliver cuts me off, his eyes quieting me in an instant.
“Okay then. Then let’s be real. If I want to kiss you in front of your family, I will. If I want to grab your ass to show them what’s mine, I will.” His eyes bore into me with an intensity that seems to say, and if I want to fuck you, I will. So get your pretty little head used to that idea, Princess.
Oh, my God. What have I gotten myself into?