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Sheto have to pretend one hell of a lot Give me terms Contract duration, remuneration, confidentiality clauses, adherence to all known employment laws Etcetera I want thes, but it doesn’t et them”

“Really?” she snapped “I’d love to see the list of things Matt DeLeo wants, but can’t have Santa let you down last year?”

A bitter thrill shot up his spine and he resumed eye contact “The contract will run for four weeks starting today I’ll pay you three times what you’re on now plus overtime at time and a half I’ll cover all your expenses, because I need you looking super hot”

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling “I’ this”

“Clothes, hair, pedi, mani, fake tan, reiki, whatever you need” He cocked his head to get her attention back on his face “You see? I understand the needs of high-maintenance women And as for confidentiality, I won’t tell anyone your darkest secrets if you don’t tell anyone you’re a girlfriend of convenience as well as irlfriend And my secrets aren’t that dark”

“Not on a world scalefor a few years” He blew air through his teeth “Heck, I’s you told me in the Parrot Bar And then later, back at the condo—”

“I don’t think we need to go into all that,” she said, her voice catching

She was bluffing just like he was, but this cat-and-ht she’d told hih the cocktail“Then that’s okay I’ll keep it all toAnd if you want to use ain–”

“I don’t”

If Piperto feel bad about, would he? She was a contractor for a set period of time and if she chose to seduce hiht not happen as quickly as he’d like it to, but it would It was arrogant of him to have that sense of certainty, but the sexual tension between them crackled in the air already He would play it cool and she would come back to him in the end

He smiled contentedly “A feeeks, all expenses paid, lots of parties, a good wage, and a priceless opportunity to push Silver Bells and Cockle Shells”

She looked surprised “I can do that? Promote my business?”

“Why not? It’s not as if we’re in direct coet the media team to run off some extra photo shoots for your own use Maybe in time we can talk about your products and how they could be useful to the brewery, our bars, retail outlets The possibilities are endless”

There was a hint of a dreaht at last Her voice lost its sharp edge “Cool”

“So?”

“So…I have no real choice”

“But it’s not so bad after all?” He saw her slender throat ain

“Will all this be happening in Passion Creek?”

“Mainly, but we o out of to and then Problenant cat in the house”

“Okay, we can probably sort sonant”

“Really?”

“Yes”

Maybe she thought he was a little du conned “And the due dates are?”