AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Like I said, I was just surprised that you'd thought it through that far. We are on the same team."
"Team knock you up and get my family to release my trust fund early."
"That's the gist of it, yup."
Silence stretches between us for half a minute.
"Since we're already naked, do you mind me asking why you decided that you have to have a family right now? You're pretty young. You still have plenty of time to meet someone and have kids."
"Because in my family, women go through menopause really early. My mom had her change of life at thirty-six."
He's quiet for a beat. "That's still twelve years from now."
I shake my head vehemently.
"I've done the math. Say I want to have three kids, with a year in between. That's well over ten years. And what if I struggle to get pregnant? I can't take chances with my fertility."
"You could always adopt..."
I look at him, gesturing to my face. "And miss out on seeing a baby with this adorable face? I don't think so. Besides, assuming that Aunt Delta doesn't lose the family land to the IRS, I have to have somebody to pass it on to." I give him side eye. "Our land is worth a lot, you know."
River looks at me, his eyes widening. And then he clears his throat and looks away. "I think I heard something to that effect."
"Well, whatever you heard is true. In order for me to have a baby to inherit the land, you have to do your job and knock me up."
His lips twitch. "Yeah, well. Speaking of the deal... I think we'll have to bring your family into the wedding planning that will no doubt be occurring starting tomorrow."
I wince. "I hate that my mom and Malik have probably already found out."
"Well, if you don't tell them, Instagram will. CapeSimonAroundTown will definitely know by tomorrow. Which means that the gossip will spread like wildfire."
I squeeze my eyes shut with a groan. "You got that right. I always kind of liked reading CSAT's posts about our town gossip. But now that I'm the subject, I'm starting to rethink my admiration."
'"Yeah, well. Be on alert from here on out. We both have to be fully invested in order not to get caught out by CSAT. So, like... no screwing around with anyone else until our deal is complete."
I roll my eyes. "I wouldn't do that. I don't just have sex with every guy I meet, River.”
"I never thought you did." He smirks. "I have to say, Pearl. Given our explosive chemistry tonight, I am glad that you picked me."
My cheeks feel hot. I bite my lip and reach out to run my hand down River’s bicep. "You know, if you want, we could explore our chemistry again--"
He stops me with a kiss on the lips, dragging me back down into the depths.
Fifteen
River
When Pearl finally pulls into the parking lot of La Petite Boulangerie, it's almost twenty minutes after our reservation time. I glance at my watch as she hurries over to my truck with an anxious look on her face.
"Sorry! Sorry, I got stuck at work. The girl that was supposed to relieve me called out and--" She stops, her cheeks glowing a dusky pink. "And you are not interested in all that."
I give her a tight smile. "Maybe save it for later. Right now, I need you to change out of your uniform and into the dress I brought for you."
Pearl looks down and runs her fingers up the apron skirt, where a dark brown stain has taken hold. "It's soda," she explains when she catches me noticing it. "The soda machine broke and I had to climb up on the counter to reach the instrument panel."
Suppressing a sigh, I open the door to my truck. "Gem is lucky to have you."
"Trust me, she knows that." She shoots me a quick smile and climbs in. She turns in the seat and starts to unzip the back of her dress.
