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Oh.
I gulped in much needed air.
Our eyes met.
His face contained no expression, no clue of whether he was annoyed or intrigued by me disregarding his orders.
People walked right in front of him, destroying my view. Once they strolled by, he’d disappeared.
Of course. Now he knows where I am and I feel like some defenseless, hunted animal while he’s somewhere out there stalking me.
Sighing, I lifted my wine glass to my lips and feigned a bored look, but my eyes frantically searched everywhere—the crowded dance floor, the stage where the birthday boy’s guests partied, and even the exiting area of the garden.
Where is he?
Suddenly, Chase placed his hand on my lower back. “On nights when I’m alone in my bed with just my thoughts, I’ll be thinking of how you look tonight.”
I was glad I didn’t jump, but my hands began to shake.
He leaned his head close to me and brushed his lips against my ear. “You look divine. I’m glad you didn’t wear the dress I picked.”
“Thank you.” The little confidence I had within me evaporated like smoke and I couldn’t figure out why it left or how I was going to get it back.
he whispered in my ear, “Lucy told me you talked, and you wanted to come to some sort of compromise on the arrangement.”
His breath tickled and delivered a tiny shiver across my skin.
I stifled a moan. “Yes. I’m willing to try this situation if we can come to an agreement with my own rules and limits.”
“So a negotiation?” He got in front of me. His lips curled at the edges. “Now we’re talking. This is something I can understand. Let’s go somewhere we can hear each other better.”
With his hand still on my back, he guided me past several rose bushes.
The music’s volume decreased with each step until only the sounds of our footsteps on the stone walkway lingered. A gray wall with carved writing appeared next to a bench. A sparkling stream lay in front.
The sky and its glittering stars reflected on the watery surface.
The roses’ perfume wrapped around me as I lowered onto the bench.
“Okay. Let’s start.” Chase sat down beside me. He attempted to glance at my index cards.
“Stop that.” I pressed the cards to my breasts. “Okay. The first thing is that if I’m joining this arrangement, I will date other men.”
“No.” He narrowed his eyes. “Next.”
I rose. “I won’t budge on that, Chase. It’s the worst and dumbest part of your harem.”
“It’s not a harem.” He touched my arm. “Please sit down.”
I returned to my position on the bench. “I will date other men.”
He spoke through clenched teeth, “No sex with them.”
“No.” I smiled. “Next.”
We stared each other down for several seconds.
Neither of us seemed like we were willing to budge.
