Page 86 of Seale the Deal

He looks at me, and for a split second, I wonder if he’s hoping that I say no. If he’s just trying to get rid of Remi so we can finish what we started.

But Remi is fast to take him up on ending the evening. Great! Let’s go to bed.

With my back to Ruger, I pull his sweater over my head, breathe in one last hit of pine, and drop it on the bed.

Thank you for your— I look at his sweater. —hospitality. Good night.

Good night.

Weirdos, Remi mutters as we cross the hall.

As soon as we enter the room, I quickly crawl into my bed and pull the blankets up, trying to force my brain to stop replaying what happened between Ruger and me. Remi turns off the light, and then there’s the rustle of blankets as she gets into bed without saying anything while I keep my eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Wren?

I turn toward Remi. Yeah?

She looks a little nervous.

What is it? I sit up a little more.

Remi doesn’t say anything right away, and the lack of her saying anything makes my heart kick. Have you and Ruger… done anything? Like things you and I wouldn’t do. You get me?

Relief rushes through me. She’s not asking the real questions I’m terrified of like, Do you like Ruger as more than a fake fiancé? Or Are you harbouring a secret desire to stick your tongue down my brother’s throat?

No, I say honestly. Just friend stuff.

Okay, Remi says, though her voice sounds anything but convinced.

There’s a beat of silence.

You’ll tell me if you do, right?

Sure. But it won’t. I’m not here for romantic love or sex. I’m here for my career. Though this non-sexual-fake-relationship thing is starting to feel impossible. I can’t help wondering what would’ve happened if Remi hadn’t interrupted us, because I know I wouldn’t have stopped anything. He could’ve kissed me, pulled me closer, taken me to his bed—I would’ve let the moment take us anywhere.

Okay. And Wren?

Yeah?

Please never use the word sex when talking about Ruger again.

I chuckle. Fine. Good night.

I roll so my back is to her bed and pull the covers up to my chin.

Ruger and I almost kissed. Guilt twists through me. Remi is my best friend, and keeping something from her feels wrong, especially when that something involves her twin brother.

But what am I supposed to tell her? Hey, remember when you walked in? Your brother and I were maybe a half second away from making out. At least I think we were. He might’ve been examining my pores. Who knows?

All I know for certain is that Ruger was close enough to kiss. The thought lands in my stomach, causing an eruption of butterflies that almost hurt. He was so close I could count the freckles across his nose and breathe in his woodsy scent. The memory makes my pulse go completely off the rails, and I bury my face deeper into my pillow, willing my brain to think about anything else.

This has to be the proximity. A perfectly normal response to spending a month with an attractive man. Because the alternative feels far too complicated, and my life is already complicated enough. At some point, this arrangement ends. Marriage papers will be replaced by a divorce petition. One of us will have to walk away, and the last thing I need is to start wishing that day never comes.

Chapter 16

Wrenley

DAYS LEFT ON VISA: 58