Page 116 of Falling for the Enemy

Terrified to wake up one morning, trapped in a house with a man who looked at her like a parasite he couldn’t get out, she stood her ground and insisted this was the better option.

She and Soren walked side by side, letting the dogs lead. As he did every morning, he handed her a warm tumbler. “Your sugar milk with a dash of coffee, M’lady.”

“Thank you, sir.” He was putting Esther out of business with his fancy brewing system. Whatever kind of beans he used hit her bloodstream like jet fuel.

“You writing today?”

“Yes. I finally got my couple to stop having sex long enough to confront their real issues.”

“Leander’s massive Viking cock?”

“Yes, that and the fact that Thora’s from a rival clan. Their forced marriage might have bound the clans in a political truce, but she still refuses to admit she has feelings for him.”

“Imagine that.”

She elbowed him in the side and made it look like an accident as she took a sip of coffee. “Damn, that’s good.”

“So, you’re writing a fight today?”

“Yes, as long as I can keep their clothes on. Sometimes characters have a mind of their own.”

He laughed, always amused when she talked about her fictional characters as if they were real people. “Well, who can blame them for such wanton behavior when the gods have blessed him with such an impeccable longship?”

“Exactly.” She sighed. “But something bad has to happen, and if I don’t write it soon, I’m going to miss my deadline.”

“So write it.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Why not?”

It wasn’t writer’s block as much as it was protectiveness. Jocelyn really liked this couple and wanted to put them in a safe little love bubble where nothing could ever harm them.

“Writing’s just a lot more complicated than people realize. There are a lot of mechanics and shit.”

“Ah, I forgot about the mechanics and shit.”

“Shut up.”

They crossed to the dog park and let the dogs off their leashes for a bit.

Tugging her cardigan under her butt, she lowered to a chilled bench. “What’s on your agenda today?”

“The usual—world domination, a bit of competitor espionage, taking you to dinner, then fucking your brains out for dessert.”

“Sounds delicious.”

“Oh, it will be. Especially the evening part.” He stole a sip of her coffee and winced at the sweetness. “We’re so close to voting on this deal. It’s been months of endless planning and research. It’s going to change everything.”

She might not share his excitement over his fleet of fishing ships, but she adored how passionate he got when he talked business. “Ugh, it’s gross how attractive ambition looks on you.”

A breeze cut across the park and she shivered.

“You’re cold. Here.” He unraveled the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around her shoulders.

She tucked her face into the soft cashmere and breathed in his familiar smell.

Yeah, he wasn’t getting it back.