Page 33 of Heartless As Puck

Jane will never be expected to share either a bedroom or a bed with Austin.

Hand-holding, hugging, and chaste kisses may be carried out when in public or as necessary to maintain the charade, but never when Jane and Austin are alone.

Against my better judgment, I hoped that such things might, in fact, prove necessary. How would it feel to hold Austin’s big, warm hand, or be tucked against the side of his body?

No, don’t think about that.

I forced myself to return to the list.

Jane is to be paid $50,000 up front. If she cancels the arrangement, she will refund Austin a percentage of the lump sum determined by the length of time she will not be carrying out her additional duties as compared to the length of the season as a whole.

Jane may choose her own outfits, hairstyle, and makeup.

Neither Jane nor Austin will engage in a flirtation or affair with anyone else for the duration of the arrangement.

At the conclusion of the arrangement, Jane’s employment with Austin will be terminated.

No one other than Gus Wu and immediate family is to be told of this arrangement.

There were ten rules. That seemed like a decent number. I didn’t think any of them were unfair either. I refused to be forced into a situation where I had to endure the press or stand to be subjected to poor treatment.

I also wouldn’t be humiliated if Austin decided he needed a little between-the-sheets action. Not that I thought he would. I’d never known him to bring a woman home. Perhaps he snuck one into his room during the occasional away game, but I tended to think not. Better safe than sorry, though.

The arrangement also needed to be fair to Austin. He’d said he was willing to pay me $50,000 for trying, even if it only lasted a few days, but my conscience wouldn’t let me get away with that. He worked hard for his money, and I’d only take what I’d earned.

I didn’t want word of what we were doing getting out, and personally, I’d rather only Gus know the truth, but I also didn’t want Austin to feel that he couldn’t talk to Hazel about it. I’d keep my mouth shut to my own family because I knew they’d try to insist I stop and just let them give me the money. They didn’t understand my need to prove myself.

Satisfied, I took the list with me and left my room, wandering the house until I found Austin in his home gym, midway through a stretching routine. He was bent in half, his fingertips brushing the tops of his feet, his strong thighs and glutes straining against the soft track pants he wore.

I gulped. The fans weren’t wrong. He had a really nice ass. Perhaps I should add another rule: Don’t ogle your boss.

I cleared my throat to let him know I was there. “Can you come and see me when you’re done?”

He straightened slowly and extended his arms above his head, then leaned from side to side. “What about?”

“Your proposition.”

Lowering his arms, he turned toward me, his sleek muscles rippling beneath a tank top that was plastered to his skin by a fine sheen of sweat.

“We can talk now.”

“Um. Okay.” I thrust the list of rules toward him. “I’m willing to do it, but these are my conditions.”

He glanced down at the paper, but his gaze didn’t linger for more than a few seconds before he raised his head and nodded. “I agree.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Did you even read them?”

I’d labored over those rules. Agonized over where to draw the line.

“Whatever they are, I’ll make them work. How about I call Gus and get him to add them to an official contract? Would that make you more comfortable?”

“Yes, please.” Perhaps I should trust him to carry through without a written contract. I knew he was a man of his word. But I needed the extra reassurance.

“I’ll do that now then.” He smiled. “Thank you, Jane. I promise, you won’t regret this.”

“I really hope not,” I murmured, soft enough that I wasn’t sure whether he’d hear. “I have an assignment to do, so I’ll be in my room.”

“I’ll knock when Gus has the contract ready.”