Page 64 of Lease to Love

Don't do it again.

I touched my cheek.

Then looked away.

"This is a business arrangement," I told the empty room.

My voice sounded almost convincing.

"A strategic, time-limited, mutually beneficial business arrangement."

I nodded.

"Roman Sterling is your landlord. Your fake boyfriend. Nothing else."

I glanced toward the desk where me and Autumn's old composition book sat beneath the lamp.

I looked at it for a long moment

"For the shop," I whispered. "For Autumn."

That was what this was.

That was all this was.

I said it until I believed it.

Almost.

I changed out of the dress with more care than was strictly necessary and hung it back in the garment bag.

The care was because it was expensive. That was all.

I stood there for another second, staring at it.

Then I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Don't get caught up, Summer."

This time, my reflection didn't look nearly as convinced as I was.

Chapter Eight

Roman

“Three years.”

I didn’t look away from the television.

“Three gotdamn years.”

Erik's voice kept coming from somewhere behind me, followed by the unmistakable sound of my refrigerator opening.

“You let me spend three years thinking you hated this woman. And now I find out you were just pulling her pigtails.”

I reached for my beer from the coffee table and took a slow drink. Shrugged. “It’s new, Erik.”

The refrigerator door slammed, and I could hear Erik moving around behind me, opening drawers and cabinets with the confidence of a man who had absolutely no intention of buying his own groceries.