The Arrangement Read Online Free PDF Page A

don’t want you thinking that at the end of two years I’m going to change my mind and try to take half your money.”
    “I know you wouldn’t do that, but if that’s what you want, I have no objections. I can have my assistant e-mail me a basic one and we can print it at the library. I don’t think they have a computer here.” He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “What else?”
    “I don’t want to move.”
    “Fine, I’ll move in with you. My father has been itching to open an office in Greenville anyway.”
    She nibbled her bottom lip. “My house isn’t grand or anything. It’s a new build, but it’s probably not what you’re used to.”
    “I’m not a snob. I’m sure it will be fine.” The n he laughed. “And if it’s not, we can always buy a new one.”
    Ariadne crossed her arms over chest to hide her tightening nipples. Could she also demand that he stop laughing? Or, hell, change his laugh? Probably not reasonable. “And no smoking in my house. You’ll have to go outside.”
    “I quit smoking.”
    She arched a brow in surprise. He’d been smoking since high school. From what she’d heard, he’d smoked more than a pack a day. Despite that, the scent didn’t cling to him. Maybe he always smoked outdoors. Whatever the reason, he only smelled of expensive cologne and man. Smoking had given him a gravely, sexy rasp to his voice, but the bad habit was just another thing she hadn’t approved of about him. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen him with a cigarette this entire trip. She couldn’t recall the last time she had seen him with one. “When did you quit?”
    He grinned. “Oh, right after someone refused to ride with me because, let’s see, and I quote, ‘Your car smells like cancer on wheels.’”
    Ariadne covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry.” That had been particularly callous of her. It had been right after Ted and Erika’s wedding and she’d needed a ride to the reception. It had been a long day. As Erika’s maid of honor, she’d been stressed out trying to make sure that Erika remained stress free. She’d refused to ride with Asher not only because his Porsche reeked of cigarettes, but she also hadn’t wanted to be enclosed into such a small space with him. Later she had recalled that his mother had died of cancer when he was only fifteen. Had it been anyone else, she would have made a point of seeking them out to apologize. But it was Asher and she’d spent the rest of the evening avoiding him.
    “It’s okay.” He shrugged. “I’d been meaning to quit anyway. I got rid of that car, too.”
    She’d noticed he was driving an SUV, but she’d assumed he had more than one vehicle. “So do you have any conditions?”
    “Not at this time. However, I reserve the right to revisit this conversation.”
    “God, you really are a lawyer, aren’t you?”
    He laughed and she wondered how often that laugh had proven to be an advantage to him. When they first met, she’d thought he had to be faking it, but one look into his eyes told her it was real. They sparkled with mirth and it was almost impossible not to be moved.
    “So, do we tell Ted and Erika the truth? I know you’re close to her and you might want to share this with someone. But I must insist that you limit the number of people you do tell. If it gets out that the marriage isn’t real, it could be disastrous.”
    “I think that telling Erika would be for the best. Otherwise, we’d have to start pretending to be in love right now.”
    He arched a brow. “When that eventuality comes about, do you think you’ll be able to perform?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean,” he said, stepping forward and into her personal space until she was backing away from him, “Can you pretend to love me? Can you, for a change , not avoid me, and my touch?” The countertop dug into her spine as she leaned away from him. “Can you accept my kisses and act like