The Wedding Agreement Read Online Free PDF

“Relax, Alex. I’ll do it.”
    Alex’s body released all the tension it had been holding, and he exhaled a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Cass. I owe you big time.”
    â€œIt’s really not that big of a deal.”
    â€œIt is to me. If there’s anything you ever need, just ask.”
    â€œWell, now that you mention it,” Cass said slowly. “I could go for that thing you did with your tongue that night after we left that party at Simo—”
    â€œAre you really bartering sexual favors in exchange for the care of my seven-year-old daughter?”
    â€œWell when you put it like that . . .” Cass paused for a second. “You know what? On second thought, I’m actually okay with it. I’ll just put it on your tab.”
    Alex rolled his eyes but couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across his face. Cass was saving his ass. The least he could do was give her some in return.
    *   *   *
    Cass and Nina sat across from each other in Cass’ living room. Despite having been around Nina before, this was the first time Cass was alone with her. “Are you hungry?” Cass asked.
    â€œNo. Daddy made me lunch before we left.” Nina’s voice was soft but steady. Considering that she was in the home of someone she barely knew, she didn’t look overly uncomfortable. Cass wished she could say the same for herself.
    â€œAre you thirsty?”
    â€œNo. I’m fine.”
    â€œDo you want to watch TV? Play a game? Go to the park?” Cass was firing questions at the poor kid like she was a murder suspect. She wasn’t ordinarily so awkward around kids. Her sisters both had children, and Cass had babysat them on occasion. It shouldn’t have felt so strange for Cass to spend a few hours with a little girl.
    â€œWhat do you want to do?” Nina asked, her head cocked slightly to one side.
    Pour myself a drink so I can relax,
Cass thought. The way Nina was looking at her made Cass feel like it was crucial to answer the question correctly. Cass had never felt such pressure. “I want to make brownies.”
    Nina’s eyes lit up, letting Cass know she’d said the right thing.
    â€œYou want to help?” Cass prodded.
    â€œYes!” Nina jumped up off the couch and smiled widely.
    â€œLet’s get to it, then. I’m pretty sure I have everything we need.”
    Nina followed Cass into the kitchen. Pulling a dining room chair in behind her, Cass told Nina she could stand on it, as Cass began gathering the ingredients and preheating the oven. She plopped everything down in front of Nina and read the directions. For the next few minutes, the girls worked side-by-side, with Cass reading the steps on the back of the brownie box and Nina carrying out the instructions. Cass gave the mix a few extra stirs to make sure everything was fully combined, spread the batter into the pan, and put it in the oven.
    Turning back around to face the little girl, Cass saw Nina’s eyes drift toward the bowl of brownie batter. “You’re not going to make me eat the leftover mix alone, are you?” Cass asked.
    Nina shook her head vigorously, picked up the wooden spoon, and licked it clean. Cass couldn’t help but smile at her. Nina really was a cute little thing. She had Alex’s dark brown hair, with big brown eyes and porcelain skin. It was a good thing Alex worked for the FBI, because he was going to have his handsfull keeping the boys away once Nina hit middle school. Having a firearm was going to come in handy.
    Nina got what she could with the spoon, but when that was no longer yielding enough results for her, she resorted to swirling her finger around the bowl to collect the chocolate. When she was finally finished, Nina had done a better job of cleaning the bowl than a dishwasher would have. Too bad she hadn’t been as successful keeping herself clean.
    Cass let out a small laugh.