Chapter 61
Olivia
“Right now? Two people enjoying wine under the stars. He set his glass down and leaned forward. “Tomorrow? Who knows. That’s part of the appeal, isn’t it?”
I considered his words, swirling the wine in my glass. “You’re very different here than you are at the office.”
“So are you,” he countered. “Less guarded. More yourself.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I think so.” His eyes traveled over my face, lingering on my lips. “I like seeing the real Olivia.”
“How do you know this is the real me?” I challenged. “Maybe I’m just playing a part.”
“Are you?” he asked, his voice dropping lower.
I held his gaze. “No.”
Something shifted between us then, an acknowledgment of the truth. For all the complications of our arrangement, this moment felt genuine. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, the questions that lingered in the air between us.
“Have you decided?” Alexander asked, breaking the silence.
“About what?”
“About staying in my penthouse.”
I sipped my wine, using the moment to collect my thoughts. “I haven’t decided yet. I need a few more days to think about it.”
Alexander nodded, his expression unreadable. “Alright.”
push, to try to convince me
I
“Of course.”
meeting regularly, and after the wedding, I’ll be living
turned to face me fully, his expression thoughtful. “It’s about building a foundation. Getting comfortable with
that without living
it would be
I repeated, rolling my eyes. “You make relationships
what we’re doing? A business arrangement with
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Chapter 61
“Fair point.”
other–not just for appearances but for ourselves. This
his words. There was logic to them, even if I
lower, “I sleep better with you next to
caught me off guard. It seemed too honest and vulnerable for the
so?” I asked, trying to keep
said with a small shrug. “But yes. First good night’s sleep I’ve had
presence could have any positive effect on this man who seemed to have everything was oddly
about it,” I said finally.
He reached for the
this situation
a chuckle. “But
with that hint of suggestion in his voice, sent a small
is beautiful,” I said, changing the subject.
often as I’d like. Maybe once a
seems like
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