Page 27 of Nothing to Win

“Everywhere,” she admitted.That extra glass of wine at dinner freed her inhibitions.“Anywhere you want.”

His voice deepened as it slowed.“Be careful, Irish.Once you grant permission, it’s mine.Wholly.Until I say otherwise.”

“Will you hold me Saturday night?Dance with me?”

There was always dancing at these glitzy get-togethers.

“I don’t dance,” he said.“And our first formal public appearance will be Friday night.”

“Friday?”

“Mm.Plans have changed.”

Bringing forward the official public reveal by a whole twenty-four hours.The day of the week had less to do with her request than her need to be up close.Somehow, honesty was easier when she didn’t have to look him in the eye.Lying there in bed, it was a fantasy, a dream, and it felt good.

Stroking her stomach, she wanted her hand to be his.“Quid pro quo, Mister.If I give you something, you’ll have to dance with me.”

“You’re coming home with me Friday night, Irish,” he said.“Your father encouraged me to accept an invitation I’d intended to decline.He’ll bring you to the event, then you’re coming home with me.”

The men’s afternoon meeting must’ve borne fruit.Had they come to some kind of arrangement?Amazing that they’d spoken as rational adults.Brogan?Yeah, she could believe he kept his cool.Maybe too much.She’d never seen him without it.Her father was less adept at restraining himself.

“That’s news to me.”

Her excitement wasn’t reciprocated.Brogan was good at matter of fact, that was his way.

“We’re an intimate couple, Gia.You’ll be spending a lot of time in my apartment over the next few weeks.”

Boyfriends usually went through various rounds of meetings with her father before she spent the night at their apartments.After that day’s negotiations, Brogan apparently exempted himself.

“I don’t even know where you live.”

“You will,” he said.“You’re my partner, Gianna.Do you understand what that means?”

No, she wasn’t sure she did and never would.As much as she enjoyed playing with him, what they had wasn’t real.They had no future, no time to figure anything out.Still, while she had to endure the charade, there was nothing wrong with indulging in the fantasy.

Being Brogan’s partner wouldn’t be the same as being any other man’s.

“That the world thinks we’ve had sex… that I’m at the mercy of your quid pro quo.”

“Our quid pro quo.”

Pushing the duvet from her body, she breathed in through her teeth when cool air rolled over her.

“Our deal is that I do what I’m told,” she said.“You can ask anything you want of me.”

“Anything sexual I want is subject to quid pro quo, sex wasn’t explicitly part of our deal.”

Licking her lips, she trembled again.“Do you want something sexual?”

“Right now I want to know if you’ve paid your debt.”

“My debt?”she asked, skimming her hand down her body.“I’m naked, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Nothing?”he said.“A man should know what his woman wears in bed.”

“I sleep in a nightgown.”

“Not anymore,” he said.