Page 37 of What Doesn't Kill You…

There would have been a lot less guessing if he had the faintest idea where this conversation was heading. "Yes, I know how two people behave before their wedding."

"Okay. That's good." She took a breath, nodding to herself before staring him right in the eye. "In that case, there's only one thing to do. I will take charge of the security side of our partnership." She wet her lips. "And you will take care of the fake relationship side of it."

She seemed to think she made perfect sense. She didn't.

"I don't get it," Max said, feeling very stupid.

She made a frustrated little growling sound. "You're going to make me say it, aren't you?"

"Say what? I have no idea what's going on here."

"What's going on," she said through gritted teeth, "is that I am prepared to cede control over part of this operation." She cleared her throat and lifted her chin. "To be specific, the part that involves making everyone believe we're in love and want to be married."

"And how are you giving up control of this?" he asked warily.

"By letting you direct the physical and romantic aspects of our cover." She took a step toward him, closing the distance and obviously becoming angrier by the second at his inability to keep up with her line of thought. "You decide when we touch. You will lead in romantic gestures, glances, verbal expressions, and all that other stuff." She seemed to be a little confused as to what that other stuff might involve but she carried on regardless. "You will tell me what to do and how to behave. And I will follow orders." She looked a little sick when she said that last sentence.

He cocked a brow. "You'll follow orders?"

"Yes," she ground out.

He pushed away from the sink and stood in front of her, mere inches apart. So close he could feel the heat coming from her. "You won't flinch when I touch you?"

"No, I won't." It could have been said with less enthusiasm, he thought. But not much.

Max reached up to brush her hair back from her face, watching her still as he did so. "You won't scowl when I reach for you?"

"No."

"Or growl if I invade your personal space?"

"No."

"Or threaten me if I act familiar or loving?"

"No." Her fists were clenched at her side. This was costing her big time.

His Violet didn't like giving up any control.

His Violet?

He shook the thought off as his fingertips trailed down the curve of her cheek.

"And there will be no violent retribution for anything I ask you to do?"

Her eyes darkened. "Just so long as you don't take advantage."

"I'd never," he vowed.

She swallowed hard. "Then, we have an agreement?"

He caressed her bottom lip with his thumb, wondering if he was making a pact with the devil. "Yeah, we have an agreement."

She let out a long breath. "Okay, that's good." Her gaze swept the room before coming back to him. "What now? Do we kiss or something?"

Max smiled, slow and wicked. "Our first kiss isn't going to happen in a toilet, Vi."

She was back to being angry. "Then how are we going to become familiar and comfortable with each other?"