Page 41 of Top Shelf

“Good.”

“Ever.”

“Great.”

“No implied access.” His mouth tightens like the phrase offends him. “And no assumptions.”

Some of the tension in my shoulders eases. “And what about other people?”

He takes a breath. “For optics, no dating or sleeping with other people publicly.”

“Publicly?”

“Well, if you had someone private, I would not mind, if—”

“I don’t.” The words come out too fast, and his eyes flicker. I look down at my desk. “I mean, I don’t currently have someone. Private or otherwise.”

“I also do not.”

“Well, congratulations on our mutually bleak sex lives.”

His mouth almost moves again, and I tap the folder.

“But that all needs to be clear. I don’t have anyone exclusive right now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t date, flirt, hook up, make questionable life choices after margaritas, or generally exist with a libido and free will.”

“Understood.”

“For optics, I understand no public dating other people, but I’m not agreeing to you having ownership of my private life.”

“I do not want ownership of your private life.”

“Good, because I’m very attached to it.”

He nods. “And for what it’s worth, for the term of the agreement, I would not be with anyone else.”

My stomach gives a small, stupid twist. “For optics?”

“For respect.”

Oh. Hate that. Also, kinda love it.

“Right,” I say, looking down at the folder. “Well, I can agree to no other partners during the marriage term too, provided the contract says that it applies equally and has nothing to do with access between us.”

“Of course.”

“And one more thing,” I add. “I’m bisexual.”

“I know.”

“And my bisexuality doesn’t get edited out because this arrangement involves a man.”

His brows pull slightly. “No.”

“No, as in you disagree?”

“No, as in I would not ask that.”

“So if we did this, there would be no jokes or coy PR language that implies I was simply ‘confused’ before you.”