“You need to eat,” he mutters. “Come here, I’ll show you the security system.”
He stands next to a small monitor on the counter, then demonstrates how pressing a button activates a camera in the lobby, specifically over the guard’s desk. “Always look to see who’s in the lobby before sending the release signal.”
I nod and ask, “Do all residents have access to the lobby cameras?”
“No,” he says with a smile.
But seeing it’s not Pierce, and just an unknown delivery person, he buzzes the guy in.
A few moments later, while I finish going through the cabinets, Cormac sets down a small paper bag. The smell hits me so sinfully that I almost cry. From the bag, he hands me a warm egg sandwich and a toasted blueberry muffin.
“This is so nice of you,” I whisper.
“It’s breakfast. Not a kidney.”
I laugh. “I just said that to myself.”
“Great minds, I guess.” He hands me a napkin, and his fingers brush mine.
It’s lightning, pure and dangerous.
“Thank you. Yeah, we are great minds.”
“How do you feel?” he asks, studying me closely.
“Rested, but weird,” I answer and take another bite of the heavenly sandwich.
“Very weird,” he repeats.
We eat standing at the island, and it’sweirdlydomestic and comfortable. Like we’ve done this a thousand times. Like we fit together perfectly, but we’re fighting it.
“What do you do about meals that you don’t order in?” I ask, wiping egg drool from my chin. “Groceries and such. Snacks. I can shop on my way home from classes.”
“No need.” Cormac taps on his phone and turns the screen toward me. “I have a service. Just add what you want.”
“Great, I’ll reimburse you,” I say quickly, then realize I’ll be giving him back his own money. “Habit.”
He clears his throat. “Let’s talk about rules.”
“We went over the rules last night.” My voice tilts toward nervous laughter territory. “It was clear. No touching.”
“Are we clear on why?” His voice goes cold.
I blink. “You think that you’d be taking advantage of me. My vulnerability.”
“I don’t think. Iwould be.” He pins me with a stare. “If I touch you again, Scarlett…” His voice drops to sinful silk over steel. “It won’t end well for either of us. Some people know the meaning of control. I don’t.”
From the outside looking in, I guess he’s right. He asked me to be his fake wife, and I said no. As soon as I was in trouble, I reached out and grabbed the proposal with two hands.
God, I guess I do look desperate. I’ll try to make sense of why it was okay to mess around in his office…
Right, I tempted him to the point his restraint cracked like thin ice.
And if there won’t be any intimacy, there will never be love. My heart thumps at that. Cormac wants the full-time teaching position. And I want to finish medical school. Like it or not, this is simply a marriage of convenience.
With nobenefits.
“Are there more rules than the ones from last night?” I ask.