Page 19 of The Arrangement

“Or three or four,” I murmured, pulling open my drawer and producing a clean pair of boxer briefs and pajama pants. I dropped the towel, turning away from her slightly as I pulled the clothes on. When I reached for the drawer again to search for a T-shirt, I felt her hands on my back.

I jolted, glancing over my shoulder at her. “Jesus, I didn’t see you move.”

She smiled, her eyes bloodshot. She had had a lot to drink. She trailed her fingers across my forearms, up my biceps, her gaze following her hands. She reached my neck, then my jawline.

“What are you doing?”

At my voice, her eyes flicked up to meet mine, batting at me from behind her thick, dark lashes. “Appreciating my sexy husband. Is that not allowed?”

I swallowed, not sure when the last time she referred to me as sexy was, and gripped her waist, pressing our bodies together. It felt slightly wrong, after having just been with Mallory, but—

“Don’t,” she said, interrupting my thoughts.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t think…” She pressed up onto her toes, kissing my lips. The kiss was soft at first, but then her lips parted and she sank into me, exhaling deeply. I felt the fire starting in the base of my stomach as she pulled the shirt from my hands and tossed it to the floor before running her fingernails down my back, then through my hair.

I inhaled her scent as I pushed her toward the bed. There was something different about her—wild and untamed, like how I remembered her from years ago. When we reached the bed, we broke apart and she untied the hot pink robe she was wearing and let it fall to the floor. Ordinarily, she’d be wearing a T-shirt and pajama shorts underneath, but that night, there was nothing. Nothing but her.

I took in the sight of her naked body. In recent years, we’d taken to having sex in the dark, usually under the covers. It was rare I was able to look at her like this, got to appreciate her like I was getting to now. I felt the heat traveling from my stomach, spreading throughout my limbs and appendages, filling me with desire. I leaned down, cupping her breast and pressing my lips to hers again.

For the first time in a long time as we moved together, I couldn’t seem to bring up a single thought. There was only her. I didn’t worry. I didn’t stress. I didn’t think about work or the kids or the house or money. I just existed with her. I moved above her, within her. She took me in wholly, her eyes locked with mine. There was passion there that I hadn’t seen from her in years, and though I had no idea what brought it on, I didn’t care. I wanted her like I’ve never wanted anyone in my life.

Maybe her plan had worked after all.

Chapter Eleven

AINSLEY

Peter and I didn’t talk most of the morning, though we were both still glowing from our night together. I didn’t want to dissect what had happened, or why it happened, so I chose silence and he didn’t press me for conversation. I was sure he was running through millions of questions in his mind too, but for the moment, it seemed best that we both sit with our thoughts and feelings until we knew what to do with them.

I dropped the kids off at school before heading toward the bank, my mind elsewhere. As I was driving, I heard my phone buzz from the cup holder and glanced down at the built-in screen on my dashboard.

2 New Dater Messages, it said, and I stared at the name, Stefan.

So, he hadn’t given up yet. It was Friday, and all I wanted to do was make it through the day and to the weekend unscathed. But I knew the next week would bring a new set of challenges. I needed to connect with someone new by Tuesday. I needed to get the point across to Stefan, make him realize I wasn’t going to respond, that I couldn’t, and apparently that was going to be harder than I’d expected.

All too soon, I was at the bank and waiting on the all-clear signal from one of the bankers that said it was safe for us to go inside. When it arrived, a small slip of pre-agreed upon pink paper taped to the front door, I stepped from my car, grabbed the phone, my purse, and my tea, and headed toward the building.

Once I was inside, I glanced down at the screen, reading his message from within the app.

Checking in again. Can you at least let me know you’re getting these?

The next one said, I’m guessing I did something wrong—sorry about that. I told you I was rusty at this dating thing. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for whatever it is. You don’t have to respond, but I had a lot of fun with you, and I hope I didn’t offend you somehow. Have a great weekend, Ainsley. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

I nodded, lowering the phone as guilt and worry washed over me. Poor Stefan. This wasn’t what I wanted.

“Good morning,” I called to Brenda as she refilled the coffee pot on the far side of the lobby. I heard the clang of the vault door as the tellers opened it, beginning to remove their cash drawers and set up for the day. The building was eerily quiet for the most part, the sounds fresh and stunning in the stark silence. Before our customers arrived, before we opened our doors, it was always quiet. Most days, we were all still trying to wake up and get in our first few cups of coffee before the morning huddles and the craziness set in.

I put my key in the knob of my office door, twisted it, and froze, my body going icy. I grabbed the phone from my pocket again. No.

I reread the message. It wasn’t possible.

No. No. No.

There it was. Why hadn’t I caught it the first time? Have a great weekend, Ainsley. I sucked in a sharp breath, my arms lined with goose bumps as the question rang out in my head: Why had he used my real name?

Chapter Twelve