Lisa Watson - Love Contract

“That’s a mystery,” she said quietly. She shook her head in disgust. “Thank God I don’t have to deal with him anymore.”

On cue, Adrian’s face manifested before her. Not the irate-looking Adrian, but the one that had kissed her senseless; the one whose eyes were alive with desire, whose body was smooth and hard like granite. The one that ran his thumb over her lips after he’d practically branded her with his own. Stop it, she scolded herself. He’s a playboy that delights in wrapping women around his finger.

“Well that won’t ever be me,” she vowed. Disturbed, Milán pushed thoughts of Adrian aside. She was about to head back to her hosts when the sound of a loud crash followed by a commotion drifted down the hallway

Milán rushed into the kitchen. “Is everything okay?” she said quickly. “I...I heard a crash.”

“I’m sorry, dear.” Norma Jean’s cheeks turned a faint red. “I was startled and dropped a dish. I’m fine.”

“Hello, Miss Dixon.”

Milán whirled around to see Adrian standing near his father.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted out.

Before he could reply, his mother spoke up.

“It would appear my son will be joining us for dinner. Oddly enough considering today is Saturday—and not Thursday.” She smiled serenely in his direction.

“Yes, that’s true.” Adrian returned his mother’s wide smile. “I usually come for dinner on Thursdays.”

“Good to see you no matter what day it is,” his father chimed in.

“Thanks, Dad.”

He turned toward Milán. “Imagine my surprise at finding you here.” Adrian closed the distance between them. When he leaned in, his voice was a taunting whisper. “And look...it’s not even snowing.”

Surprise was evident in Milán’s wide-eyed stare. She was silent so long, Adrian’s parents turned in their direction.

“Milán? Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she said, quickly. “I’m fine, Jeanie. I just...didn’t...” She turned a baffled expression toward Adrian. “I didn’t expect to see you again, much less so soon.”

“I have a habit of popping up where I’m least expected.”

“That’s an understatement,” Norma Jean shot back.

“You’re right about one thing, Mr. Anderson.”

“Really? What would that be, Miss Dixon?”

A tempered expression crossed her face. Milán stepped forward to speak in a voice only he could hear. “There are no snowballs to be found. What a pity.”

Chapter 5

Norma Jean glanced between the two of them. “Here, honey.” She handed her son the bowl of potatoes. “Adrian was just about to tell me how this all came about when you walked in.”

Milán watched Norma Jean push the bowl forcefully at Adrian. She bit back a chuckle.

The bowl connected with his chest. With a questioning glance toward his mother, he took the side dish into the dining room.

When he returned, he was lightly rubbing his chest. “I was telling Dad that I was in the area showing a house to a client.”

“Really?” his mother inquired, sweetly. “Where?”

“Farther down on North Melvina.”

“What a small world,” Norma Jean commented before she left the kitchen and took more food to the table.

The moment Adrian’s mother was gone, Milán rounded on him. “I don’t buy that for a minute.”

He regarded Milán with amusement. “Excuse me?”

“What you told your mother. I don’t believe it.”

Unable to help himself, Adrian moved closer. “First of all, you don’t know me well enough to automatically accuse me of lying.”

Milán snorted loudly. “Don’t I? They say you can tell much about a person’s character in the first few moments of meeting them.”

“So what makes you an expert?”

“Experience. Though, I didn’t heed that advice in my own life until it was too late. The results were disastrous, and something I’m not inclined to repeat.”

“If we’d just met, in addition to you obviously being a poor judge of character,” he countered, “I could say that you’re a, hothead that can’t hold her temper—and a poor kisser.”

A gasp escaped Milán’s lips. “How dare you,” she said indignantly. “You think you can take what you want without consequence and everyone is supposed to fall in line and do your bidding? You’re so conceited it’s appalling.”

With a shrug, Adrian leaned against the sink. “I tend to stray from doing the expected. Tell me, Miss Dixon, why do you think I’m here?”

“What?”

“You don’t believe my explanation, and since you’re an expert, you must have a theory.”

“I hope it’s not one of those dates your mother likes to fix people up on. If it is, she’s wasting her time. I’ve sworn off egotistical men.”

He snickered. “This is hardly a date. If it were, it would be the most hostile one I’ve ever been on.”

“Well then I guess you’re just here to ruin my evening.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “You think I was so unable to resist your alluring personality, I found out you’d be here and rushed right over under the guise of being in the neighborhood?”

The condescending tone in his voice grated on Milán’s nerves. She glared at him. “Yes.”

“Now who’s full of themselves?”

“Normally I’m a very nice person, except when I’m insulted by complete strangers and accosted in their offices.”

His smiled faded. “I didn’t accost you, and I tried to apologize if you recall.”

“You verbally assaulted me, and kissed me without my permission. Then you give me some lame, stammered-over apology and you think I’m supposed to be okay with that? I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to dealing with, Mr. Anderson, but I am not some simpering idiot who can’t see past that insincere smile you pasted on your face.”

“It wasn’t my fault. I thought it...you were a setup. My mother’s always fixing me up. I just assumed you were her latest manipulation. I’m trying to make amends, Miss Dixon, but it’s difficult when you’re not trying to see this for what it was—an honest mistake.”

Milán crossed her arms over her chest. “Both of us being here will be a disaster. I think one of us should leave.”

A lazy smile started at the corner of his mouth. “I guess you could—if I make you that uncomfortable.”

Her eyes darkened. “Nothing you do makes me uncomfortable.”

As if a gauntlet had been tossed, Adrian pushed away from the sink and sauntered toward Milán. He didn’t touch her, but she took a few steps in the opposite direction anyway.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

Adrian lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “So you haven’t thought about our kiss not once since you left my office?”

Milán paled. “Your kiss, Mr. Anderson, not mine and no, I haven’t.”

A smug look crossed his face. “I don’t believe you, Miss Dixon. My guess is you did, and just thinking about it makes you...uncomfortable.”

Her head tilted slightly to the side. “Then you’d be mistaken,” she replied sweetly. “A bruise to that overinflated ego of yours no doubt, but I’m sure you’ll get over it. Besides, I’m not a good kisser, remember?”

Before he could retort, Norma Jean sailed into the kitchen.

Milán wondered if Adrian’s mother was either oblivious, or purposefully ignoring the tension coating the air like melted caramel on an apple.

“I’m thrilled you two are getting along so well,” she commented. “You know, I honestly had my doubts whether you would after Adrian—”

“No point rehashing that again, Mom. I’m sure Milán has forgiven me that minor mix-up.” His eyes held a hint of challenge. “Isn’t that right, Miss Dixon?”