Chapter 5
“Engaged?” Grandpa Nate didn’t say another word, he just dropped the newspaper on the counter in front of her. And waited.
Libby blew out a long breath and looked up into grey eyes that reminded her so much of the mother she could barely remember, shining with disappointment. “What do you want me to say Grandpa?”
“The truth, plain and simple sugarplum. We’ve never lied to each other so let’s not start now.”
He was right and she knew it. They had one rule in their house when she was growing up, honesty. All the time. And now she had disappointed him and he didn’t even know the half of it. To avoid the unavoidable for just a few minutes she looked around the dining area of her bakery, the crisp pink and sea green gingham tablecloths that matched the napkins and the walls. The adorable bistro chairs that were unmistakably French were arranged neatly with classic books. This place was her future. Her livelihood. This was why she’d taken Amir up on his proposal. Looking her grandpa head on she told him the truth. “It’s a sham, Grandpa. In exchange for pretending to be his fiancée he is going to help me get a new location for the bakery. One that will be mine.” There, she’d said it. It was out there. Good. Great.
Fine.
“And you’re okay with that,” he asked, bushy grey brows furrowed into a deep vee. “Just renting out your affections for a building?”
His sharp words couldn’t have hurt more if they’d been dipped in poison. “Renting my affections. You really think that’s what I’m doing Grandpa?” She shook her head, pushing off the glass shelving unit and glaring at him. “This isn’t about a building, this is my business. My future.” One that would allow her to be the captain of her own ship. To control her life. It was the one thing she hadn’t been able to do her whole life. Her parents had decided to sail the world—without her—and died at sea. Again, without her. She’d had to work in Grandpa’s store growing up because it was expected of her which meant she had to go to culinary school around her work schedule. She’d had to wait on her nutrition training. All of it had been out of her control. Not this.
“If you say so Libby, but you’ve only had this building for less than a year. You could start over, move to another country or city. You’re letting a stranger help you, but not me. Your own family.”
She groaned, tired of this argument. “It isn’t his retirement at stake Grandpa, why can’t you understand that?” She felt the tears a moment before they fell. “You’ve sacrificed so much for me, I can’t take your future just to have one. I can’t.”
“That’s my decision to make little girl.”
“No, it isn’t. If I use your money and I fail, how on earth will I take care of you? Of us?”
“We’ll take care of each other the same way we’ve always done.” He shook his head with a knowing smile. “You should ask yourself why you accepted this man’s crazy scheme because I don’t see a new bakery.”
“Yet,” she snapped. “You don’t see a new bakery, yet.”
“Sure, let’s go with that.” He walked away from her, whistling until he reached the door. “By the way, that’s a gorgeous ring. Perfect for you too.”
She looked at the ring again when he was gone, realizing he was right. The ring couldn’t have been more perfect if it had been made just for her. If she ever got married, she would want this ring for herself. She would look at it every morning and smile, thinking about the man who’d loved her enough to give it to her.
But that was a someday dream because right now, she desperately needed to find a location. The time was just about up and she couldn’t find anything. Most of the buildings she’d looked at with Amir were too spacious for her need which meant high insurance and taxes, but she also had a hard time renting as an American. It was like they thought she might not be around in a few months and didn’t want to have to deal with the hassle. Maybe Grandpa was right and I should consider going back to the States. It wasn’t ideal, but she might have better luck with real estate if she packed up and went back. It’s not like I have friends to miss me here.
By the time she closed up Loaves of Love and began cleaning, she didn’t feel any closer to a resolution. With sore muscles and a heavy heart, she made her way to the little apartment she rented a few blocks away.
Kicking off her shoes and taking a hot shower, she relaxed with a bottle of wine, cheese and a baguette. She wouldn’t figure out her entire future in one night, but Libby knew one thing. She needed to figure out her next move.
And she needed to see through her obligation to Amir, without any more breathless kisses, tempting touches or any other intimacy that might confuse things in her head. No more Amir.
--
“You’re backing out.” He’d known he shouldn’t have picked up the phone when her name and smiling face appeared on his screen. Amir couldn’t believe that he’d wasted nearly a month on Libby and now she’d decided to back out of their agreement. So typical.
She leaned back on the plush cream colored sofa and stared up at him, eyes glittering with something that looked like amusement. “Did I say that? Because I’m pretty sure I said that you don’t need buy me a building anymore.” She had the nerve to sound annoyed which was strange because he was on the verge of yelling at the infuriating woman.
“Same thing,” he shrugged and stalked to the bar in the corner. He needed a drink to deal with her. Why I thought she’d be any different, I wonder.
“Does that mean you want the ring back?”
“I told you to keep it.”
She slid it off her finger and held it up between her thumb and forefinger. “And I told you when we were done, I would give it back. So what’ll it be?”
“I don’t want it back.” He wanted her to keep her damn word, was that too much to ask?
Summoning all the patience she could, Libby let out a long-suffering sigh. “So you understand that I intend to keep my word and help you, but I don’t need the building?” Dropping back against the sofa she sighed again and stared at the ceiling.
“What do you want then?” Because he wasn’t naïve enough to believe she would do this out of the goodness of her heart.
“I don’t know what my future will look like anymore Amir so there’s no point wasting your money. I said I would help you and I will.”
Now he was confused. “So why aren’t you backing out?”
She smiled. “Do you want me to? Would that make you feel better?”
“No.” He didn’t understand what was happening and Amir didn’t like the feeling. Women didn’t help for nothing in exchange. Even Nissa, whom his parents thought of as all things proper and appropriate, would benefit from a marriage to him. “Tell me why.”
“So bossy,” she joked, but her smile faded at his dark look. “Jeez because you needed this enough to buy a building for my business Amir. It must be important to you and I said I would help, so I will.”
“And?” His brows dipped in confusion.
“And what?” He tossed back the whiskey much faster than he should have, considering it was four hundred dollars a glass. “What’s your counteroffer?”
Libby stood and gathered her oversized patchwork bag. The thing was hideous, but she didn’t seem to mind. “I thought you were a decent guy Amir. Clearly I was wrong.”
“Wait, what? How am I the bad guy here?”
She whirled around, angry eyes glittering like sapphires. “Because I’m not backing out and you’re acting like I’m trying to get something else out of you!” She shook her head and took a calming breath. “You really do think your money and your crown are all you have? Have a nice life, Amir.”
She yanked the door open, but he was faster, slamming his palm against the door to close it again. “You said you weren’t backing out. Are you now going back on your word, Libby?” He knew it was manipulative and he didn’t give a damn. This woman intrigued him more than any had in a long time, and he didn’t have time to meet another woman and get fake engaged to her.
She turned and growled. “You are the most frustrating man, I swear! Do you want to continue this farce or not? Yes or no Amir.”
“Of course I do.” He leaned in close. Too close for her liking, but he felt like he was right where he should be. That little piece of skin at the base of her throat beat wildly showing just how affected she was by him. Good, because he was too damn affected by her.
“Okay then.” She pushed at his chest, but he didn’t move and she grew alarmed. Not for her safety, but by his proximity. “You can step back now.”
“You smell so damn good. Like woman and earth. And sex.” The shiver she couldn’t suppress hit him in the gut and lower, made him want her even more.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me,” he told her, his voice practically a growl. “In fact, I should be thanking you because you smell so. Damn. Good.” His mouth slanted against hers, his body pressing hers into the wall so he could feel all of her sweet feminine curves. She stilled at first, but a couple swipes of his tongue and then she opened up, letting him inside the delicious heat that was her mouth. Amir heard a groan somewhere off in the distance, but he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to it, not when Libby’s hands roamed his chest, sliding her hands over his shoulders and down his back.
Damn her hands scorched him everywhere she touched, marking him in a way he was vaguely aware that he shouldn’t allow. She groaned and it did things to him, made his body grow tight and hot. Needy. He swallowed the groan and squeezed her ass, pressing her against the wall so he could step between her legs, feel the damp heat between her legs, her smooth skin leading between her thighs. He devoured her mouth, licking deep and sucking until she clung to him, as needy as he was. He wanted more. More kisses, more of those sexy little moans. More of her silky flesh on display.
“Amir,” she moaned, breathy and out of control as his hands slid up her thighs until he felt her ass.
Her bare ass. “Libby?”
Dazed blue eyes smiled at him, lips swollen from his kisses and that turned him on. “Underwear isn’t really my thing. Too constraining.”
He swallowed a lump of desire down. “I’m glad to hear it, but right now all I can think about is stripping this dress off you and looking my fill. Then,” he leaned forward and captured her mouth in a kiss he knew he’d be dreaming about for weeks to come. “Tasting you until you can’t stand it.”
A moan ripped from her gut and her hands dug into his shoulders. “I already can’t stand it.”
“Responsive,” he said appreciatively. “I like it.”