Chapter 16
16
Theo
“ C atherine.” I greet her the next morning, where she has her head buried in the fridge. I almost regret startling her. Better to let her bend over with that delicious, bitable ass in the air. “There’s still no food. Don’t bother.”
“I bought some,” she mutters from the depths. “Did you eat it?” She leans back to glare at me. Every time she gives me those narrowed eyes, I want to do more of whatever is annoying her.
“I don’t need food to live,” I say with a yawn. “I’ve risen above.” I stretch my arms over my head, my workout shirt riding up.
Her eyes go to my stomach. Just like they did last night. I’m getting to her and I’m sure as hell not stopping now. Not when I’m having so much fun, and not when she tastes so delicious.
“Like what you see?” I grin at her. “I can take it off if you want. Improve the view.”
“No, thank you,” she says primly, her cheeks red.
“Move over,” I grunt at her. “I’ll cook, but I want you to tell me something in exchange. ”
She fiddles with the ties on her shorts. “Fine.” She sighs. “But only what we need to sell this marriage.”
She’s so prickly. I nearly laugh, but I know she’ll be irritated. “Sit,” I say instead. I stare into the depths of the fridge. “You like kale?”
“For breakfast?”
I really need to get groceries. I resolve to do that later, maybe with George’s help. There has to be a grocery store near the office, right?
“Caviar and eggs it is.”
“Caviar,” she chokes out. “You just keep it on hand?”
“Of course. Don’t you?” I cock a brow at her.
She shakes her head, but she’s smiling.
“No studying this morning?” Just a small question, to warm her up, get her talking. I’m going to figure you out, princess.
“Oh no. I have my books right here.” She points at the stool, where her school bag is neatly packed.
“Show me what you’re working on.”
She heaves a sigh. “Valuations. I hate valuations. It’s the biggest part of my Corporate Finance class this semester.”
“That was my favorite.”
“Really?” She sounds skeptical, and I tense. “I would have assumed you were more in it for the networking.”
“That’s what most people assume,” I say tightly. Just a pretty face and an empty head, that’s me. I crack an egg against the counter with a satisfying thwack. The yolk breaks. Fuck. I toss it.
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
“That I’m a ne’er-do-well? A libertine? A playboy only here for a good time, not for a long time?” I let the eggs sizzle. “You’ve thought it, right?” I turn to her, arms crossed over my chest.
“I’m not going to lie to you.” Her cheeks are pink. “I mean, I’ve seen the photos. I assumed you didn’t care. It seems like you cultivated that reputation is all.”
“Better to be notorious than a nobody, I guess.” I shrug. “You’re spot on. You know me so well.”
“You’re the one with your nude torso splashed across the tabloids,” she retorts. “You’re the one with a new woman every night. It’s not like we talked for ten years. How would I know any better? What the hell was I supposed to think?”
That I’m better than that. My lungs constrict.
I grab plates and serve us with sharp movements, then drop into the chair across from her.
She looks at me with wary eyes. “I’m sorry, Th—”
“Don’t bother. I’m not offended.” I point at her plate. “Eat the eggs.” My insides feel like they’ve been turned to stone. Did you think she saw you clearly? That’s a crock of shit. Catherine was my friend once, but not anymore.
“We should try to get along.”
“We’re getting along just fine.” I shrug and scoop more eggs into my mouth without tasting them. A waste of good caviar.
“No, we’re not. I mean, brunch was nice, but we have a year of this. A year. ” She leans forward, pointing her fork at me.
“So? This isn’t real. Or have you forgotten?” Because I did. Foolish of me. I’m reminded now of what Catherine really thinks of me.
Her face goes blank. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” I scrape my plate.
“Don’t act like an ass.” When I look up at her, her eyes are flashing with anger. Meek Cat Peterson is gone, and in her place is Catherine, a woman, not a girl, who is very much not happy with me.
“I am an ass.” I give her a smug grin that I’m sure doesn’t reach my eyes. “You’re right, you know, about me. My reputation isn’t overblown. I’m just as bad as they say I am.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” she says stubbornly.
I snort and take my plate to the sink. “Are you going to try and save me with the power of love? Don’t bother. My soul is blacker than the space where a heart should be.”
“Really, Theo?” She gives me a skeptical look.
“I’m bad, baby.” I wipe my hands on the towel and stalk toward her. I need her to understand. “I’m irredeemable.” I run a finger over the silky-smooth skin of her throat. Her pulse is fluttering there, fast and obvious. “I might be cleaning up my act for my investors, but deep down, I’ll never change. You want to walk on the wild side? ”
She swallows hard under my hand.
My fingers capture the motion. “You wanted to once, princess, but you only got a taste. There’s so much more.”
She licks her lips. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I let my hand drop. She stands. “This is fake, Theo. No flirting with me.”
“You call that flirting?” I choke out the words. “You’ve never been flirted with, then. That was an invitation.”
Her cheeks are pink. “You know what I mean. This could get…messy. We shouldn’t be flirting or touching at home.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Can’t help it.” I wink at her, even as her rejection washes over me like cold water closing over my head. “I flirt with everyone.”
“I know. I’m not special.” She shrugs. “But still, I think we should be careful.”
“Scared you’ll fall in love with me? I understand. I am irresistible.” A lie so laughable that I’m surprised I can tell it with a straight face. I have never been irresistible to Catherine Peterson.
“No,” she says stubbornly. “This is fake. Better not to toe any lines is all.”
“I thought you wanted to get along.”
She grabs her bag. “We’re getting along just fine. I’ll be in the upstairs living room if you need me.”
“You’re running, Catherine,” I call after her, as she scurries out.