Contractual Obligation: The Contract by Lauren Keller Page A

“Natalie!”
    She looked over, closed the door and told the drive to leave. She didn’t even know what to say at this point – she wasn’t supposed to even want the guy. Sure she’d marry him, take his money, and be his arm piece, but she sure as hell wouldn’t get involved emotionally with a player. It wasn’t worth the hurt.
    On getting home, she went over to check on Emily. The little cat didn’t dart away on seeing her. Natalie dropped to the floor, sitting with her back pressed to the door. “What do I do, Emily? How am I supposed to be around him and not want more?”
    The little cat looked at her and inched closer, letting Natalie reach out and pet her. “It’s such a weird situation,” she continued filling the cat in on the entire story, and then sighed thinking about their almost kiss, and the knock at the door. She wanted his kiss, needed to tame the fire that was burning inside of her when she looked at the guy, and resented the girl for showing up. She resented him, drawing her in, knowing it was a mistake. She hated herself for not knowing what the hell she wanted at this point. She still wanted to taste his lips, but knew it was insanely foolish to want anything from that man other than a paycheck.
    Her phone buzzed in her purse, but she had no intention of answering it. She’d let it go to voicemail. She knew who was calling her, and she wasn’t ready to talk to him.
    It’s a job – a contractual obligation, but that doesn’t include physical relations. In fact, as far as she was concerned, she’d remain celibate for the next five years, cash out, and then start fresh.
    Standing up, she said goodnight to Emily and headed to her own place. Letting herself in, she kicked off her heels and slipped off her dress. Pulling on soft pajamas, Natalie fell onto her bed and played with the remote. There was nothing on the television that caught her interest, and more than anything, she wanted to listen to the voicemail. She knew she was punishing him by not listening to it right away – even if he didn’t know it. How else could she let him know that tonight should have never happened – and that she was afraid she’d fall in love with him if she spent too much time with him, and that she’s a fool for agreeing to marry him. Maybe if she’d met him under different circumstances, maybe then it would be different. There was no room for personal feelings here, this was strictly business , and she needed to learn how to keep it that way.
    Finally caving, she listened to the message, “I’m sorry,” he started. “I wish you hadn’t run off. I can’t promise there won’t be more women from my past showing up, but I can promise that I truly wanted to be with you tonight, and I’m looking forward to our arrangement and seeing where it takes us. Goodnight, Natalie.”
    Arrogant fool, she thought. Pompous ass, “ see where it takes us ”…nowhere, buddy, precisely nowhere - that’s where it’s going to take us.
    She knew she was overreacting, knew she shouldn’t even care – but the truth is, she did. She did care, and did want to like being around him, and hoped that five years together wasn’t miserable, but turned into something fun and playful. How could that happen if she was jealous of some girl he slept with in his past, and they weren’t even in a relationship yet. What did that say about her?
    Why couldn’t she do the “friends with benefits” thing? Why did she get sucked in too quickly? And why did he have to be such an enticing man? Pulling her pillow over her eyes, she groaned into it, trying to force out her frustration.

Chapter 9
    How did hurt feelings get involved? Michael was frustrated; this getting married gig would never work out. It was stupid to just pay someone to be there. He was half tempted to throw his career out the window and start over, until he got word he’d be heading overseas. They’d finally gotten the chance to meet with a massive company that