Read Online Fun With Rick and Jade by Kelli Scott - Free Book Online Page A

it.”
    “I started it?” Her eyes bugged open. “You started it with that kiss.”
    “And you ended it with a bang.” He braced for a slap that never came.
    “Listen, I need a husband. You need a wife. I suffered from a moment of weakness. End of story. I appreciate your work ethic, if not your staying power. I assure you, Rick, I’ll work as hard to be a convincing spouse.” She clapped her hands together. “Let’s go. Chop, chop.”
    “If I’m moving in here for the duration, I need to go pack some things.” And warm up from the cold shoulder she was giving him. “I have work to do at my office. And I need to return my tux.”
    “A rental,” she muttered. “I knew it.” She blew out a deep breath that told him she’d sooner beat him about the head and chest with a hot curling iron than look at him. It also told him she needed to get laid again. “If you want this to work, you need to do as I say.”
    “Is there some way we can compromise?” He had a feeling he’d be the one compromising.
    “Yes, Rick, go return the tux. Heaven forbid you get charged an extra day.” Jade flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Pack a bag. Do…whatever.” She shooed him away. “Be back here by one o’clock.” There was an unsaid or else that he heard loud and clear.
    He saluted her. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am.”
    She sneered at him. “It’s a full-service salon. Would you like to get a little manscaping done while we’re there?” Jade pointed at the vicinity of his button-fly.
    “Are you suggesting—” His balls stung. “I’m a man, not a…a…porn star.”
    She shrugged. “Just a thought.”
    “Well, think again.” He turned to walk away. Experiencing one of those light-bulb moments, he spun back around to face her. “If I do, can we have sex again?”
    “No!” She balled up her fists. “I’m a mother, not a sex object. Deal with it.”
     
    ***
     
    Jade concentrated on her newly painted nails, her cheap gold band, and then turned her attention to the street person pushing his shopping cart along the sidewalk outside the car window. Anything to keep from looking at Rick sporting his stylish, new haircut. If not for the dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and the somewhat slighter frame, he’d be a dead ringer for Ewan. If Rick was ten years older or Ewan ten years younger, that was. Otherwise—twins. And Rick had that cute dimple when he grinned. But if not for the dimple and a faint scar above his eyebrow, the resemblance was uncanny, and unnerving. Rick was Ewan’s doppelgänger, or vice versa. Either that or she was obsessed with Ewan, romanticizing his charm and good looks because he’d fertilized her. Damn hormones .
    “I still can’t believe someone has the nerve to charge fifty bucks plus a tip to snip a few hairs off my head.” He ran his hand over his short cut. “And how much were your nails? I couldn’t even look at the bill. I signed the damn credit card receipt with my eyes closed.”
    “And your mouth open.” He’d complained about the money to anyone and everyone who would listen. “I told you I’d give you a hand job later, and let’s just say you’d be getting the better end of that deal.”
    “Yes,” he droned. “Thanks for that. Right in front of everyone like I’m some sort of pervert who has to pay for sex. No offense to your distinguished clientele.”
    “Stop being so dramatic, Rick.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “They knew I was joking.” She’d been going to the same salon for years. They all knew her and “got” her sense of humor.
    “What, so now I’m not going to get the hand job?” He lifted his shades so she could see his laughing eyes. Rick waggled his eyebrows at her. “Maybe I can write the nails off as a business expense,” he muttered, his shades back in place.
    “I’m a wife, not a business expense,” she protested, but knew she was neither.
    He thought it was all fun and games now, Jade mused, but when the fog of attraction