He groaned. “Katia, stop it. We’re only married because we’re greedy. We’re filing for divorce in twenty-seven days and six hours. And I’m not sleeping with you.”
She took a step closer, running her hands over her body as if she were in a lingerie commercial. Even her temptress act did nothing for him. He simply didn’t give a single shit that most men would probably die to sleep with this apparent beauty. She did nothing for him. Hadn’t from the moment he met her. She was shallow and annoying. Especially when she was trying to seduce him.
“Don’t you think we would sell our act better for the camera if we really were fucking?”
“No. Go to bed.”
“But I’m lonely,” she whined. “I haven’t had sex in—”
He threw out a hand. “Don’t finish that sentence, Katia. Watch it. I don’t want to hear the answer, and you don’t need to lie to me.”
Her eyes shot wide. “Why would I lie?”
Because you’re so good at it that it’s part of your life. Hell, half the time she probably didn’t even know she was lying. She’d convinced herself she was telling the truth.
Jodi was probably right when she suggested Katia was cheating. She certainly had been while they were still on set at the beach house. Why wouldn’t she be now? He simply did not give a single fuck either way.
Chapter 5
“What has your panties in a wad today?” Tuck asked Jodi as he hip butted her where they stood behind the bar. He’d arrived an hour early. He’d been coming in earlier and earlier than the time his shift started for the last seven days. He told himself it was because he was a prompt guy. That he would do anything to spend less time with Katia.
He didn’t willingly admit to himself it was because he enjoyed every second with Jodi before the bar opened. Time when no one else was around. Sure, sometimes her father popped in and out, but the man made himself amazingly scarce as soon as Tuck arrived. Tuck was pretty sure Bill fought a chuckle as he left the room, heading to the back office as if he had some pressing papers that needed looking over.
Jodi shot him one of his favorite looks—her killer glare, the one he knew meant she was pissed or pretending to be. He hadn’t yet nailed down the difference yet. “How old are you? Panties in a wad?”
He chuckled, loving this banter. When she didn’t answer his question, he leaned closer, trying to catch her eye. “You gonna tell me why you’re in a mood? Did the accounting not add up? Did you forget to stock enough vodka for the night? Did your boyfriend break up with you?” He knew none of those things were true—well that last one he sincerely hoped wasn’t true—but he liked when he shocked her into a full gasp.
Wait for it…
There.
She gasped loudly and then glared harder, eyes narrowed farther, the more intense expression than the one she used when she was truly angry, or wanted to appear to be. Again, he didn’t have that one nailed down yet either. “There is nothing wrong with my accounting, Tuck.”
He smiled, lifting a brow. His mind wandered to thoughts of kissing the sense out of her until she softened, something he wanted to do more and more often every time he was near her.
He’d noted she was usually far surlier and more pissed off when they were alone than when the front door unlocked. As soon as the bar opened for business, she put on her happy face, real or fake. If he had less self-esteem, he would think she actually disliked him, but he didn’t lack anything in that department. He was betting heavily that she saved her wide range of frustrated emotions just for him. And he’d also bet he knew why. At least he hoped.
After all, Jodi glanced at him across the crowded bar at least as often as he glanced at her. He caught her staring at his chest frequently, biting her lower lip or dragging her tongue along it. He doubted she realized she did that, but it made his dick hard.
“So, is it the vodka or the boyfriend?” he nudged.
She cocked her head to the side. “Neither. And you know it.”
He lifted a brow again, higher this time.
She spun away from him in a huff to straighten the beer glasses that were already in perfect lines.
He waited. Every day he watched her as she grew more and more tempted to ask him questions about the show. She never did. Not after that first day. He was pretty certain she had reached her breaking point.
“She’s hot.”
Yep. Bingo. “Who?”
Jodi rolled her head his direction, giving him her best are-you-dense eyes. “Your wife.”
He shrugged. “I guess.” He faced her, hip on the edge of the counter. He wanted to say that looks like hers weren’t important to him and tell her he wasn’t that shallow. He did neither.
She drew in a breath. “Your performance every night is confusing.”
“It’s supposed to be.” He grinned wide. “Glad it’s working.”
“How can you stand her voice though?”
I can’t. “Why do you watch if it’s so frustrating?”
Jodi took several shallow breaths, her hands folding and refolding the bar towel.
He wished he could yank the terry cloth out of her hand, spin her so her ass was against the bar, and then pin her in with his hands resting on the counter on both sides of her. He would give anything to press his body into hers and kiss her so hard and long she couldn’t think.
He couldn’t do anything like that, of course, but he wanted to.
Finally, she glanced to the side again. “You really aren’t going to tell me anything, are you?”
“No.” He stepped closer, taking a slight chance, letting the tips of his fingers touch hers. “I would if I could. But I have a contract that says I’m not permitted to discuss the show with anyone, and more importantly, there’s a lot of money at stake.”
She nodded slowly.
“That may sound shallow to you, but I need that money.”
“What for?” This time her brow furrowed in concerned curiosity.
He pursed his lips and inhaled slowly. “I’d rather not talk about it if you don’t mind.”
She flinched slightly, pressing the tips of her fingers against his as if she were unaware of their contact. “Because of the contract?”
“Because it’s personal. The producers don’t own every piece of me. I maintained a small shred of privacy.” Barely. He had gone around and around with them over this issue when they’d offered him the extra three months. Eventually, he’d won. Thank God. No way did he want cameras delving into the one sacred part of his life he wasn’t willing to share.
She leaned back.
“It’s not illegal, Jodi. It’s just personal.”
She nodded again. “Okay,” she said softly. “Is that where you went Tuesday and Thursday morning before you came here?”
He gave her a gentle smile. She must watch him every waking moment. “Yes.”
“I see.” She stood up taller. “Will you tell me one thing, please?”
“Depends…” He wished he could tell her all the things.
“Do you have sex with her when you close that bedroom door?”
His heart pounded. Jodi cared. She cared a lot. He’d known her one week, and she was just as into him as he was her. He was strapped, however. He tried to think of the best way to answer her that wouldn’t break his contract but would give her hope. “What would you like my answer to be, Jodi?”