On Her Terms (The Arrangement Duet Book 2)

by Madison Quinn

  “I get it, Nicholas, and it’s fine. I already kind of assumed that would be part of this new arrangement. We’ll need to kiss each other in public and spend more time together than we have been, especially lately.”

  “If you’re uncomfortable with anything, Kenzie, you have to let me know. The press needs to be convinced we’re in love, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in the process.”

  “It’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

  I walk her back to her apartment after we finished our drinks, and I realize tomorrow night will be the last time I do this. The idea of a living with a woman full time has me a little anxious, but I don’t think it will be an issue with Kenzie. I’ve never lived with a woman, though; I don’t consider Julie living with me because she and Carter have their own apartment that just happens to be within mine. My ex would spend a few nights a week at my old place but never really long term. It’s definitely going to be an adjustment having someone in my space twenty-four seven. But, it’ll be worth it to save PFS.

  “Thank you for dinner. Julie is an amazing cook,” once again Kenzie pulls me from my thoughts.

  “I know I said it earlier, but I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doing for me. I truly appreciate you doing this.”

  “You need to stop thanking me, it’s really not needed—“

  “You really are something,” I shake my head in disbelief that she can’t see what an amazing thing she is doing for me. She doesn’t see what she is giving up just to help me, something I don’t think anyone else who knows me would do.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she stands on her tiptoes and kisses me right on the lips.

  On instinct my arms wrap around her waist; my body wanting or maybe needing to feel her against me again. Her kiss is hesitant but soft and gentle at the same time. She doesn’t deepen the kiss and all too soon she pulls back just enough so our eyes can meet. She blushes the cutest shade of pink, the reason for which is a mystery to me. All I can think about is kissing her again, but I know that wouldn’t be a good idea. The last thing we need is to complicate this as we’re about to move into a new arrangement.

  “If you need help packing let me know. I’ll have Carter bring you boxes in the morning.”

  “Good night,” she kisses me one last time before finally pulling completely away from me.

  “Night, Kenzie.”

  Sleep finds me easily that night, and for once I don’t have a nightmare. I think knowing that I have found a likely solution to the press issue, and therefore my problems at PFS, has made it much easier to fall asleep tonight than recently. I’m up before my alarm goes off, ready and waiting for Carter in the foyer for our morning run.

  “Morning, sir.”

  “Carter.”

  We take our normal jog around the city, though I’ve noticed it now excludes the bakery since Kenzie stopped working there earlier this week. Prior to that, we would still jog past it despite her living only a few floors below me. I never questioned Carter why it was still on route, nor did I suggest he change it.

  “Kenzie’s going to be moving into the penthouse tomorrow,” I announce to him on the elevator ride back from our jog.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I need you to arrange boxes to be delivered to her apartment as soon as possible today. As you know she didn’t have much when we moved her in here, so I doubt she will need very many. I would like Hunter and Ben to move everything while we’re at my parents’ tomorrow night.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “And, Carter, I’m… I’m going to try to arrange something for tomorrow, but it’s short notice, so I don’t know if it will pan out. I just want to give you the heads up I may need you for most of the day.”

  “Not a problem, sir.”

  One of the many reasons I keep Carter around is because of moments like this—there is so much he could have said or questions he could have asked about Kenzie moving in, but he doesn’t. As long as my decisions do not impact security, he doesn’t question them.

  I quickly take a shower and change into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt to begin my day. I have a lot to do before the charity dinner, so I immediately set up in my office with breakfast and coffee. There isn’t much time to put my plan into action but thankfully money talks. I learned early on in my career that anything can happen if you’re willing to spend enough money. Today is no different; my plans are beginning to become a reality as everything falls into place. Moving through my to do list for today, the next item is to contact Bridget and inform her that Kenzie and I will be breaking our contract.

  “Wilder Consulting Services, how may I direct your call?”

  “This is Nicholas Parker, I would like to speak with Bridget.”

  “One moment, please.”

  “Nicholas, how are you?”

  “I’m well, Bridget, and you?”

  “I can’t complain. Business is booming right now, which is always a good thing. How are things with Ms. Rose?”

  “That’s actually why I was calling—“

  “Oh?”

  “Mackenzie and I will be terminating our contracts with you, effective immediately.”

  “Both of you will be terminating the contracts?”

  “Yes.”

  “May I ask why?”

  “Kenzie… we have become very close with all the time that we have spent together under your contract, and we will be pursuing a more personal relationship.”

  “Wow… Nicholas I have to say this is very surprising. I knew the moment I signed Kenzie that someone would likely fall for her. She is a beautiful woman with such innocence that is so rare these days. I knew she wouldn’t last long with me; I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting you to be the one snatching her from me.”

  “Neither did I, Bridget.”

  “Just to make you aware, I’m going to need to speak with Kenzie to verify that she wants to terminate her contract before the process can be finalized.”

  “We understand; she is available today to speak to you if you contact her before four this afternoon.”

  “Assuming she is in agreement to this contract termination, when can I expect the termination fee to be sent?”

  “I will send the payment as soon as we end the call.”

  “Perfect. If for some reason your relationship doesn’t work out, you are always welcome to come back to Wilder Consulting. I have many other girls that I’m sure would be able to meet your needs.”

  “I appreciate that, Bridget, but I don’t think it will be necessary.”

  Keeping my word, upon disconnecting the call, I transfer the money to Bridget’s off-shore bank account, effectively terminating the contract. I never thought I would see the day that I would have paid someone to accompany me to events, but with the press situation, it was needed. I sit back reflecting on how things have changed with Kenzie since the day I first met her at The Summit. Neither of us had any idea what to expect from this arrangement but having at least ran into each other previously, I think made the entire arrangement a little less awkward. Never did I think that the contract with Bridget would have led to marriage. I mistakenly thought if I was seen with the same woman over the course of a few weeks, that the press would leave me alone and let me focus on PFS.

  Speaking of marriage, the next item on my agenda is the wedding. Over the course of the next few hours, I manage to secure a location for the wedding and honeymoon. Everything is tentative pending Kenzie’s approval, but I wanted to at least secure an option, given the tight time frame we are under. I don’t want to let too much time pass before we get married; the longer I wait the bigger the risk is for PFS. Before shutting down my laptop, I send an email to Melody alerting her to the week I will need cleared in my schedule. I don’t provide a reason, but like Carter, Melody will just do as requested and very rarely will ever ask questions.

  “Sir, we should be leaving shortly,” Carter informs me.

  “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
>
  I take a quick shower before putting on the Armani tux that Julie had the cleaners deliver earlier today. For the first time in a week, I no longer feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I’m confident in my plan; marrying Kenzie will finally get the press off my case, allowing my focus to be primarily on PFS once again.

  “You look beautiful,” I say as soon as Kenzie opens the door to her apartment. She stands in the doorway wearing a gorgeous dark blue, floor length gown that sits just off her shoulders. The front of the gown hugs her breasts tightly; I can’t keep my eyes away from her cleavage or my mind from wondering what she was wearing underneath the gown.

  “Thank you, you look handsome,” when I look up, I realize that Kenzie is blushing, having clearly caught me staring at her chest. I’m tempted to demand she change into something different, something that won’t have the entire male population staring at her tonight but I know we don’t have time for that, and it’s unlikely she even has something else to wear tonight. When Kenzie turns to close the apartment door, I nearly groan at the back of the dress. A thin strip of dark blue lace holds the pieces of the dress together which is otherwise open to her waist. Her soft brown hair is swept up, with a few pieces curled along her neckline.

  “That dress… you really do look amazing tonight, Kenzie,” I can’t help but compliment her again as we walk together to the elevator, my hand on the bare skin of her back.

  “Thank you. It’s not something I normally would have chosen, but Cara insisted I get it. You don’t think it’s too much for tonight, do you?”

  “No, I think it’s perfect.”

  And it is—the dress is absolutely perfect for the dinner tonight. It doesn’t reveal too much skin and only accentuates Kenzie’s amazing body even more. I inwardly curse Cara, who I’m sure chose a dress like this just to drive me crazy. The only thing I can think of on the ride to the country club is that it’s going to be a very long eighteen months.

  “Kenzie, Nicholas! It’s so nice to see you both again,” my mom greets us as soon as we enter the ballroom.

  “Vivienne, how are you?” Kenzie hugs my mother.

  “I’m good, dear, how are you?”

  We are seated with my parents, Cara and her date and Austin who decided to come single tonight, which I notice he has been doing more and more lately. Once this wedding is behind us, I make a note to plan a day with Austin to find out what’s going on with him lately. A few months ago, he wouldn’t have been caught dead attending one of these events alone. Whether he brought a former one night stand or some random chick he met earlier that day, he always managed to bring someone.

  “Nicholas, are you and Kenzie joining us for dinner tomorrow night?” my mom asks.

  “Yes, we will be there.”

  “That’s wonderful!”

  “Dance with me?” I whisper to Kenzie just as a song finishes and there is a lull in the conversation at our table.

  “Sure,” she answers quickly.

  I lead Kenzie out to the middle of the dance floor and pull her close to me just as the music begins. As I shift us, my hand slips to just above the fabric of her dress, allowing me to caress her soft skin.

  “There’s a photographer just to your left; I think he’s taking pictures of us,” Kenzie whispers and I swear feeling her warm breath against my ear goes straight to my dick, which has already been twitching since I saw her in this dress.

  “Oh?”

  I turn us around, casually glancing in the direction she mentioned. I realize she was right, there is a photographer for the event with his camera pointed directly at us. Lifting her chin, I look at her plump lips and then back to her eyes, letting her know my intention. She doesn’t say anything, but as I lower my lips to hers, I watch her eyes close in anticipation of the kiss. The moment our lips meet, I swear a jolt of electricity goes through my body. I wrap both my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me until our bodies are flush. When she lets out the softest moans, I once again lose myself in the kiss. Parting her lips for me, she grants me the access I request. When her tongue finds mine, I don’t hold back the groan.

  “Ladies and Gentleman, please take your seats for our meal tonight,” the announcer unfortunately forces me to pull away from Kenzie. The blush on her face tells me she was just as caught up in the kiss as I was. Once again, the only thing I can think is what an awful long eighteen months this is going to be.

  Chapter 5

  Kenzie

  Knock knock knock knock

  A loud knock on my door has me running from the shower with only a towel wrapped around my wet body. I look through the peephole, wondering who in the world could be knocking on my door so early on a Sunday morning.

  “Nicholas, what are you doing here?” I quickly open the door.

  “Kenzie… I…” he stammers and I can feel the heat rushing to my face when I watch his eyes roam over my barely covered body. “Can I come in for a moment?”

  “Of course,” I open the door further to allow him to enter before closing and locking it behind us.

  “I apologize for stopping by unannounced, but I would like to take you out today,” he says.

  “Okay... where will we be going?”

  “That’s a surprise. Just wear comfortable clothes; jeans are fine. Oh, and a light jacket, it’s a little chilly this morning.”

  “We’re going now?”

  “Well, as soon as you’re dressed. I don’t mind seeing you in a towel, but I don’t think I want the press seeing this much of my future wife.”

  “I… give me a couple of minutes,” I start walking down the hall to my bedroom. “Oh, there’s coffee in the pot if you want some.”

  I quickly shut my bedroom door, grab the clothes I had left out for today and head into the adjoining bathroom to change. I’m thankful he didn’t say I needed to wear something too dressy. Other than the clothes I have picked out for dinner with his parents tonight, everything else I own has been packed into the half a dozen boxes that now line the wall.

  It’s hard to believe that after dinner tonight, I won’t be returning to this apartment; instead I will be accompanying Nicholas to his apartment where I will be moving in. I’ll never admit it, but I stayed up a long time last night questioning my decision to agree to this “marriage.” I can’t help but wonder if I’m making the right decision. It’s been so long since I’ve trusted my instinct in people: I worry if I’m reading Nicholas wrong. I don’t think he is anything like my ex was, but of course, I never thought he would hit me the way he did or control my life to the point where I wasn’t allowed to leave the house without permission. For the first time since I decided to change my life I have to trust my instincts and hope it doesn’t bite me in the end. I take a deep breath and head out to the living room where Nicholas is waiting for me.

  “Is this okay?” I ask, indicating what I’m wearing.

  “It’s fine; do you have everything you need?”

  “You tell me,” I laugh. “I don’t know where we are going, so I’m not sure what to bring.”

  “Good point. I guess just grab your purse, and then we can go.”

  I set the alarm and we meet Carter in the hallway by the elevator where he typically tends to wait. I like that he gives us a little privacy, but is still close enough should either of us need him. I know it will be different when I move in tonight, but at least he is still in within the apartment somewhere.

  “Carter will give you the security code you will need to access the penthouse later today. You won’t be able to access it without this code, but of course Hunter has it, and he should be with you whenever you leave the apartment. But if you go to the gym or something without him, you’ll need to have this code with you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Are you all packed or do you need any help finishing?”

  “No, I have everything packed. I left out something to wear to your parents’ tonight, but otherwise everything is in boxes in the bedroom. There are a few th
ings in the fridge and freezer that I’ll have to get tonight or tomorrow—”

  “I’ll have Julie bring anything to the apartment while we’re at dinner tonight. I should have mentioned this before, but she keeps the kitchen fully stocked at all times. If there’s anything you want, just let her know, and she will pick it up when she goes to the market during the week. Obviously she takes care of all the meals during the week, but she is off on the weekends. Typically she freezes a few meals for me for the weekends so I don’t starve…” he chuckles.

  “I’ll cook for us on the weekends; you know I enjoy cooking—”

  “If you want to cook, I won’t complain, but don’t feel you have to cook.”

  We fall into a comfortable silence as the drive continues; I can tell from looking out the window that we are leaving the city limits of New York, but I still have no idea where we are going. Surprisingly though, unlike the last time when I got in the car with Hunter without knowing where I was going, this time there is no anxiety. I’m not worried about where we are going, and I don’t feel trapped like last time. This realization helps reinforce my trust that perhaps I am doing the right thing.

  “We will arrive in about twenty minutes,” Carter arrives.

  “Perfect, thank you,” Nicholas responds.

  “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask.

  “No. You trust me, right?” he says it with a smile, but his eyes are questioning, almost as if he wants reassurance that I’m okay with this.

  “I do.”

  A few minutes later, Carter pulls off the main road and up a long dirt driveway. Glancing out the window, I can’t see anything to give me an idea of where we are or what we’re going to be doing. I glance down at my outfit, relieved to find it similar to Nicholas’s, meaning I’m at least dressed appropriately for whatever he has planned. We drive for some time on the bumpy road, but eventually the SUV stops in front of a large wooden building with a sign that says S&C Ranch.