Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2)

by Lauren Asher

“Special is the last word I would use to describe you.” It feels far too generic for someone like her.

My eyes bulge as he shoves a spoon full of cake into my open mouth. “I finally found the perfect way to shut you up.” I glare at him as I taste the most delicious dessert I’ve ever had. His gaze remains glued to my lips as he drags the clean spoon past them. “All I need to do is keep your mouth permanently occupied.” I graciously proceed to choke.

you like being by yourself.” I bite down on my tongue to prevent myself from saying too much. Growing accustomed to something doesn’t mean I like it. I just learned to prefer it over the alternative option, which includes letting people get too close. What’s the point when they always leave anyway?

“Kiss her again and I’ll enjoy ripping your tongue from your throat.” He holds up his hands. “The only reason I told you about our kiss is so that you can stop thinking I want to make a move on her. I’m not interested in her like that. Trust me.” “Because the kiss was terrible,” I repeat back in a voice erased of any emotion. “Because she was never meant to be mine in the first place.” Damn right she wasn’t. Fake marriage or not, Iris is destined to be with one man and one man only. Me.

“Don’t go.” What are you doing? “Why not?” Her brow arches. A reasonable question if any. Having her by my side feels like the only natural thing about tonight, fake marriage or not. She has a way of making anything tolerable. “You make tonight somewhat more bearable.” What happened to not needing anyone but yourself? I’ll go back to feeling that way tomorrow. Tonight I accept I am weaker than usual, with hours of small talk pushing me past my limits. She looks down at our joined hands with a tight expression. “What a glowing compliment.” My thumb brushes the inside of her wrist. “Do you want to hear some more?” “No.” A small smile forms before I have a chance to kill it. “Why not?” “I prefer you grumpy and predictable.” “You can’t mean that.” Are you flirting with her? Fuck. Exactly how much alcohol did I drink tonight? I check my one and only glass, finding it still halfway full. Must be a temporary lapse in judgment given the stress of the situation. Yes. A slip of the tongue that has nothing to do with Iris and everything to do with my limited patience for people trying to kiss my ass all night long. "Careful, Mr. Kane. Keep being nice to me and I might start getting used to it." She grins, and a wave of warmth spreads through my chest that has nothing to do with my whiskey. You hate when people smile. Except making Iris grin feels like a personal victory.

“I can assure you that I will always have Iris’s best interests at heart.” Even if they jeopardize mine.

“Iris.” “Yes?” She assesses the log-in screen like it’s written in Morse code. “Tell me what’s wrong so we can get on with our day.” She seems to not like my command based on the way she smashes her fingers against the keyboard. “Why would anything be wrong?” “Quit the passive-aggressive attitude and talk to me.” I cover her hand with my palm, stopping her typing. “You’re the last person I want to speak to right now.” Her eyes finally slice into me as she steals her hand away. What I find reflecting in them is not what I expected. She might as well wave a red flag above her head, warning me to stay away. Yet I find it impossible to ignore the way her eyes glisten. I have come to realize that, while her smile might be my weakness, her damp lashes clinging together will surely be my downfall. “Were you crying?” My next breath is pinched, the oxygen fighting its way into my strained lungs. “No.” “You’re a pathetic liar.”

For someone hell-bent on succeeding at everything, he truly fails at life.

“Your place is empty, cold, and devoid of any kind of personality. It might be a house, but it’s the furthest thing from a home.”

“What good is having all this money if I have to follow the law?”

She glances out the window. “Says the man who hasn’t even looked outside once.” “That’s not the view I’m talking about.”

“I’m not confused. Far from it, actually. I know exactly what I want.” “And what is that?” “You.”

Our marriage might be fake, but these feelings burning inside me are anything but.

“Regardless of what you’ve seen, she claims otherwise.” “Oh, I’m sure she does. But that’s where you come in.” “And do what exactly?” His frail lips break out into a genuine smile. “You chase.”

“It’s a shame you don’t laugh like that more often.” I lift my hand and cup her chin. “Maybe I finally have a reason to.”

“What are you doing?” “Helping my wife.” My throat bobs. “You’re growing a bit too comfortable with that nickname for my liking.” “I use it to remind you of your place.” “And what’s that?” “Mine.”

“Who knew you were such a nice guy underneath your grumpy exterior?” “Don’t go telling anyone else or they’ll be disappointed to find out it’s only for you.”

“Stop fighting and give me ten minutes.” “You don’t deserve ten seconds, let alone ten minutes of my time.” “How about ten words then?” I laugh. “I’d like to see you try.” “I am falling in love with you, Iris Elizabeth Kane.”

“I’m not asking you to love me back. I don’t expect that and I’m not sure if I ever will because I’m the furthest thing from lovable. I’m selfish, rude, and don’t know the first thing about being in a relationship with someone. But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to try for you if you let me.”

I might not be able to recite foreign words like him, but I understand tone and body language, and whatever he says makes my heart feel so full, it might burst. You’re falling for him. For the first time ever, I’m not afraid of love. If this is what it feels like, I’m willing to try, consequences be damned.

“Please don’t cry.” Her brows tug together as she looks up at me with glistening eyes. “You’re not laughing.” “What?” “You told me you laugh when you make people cry.” Her voice cracks.

“So what? You know what’s best for her?” “One of us has to, seeing as you sure as hell don’t. I knew you weren’t capable of taking care of her. I freaking knew it and I still helped you, thinking maybe you were really starting to change. That maybe you really did love her.” “I do love her. Not that I owe you any explanation.” “No, Declan. Clearly you don’t if you called her a failure like every other disappointing fuck in her life.” “Shut your fucking mouth.” “Why should I? It’s not like you ever do the same.” My jaw tightens. “I made a mistake.” “A mistake?” He laughs. “You belittled your wife until she felt as worthless as you. You made her feel small, useless, and insignificant—all because you care more about your job than the person you claim to love. So all I can say is congratulations, Declan. You spent your whole life protecting us from our father only to become just like him.” “Fuck you.” I bite down on my tongue and taste blood. He salutes me with his middle finger before slamming the door in my face.

I miss my wife.

“Should I even ask how you got in here?” “I stole Cal’s keys and locked him out.” “Declan—” “I miss you.” “It’s been less than twenty-four hours since you last saw me.” “The addiction gene runs strong in my family. Take pity on your husband.” She only scowls at my joke. I refuse to lose hope, although the way she looks at me makes me question it for a moment. “I miss you so damn much, I don’t know what to do with myself. The house is too quiet and the bathroom is far too clean. Even pasta doesn’t taste the same without you cooking it.” “I don’t cook. I boil. That’s a big difference according to you.” “Come home. I’ll cook every day for the rest of our lives so long as you agree to not leave again.” Her eyes shut. “No.” I take advantage of her guard being down and walk up to her. Her chin fits perfectly within the palm of my hand, and I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “Please. I’m miserable without you.”

“I’ll give you anything you want—anything at all—so long as you give me a chance to make you as happy as you make me. A dog. A family. A home. I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it or leave it because I’m not open to negotiations.”

“Why?” I croak. “Because there is nothing I want more than to turn a house into a home with you.”

“I love you.” I finish in English, just to get my message across because I most likely ruined the pronunciation of all the words. “Say it again.” His darkening eyes linger on my mouth. “I. Love. You.” He kisses the top of my forehead. The pain etched into his face guts me, knowing he spent thirty-six years of his life believing he was unlovable—all because of his shitty, abusive father. I cup his cheek. “I will always love you. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.” “You say that now…” His voice drifts off as his eyes dart away. My chest clenches. “And I’ll say it every day until you finally believe it.” “It could take forever.” I trace his wedding band with the tip of my finger. “It’s a good thing all we have is time.”