poken agreement that neither Kareem nor Ayshe could take back. The

paced across the room. "You look like you're regrett

m trying to figure out how

u didn't have m

"Let's get one thing straight-I may hav

off the desk. "Good. Tr

out rules. If we're going to convi

a brow. "B

one, this stays between us. No

d. If word gets out,

to set a timeline. How long is thi

ing closely for at least a year. After that, I can start maki

tending to be married to a man s

inned. "W

duties," she said, f

head. "Relax. I have no inte

tter in her stomach a

eep our personal lives separate. I don't need you i

d, studying her. "Tha

owned.

eople will expect us to act like a couple. That means pub

ened. "Livi

nless you have

arply. "Fine. Bu

em said smoothly.

nd this cleanly. No drama, no compli

omething unreadable in his

d there, the weight of what

s hand. "Shall we

ated before

deal w

zed just how blurred thei