My Husband Wants An Open Marriage (Julie and Ryan)

CHAPTER 017: Which Is It Going To Be?

My eyes immediately narrow. Ryan?

I step closer to the bouquet, already feeling the tension in my chest. It can't be Ryan. He hasn't sent me flowers in years-our relationship had never been the romantic, spontaneous kind. I pull the small note attached to the bouquet. The handwriting is neat but not familiar. My heart does a weird little flip as

read.

"Glad we're back on, fake girlfriend. You're stuck with me now. Forever... or at least until Ryan comes to his senses-Luke."

A laugh bubbles up in my throat, catching me off guard Of course. It's Luke. Who else would be so damn cheeky? I snatch my phone out of my bag and dial his number, my fingers drumming on the edge of the desk as I wait.

He answers after the first ring. "Good morning, Julie."

"

I roll my eyes, though I can't help the smile that creeps across my face. "Flowers? Really, Luke?"

"Hey, you texted me, remember? Saying the deal is back on. I asked myself what a fake boyfriend could get as a 'welcome back' gift to his fake girlfriend, something that would make her smile, and voila. Flowers." His tone is playful, as if I should be grateful for the flowers. "Besides, I thought red roses were a nice touch. Got you thinking about me, didn't they?"

"The only thing they did," I say, "is make my office smell like a funeral home."

"Ouch, Julie. You wound me. I thought you'd appreciate a little romance."

"Romance?" I laugh, though my heart does that stupid flip. "Luke, we're faking a relationship, not starring

in a rom-com."

"That depends," he replies, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. "On how convincing you want this to be. We can go all in, or we can half-ass it. Your call."

I pause, glancing at the flowers again. There's something about the way Luke talks, the way he makes light of everything, that irritates me-and makes things easier at the same time. Less heavy. Less real.

"Fine." I lean against the desk. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"Lunch," he says simply. "We'll start there. Then you can tell me how we'll proceed."

"Me?" I say. "You're making it sound like I know anything about fake relationships. This was your idea in the first place, Luke."

"And you didn't have to agree," he counters. "But you did. So here we are. Let's have lunch and figure out the rules."

"Just pick a place, Luke."

"Already done," he replies, his voice smug. "I'll send you the details."

"Fine," I say, trying to sound casual, though my pulse is racing. "I'll see you there."

1/3

+25 BONUS

CHAPTER 017 Which Is It Going To Be?

I drop my phone on the desk, releasing a long breath I didn't realize I was holding. Luke, with his quick tongue and knack for throwing surprising things at me, flowers for example. I stare at the flowers again. They're beautiful, sure, but the note-"stuck with me forever"- has my stomach in knots.

I shake my head, trying to push the lingering thoughts of Luke out of my mind. I glance at the clock. Still a couple of hours until lunch, and knowing Luke, he'll pick some absurdly extravagant place just to mess with me.

My phone dings, pulling me from my thoughts.

Luke: Still want me to pick the location? I'm giving you one chance to say no.

I sigh. Of course, he's going to make this dramatic.

Me: I don't care. Pick whatever.

His response comes almost immediately.

Luke: Really? Thought you'd want to impress me. This is your show after all, boss.

I roll my eyes, though my fingers hover over the keyboard longer than I want to admit. He has a way of pushing just enough buttons to get a reaction, and damn it, it's working.

Me: I'm giving you the chance to impress me. You're the one getting paid to play my fake boyfriend, remember?

Luke: Oh, I'm gonna impress you. Don't worry.

Me: Just pick a place and text it to me. I'll be there.

Luke: Nope. You're getting a surprise.

A couple of hours later, I'm knee-deep in emails when I hear someone clear their throat. My focus snaps up from my screen.

I blink, startled, and pull off my reading glasses. Luke is standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame like he owns the place, that damn smirk plastered on his face. "Luke?" I blink again. "How did you get in here?"

He grins, stepping into the office with that effortless confidence. "Your secretary let me right in."

I frown, standing up and crossing my arme

"She's supposed to tell me when I have visitors."

"Jesus, Julie. Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Not when you surprise me like this."

He steps even closer. "But I warned you about the surprise."

"You warned me about the location."

Luke's smirk only widens. "I thought we were supposed to be 'back on. Isn't this what fake boyfriends do- surprise their fake girlfriends with spontaneous visits?"

2/3

CHAPTER 017: Which is It Going To Be?

+25 BONUS

I roll my eyes. "Not when they barge into offices unannounced. You bribed her, didn't you? That's why she let you in without warning me."

"Details, details," he teases, taking another step. "Come on, Julie. You've got to admit, I'm not the worst surprise you've ever had."

My eyes narrow at him. "Don't come any closer, Luke."

He chuckles, undeterred, and takes another step forward. "Or what? You'll kick me out?" His eyes gleam with mischief, and I can feel my pulse quicken, my body betraying the frustration I want to cling to. "Yes," I shoot back, trying to sound firm. "That's exactly what I'll do."

Luke stops, but his expression softens into something more mischievous than before. "I came here to take you to lunch, Julie. And as long as you keep standing there scolding me instead of walking out the door with me, I'll keep invading your space." He takes another step, and I take one back, bumping into the edge of my desk. My heart thuds harder as he moves closer, slow and deliberate.

"I mean it, Luke," I say, my voice barely above a whisper now. "Don't come any closer."

He stops again, only a few feet away. "Which is it going to be, Julie? Out the door, or would you like me closer?"