The Arrangement Read Online Free

shorts. He grunted at her and moved out of the way so she could come into the apartment. The Sunday afternoon sunshine broke through the dimness for only a moment until he closed the door behind her. He walked back to the couch and fell headfirst into a pile of pillows.
    Cardboard boxes filled almost every inch of floor space, and from where she stood she could see the kitchen had suffered the same cluttered fate. She shook her head, wondering how long she could force herself to wait before she added a female touch to the bachelor pad.
    “Ben?” she called as she walked down the hallway to his room. When she reached the door, he turned from his computer. She ached at the warmth of his smile and the reminder of the news she had to tell him.
    “I was wondering what time you would get back today,” he greeted, holding his arms out to her.
    She studied every detail of him. His short blond hair almost blended with his fair complexion. A navy T-shirt covered his lanky, broad frame, and khaki pants hid his legs but ended at his bare feet. In two steps Evie found herself sitting in his lap, enveloped in his hug and sharing a long, sweet kiss. Although she had only been away for two days, she had missed the taste of his mouth on hers and the smell of his freshly shaven skin. She nuzzled his cheek with her nose until he laughed and pushed her away.
    “Miss me?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
    “Mm-hmm.” He nuzzled her neck with his nose until she giggled.
    Gazing into his brown eyes, she suddenly remembered her unsavory task. She sighed and drew him close for another hug. She needed all the strength she could muster to present her case to him.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling away from her until they looked each other squarely in the eye.
    Evie took a deep breath and forced herself from his lap. She paced the room a couple of times, wringing her hands, and finally settled herself into a seated position on the edge of his bed.
    “We have a problem,” she confessed. He nodded for her to continue. “When I went home this weekend, Mom and Dad ambushed me. They don’t think we need to see each other anymore.”
    Ben narrowed his eyes. “Okay…”
    “Actually…” She hesitated. Could she tell him the truth? How could she word it to keep her parents from looking so prejudiced? Did she really care what he thought of her parents? Did it matter anymore? She raced to finish the sentence she never wanted to start. “Actually, they threatened to stop paying my bills if we continue to see each other.”
    Ben’s eyes deepened from his usual warm brown to a darker, stormy color. His chair clanged to the floor as he pushed himself onto his feet. “How dare they,” he began, his voice loud enough that Evie was certain the neighbors would call any second to complain. “What right do they have to tell you who you can and cannot date?” He clenched and unclenched his fists.
    “I know, I know,” she pleaded with him as she crossed the room and placed her hands over his. “I’ve tried to figure out what to do, but I’ve got nothing. If they stop paying my car payment, sorority dues, grocery bills, and gas bills, I can’t come up with enough money to do that for the next year and a half until I graduate.”
    She dropped his hands and paced again, babbling as she walked. “You know I don’t care about the money thing, but they do. Evidently your family’s hard work is not worth the same amount as the money and power their friends have. Even if I drop the sorority and give back the Beemer, I can’t afford an apartment or another car. Anyway, I’ve thought about everything all weekend, and I’ve come to only one conclusion.” She turned to look at Ben. She had to know his real reaction before he spoke. “We should get married.”
    He jerked his head in her direction in surprise at her sudden announcement. His eyes widened and then narrowed on her face. “Wha…?” he started to ask but failed to find the