Free The Academic Bride: Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book One by Lucy McConnell Page B

fridge.
    Fridge, we ordered take out. Thanks.
    Janel speared an asparagus and chewed as she read through his schedule for the next couple of days. He was booked from sunup to sundown, which didn’t leave much time for them to see each other.
    As far as employers go, Nick was pretty easygoing. The staff all seemed to like him. Since they were aware of the sleeping arrangements in the house, she wondered if they would resent her coming in and taking over, but she didn’t sense any hostility. They were good at their jobs, and as long as the quality of their work stayed the same, she didn’t foresee any problems.
    After finishing her dinner, a chocolate craving took hold and wouldn’t let go. Janel rummaged through the kitchen and found minimal baking supplies. She couldn’t make her grandma’s brownies without chocolate chips, so she grabbed her keys and headed to the store. She bought enough supplies to make brownies, cookies, and a cake, should the mood hit. She hadn’t had a real kitchen in years and she wasn’t about to let this one go to waste. Someone should be able to enjoy the household amenities, because it wasn’t going to be Mr. “I’m At Work” Ryburn.
    Back at home, Janel put the brownies in the oven and spent the next thirty minutes filling out her calendar. When she hit “save,” her and Nick’s days blended together.
    Well, at least she was cyber-connected to her husband.

Chapter 12
     
    Nick scrolled through his calendar, which had officially become the “Ryburn calendar”, with his events highlighted in green and Janel’s in purple.
    Janel started school in one week and it looked like she’d be teaching a couple classes as well as monitoring a lab. She had a few hours set aside for research and writing her dissertation.
    A biweekly visit to the salon appeared excessive. Janel didn’t seem like the type to go overboard on pampering herself, but Pamela had said that was part of the package when he signed up, so he shrugged it off. All in all, Janel was busy, but her evenings were free.
    He tossed his phone on the desk in front of him. It wasn’t like his schedule was going to open up anytime soon. If they hadn’t gotten married on Monday, it would have been three, maybe four weeks before he’d be able to take a morning off again. Development for the new chip had hit a snag, and the late nights stretched out before him like a lonely country road.
    Much later that night, or more accurately, early the next morning, Nick finally made it home. The house was dark, but not empty. Funny how just knowing Janel was asleep upstairs made a difference in the atmosphere.
    Entering the kitchen, Nick was overwhelmed by the smell of fresh-baked goods. Chocolate baked goods. He followed his nose to a white plate holding a large brownie, covered in thick chocolate frosting and topped with chopped walnuts, waiting on the bar. There was a purple post-it note next to the plate that simply read, For Nick .
    He fished a fork out of the cutlery drawer. This brownie demanded a tool for consumption. He took the plate and the note over to the table to eat. After two heavenly bites, he needed milk, and opened the fridge to find a half-gallon of chocolate milk, only partially drunk, waiting on the shelf. Nick shook his head in amazement. He could get used to having Janel around real fast.
    The brownie disappeared in no time. Nick leaned back in his chair and rubbed his belly. For some reason, he was proud. Proud that this brownie came from the kitchen he’d designed. He downed the last of his chocolate milk and set the glass in the sink, pondering the strange effect Janel had on him. He hadn’t seen her since the wedding, and yet she’d managed to make him feel cared for just by leaving a brownie.
    Pausing at the top of the stairs, Nick noticed Janel’s door was slightly open. If they were more familiar with one another, he’d consider it an invitation to let her know he’d made it home. Even though they were