Free Created In Fire (Art of Love Series) by Donna McDonald Page B

“I don’t understand. Why are they here again?”
    Michael shrugged, his sense of humor kicking in at last.
    “Maybe I was just so charming that they had to come by and make up with us. What does it matter why they came? Whatever their reasons—they’re here,” he said. “I know because I let them into the house. They’re all in the living room.”
    “Well, I don’t want them here,” Carrie said irritably, rubbing her face.
    Michael snickered. At least she sounded like her old bossy self for once. “Okay. Since this is my house, I guess I could run them all off. If I do though, it’s going to cost you.”
    Carrie looked at him hopefully. “Fine. Anything. I will definitely sleep with you again if you will throw my family out and make sure I don’t have to see or deal with them,” she said.
    Sleeping with him was an easy promise for her to make. She was already having to accept how much she wanted to have sex with Michael. It wasn’t a good idea considering the big picture situation, but Carrie wasn’t going to be able to fight off his advances and her own desire for him. So really it was inevitable from a certain perspective, especially with them living together and practically stumbling over each other all time.
    Plus Carrie figured she might as well make all the lemonade she could from the sorry bag of lemons her life choices had become in the last two months.
    Coaxing Michael into evicting her parents would be a really good start.
    “So? Do we have a deal?” she asked.
    “Wow,” Michael said, grinning and pushing off the bathroom wall. “After all these weeks of nothing, I’ve had two offers of gratuitous sex from you in one day. Unfortunately, I have to ignore your heartfelt plea. As bad as I hate it, we need to be responsible adults and go be a couple in front of your parents.”
    “But we’re not a real couple. And they have no business being here,” Carrie said adamantly, stomping her foot.
    Michael had to fight not to laugh again. He would never have imagined Carrie as a foot-stomping tantrum thrower, but she sure looked cute when she was all huffy and indignant.
    As he studied her face, the laughter escaped his control, the sound echoing in the bathroom.
    “See that hunk of gold on your finger, Carlene. It’s called an engagement ring for a reason. So we are a real couple in the eyes of the world. Now tell me—are you sick or not?” Michael asked, walking the two steps to the toilet and looking down at her.
    “No—I woke up feeling better like always. I lied to get away from my mother,” Carrie admitted, putting her face in her hands again. “And don’t call me Carlene.”
    Michael laughed again, but tried to keep it soft enough so the rest of the house wouldn’t hear him.
    It was very tempting to just hide in the bathroom with Carrie until they all gave up and went home, but he knew his family. Someone from his side of the mob would be pounding on the door in concern soon if at least one of them didn’t show up in the living room to say Carrie was doing okay.
    “Carlene, you’re too old to be lying to your parents,” he said, trying to not to laugh and failing. Michael liked her name, though he knew better than to say so.
    “Do not call me that horrible name. Not now. Not ever.” She sighed and the sound bounced around in the small room with no place to go—just like her, Carrie thought.
    “Do you think I should just tell my family the truth about our arrangement? I doubt they could think worse of me than they do now anyway,” she asked, lifting her chin in defiance.
    Michael shook his head, exasperated, laughing and putting his hands on his hips.
    Carrie looked at his frazzled expression filled with more humor than irritation. She wasn’t trying to upset him. She certainly didn’t know what Michael thought was so funny about the situation.
    “So just what do you think the truth of our situation is right now?” Michael asked soberly, trying for calm but having