65

The topic of unseriousness is obviously a sore subject not just for me. I threw it back at her, and I saw I hadn’t missed. With true enjoyment, I realized just how perfectly I’d hit the target.

I instantly figured out how to arrange a fair “competition,” but for that kind of bet, the stakes had to be raised to the maximum. If we’re betting, then bet big. Otherwise I won’t keep her. This might be my last chance for a normal and peaceful solution to our problem.

“I’m not going to be your wife!” Ann protested in a trembling, frightened voice, jumping in place immediately, though calming down slightly and going quiet. Predictable.

“Well, that’s only if you lose. Or do you already feel that your strength won’t be enough and you’ll be defeated?” I wanted to bait her, push her into reckless emotions, because I wanted her! By any methods and tricks, with all her inner demons and secrets, flaws and virtues.

“I won’t lose!” my little panther hissed, glaring at me from under her brows and clenching her fists.

“Just keep in mind that if I win, you’ll voluntarily and without tricks marry me, with a wedding, a celebration, publicly for everyone to hear,” I step closer to my, basically, future bride! Because I have no intention of losing. The girl retreats unhappily until her back hits the fridge. “And we’ll live happily ever after, in a marriage full of love, passion, kids, and all the other obligations,” I see her brown eyes flash with some strange fire. Something inside her trembled at my words, but she’d put on a mask of impenetrability and angry indifference. Still, my words definitely hooked her, stirring a whole storm of contradictory feelings in the brunette. Unable to stand being this close to the girl I wanted, I gently ran my fingers over her smooth cheek.

“And if I win, you leave me alone forever! And I never see your insolent ass in my line of sight!” jerking her head, Anya pulled out of my fingers and glared angrily. And I spread into a satisfied grin.

Gotcha!

Because I’m not some loser who’d lose a bet this important with the woman he loves!

“Deal.”

*********

“So let me get this straight?” Masha’s huge gray eyes looked at us distrustfully and skeptically. “You rich spoiled people, to settle your argument, are offering me, a homeless kid, a safe roof over my head, tasty food, and all my childish wishes granted for two whole months? And in the end, I have to decide which of you was the better and more responsible parent?”

“Well… basically, yeah,” I confirmed everything said above. Ann just stood there silently beside me, but she wasn’t fighting it. A bet is a bet.

“And you’re waiting for my answer?” the young entrepreneur’s eyes flashed cunningly.

“Well, maybe you’d be against it, or your parents…”

“Pfft!” the little one snorted. “That definitely won’t be a problem…”

“If not you, then we can find…”

“Of course I agree!” Masha hurried to answer, rolling her eyes. “Where else am I gonna find such sucke… kind people!” the kid quipped sarcastically. “But I have one condition!”

Look at that grip! Strike while the iron’s hot! Good girl!

“What is it?” I asked with a hidden smile.

“My brother Lukas is coming with me,” Masha’s look turned serious and unwavering. “He’s only six and he’s not a problem child.”

I saw Anya get nervous. Well, the more kids, the harder it’ll be for her. I’d already handled three, so one extra kid is basically a bonus plus!

“Of course, no problem,” I smiled sincerely, and Ann practically went pale.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?!” Masha lit up with childish excitement. “Let’s go get my little brother… mommy and daddy!”