A Question of Marriage Read Free Page B

apartment. No leather furniture or animal print rugs to be found, this was a place she felt comfortable being.
    “Have you made a deci sion?” Jordan asked, as he walked back into the room pulling down a black t-shirt.
    “As a matter of fact I have,”
    “What did you decide?”
    “I’ll help you.”
    Jordan smiled “Thank you. Make yourself comfortable I’ll be right back.” He told her, then disappeared into another room only to return moments later carrying a briefcase.
    He sat down bes ide her on the sofa. Opening it, he reached in and pulled out some papers, placing them on the table in front of her. His clean fresh scent overwhelmed her, as she tried to concentrate on the papers realizing it was a prenuptial agreement.
    “Why do you want me to sign these, if this is going to be a business arrangement?”
    “Because despite that fact , I have to protect myself as well as my assets, besides this is standard.”
    Payton looked over at him. “You say that like we’re pickin g out wall paper or something. This is a prenuptial agreement.”
    “I know what it is. Sign where the red arrows indicate.”
    Picking up the papers Payton read a few lines then tossed the papers back on the table. “I’m not signing these.” Standing she picked up her purse and pushed the straps up her shoulders.
    Jordan frowned in confusion “Is something wrong?”
    “Yes. Jordan when you asked me to help you, you never mentioned anything about me having to sign a prenuptial agreement. And not only that, I bet there’s nothing in it that protects me, it’s all about you isn’t it ?”
    When he hadn’t denied her words, Payton turned and started walking towards the door, Jordan not far behind her.
    “ You can’t just leave, we need to talk about this.”
    “What is there to discuss? As usual this is all about you,” Payton replied continuing to walk when she reached the door she turned the handle pulling it open.
    Jordan strode up and pushed it shut, s tanding in front of her close enough to touch, his cologne stirred her senses. Payton swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, as she gazed into his deep, blue eyes, trying to steady her erratic heartbeat. Briefly closing her eyes, opening them again, taking a deep breath she spoke.
    “ I don’t think I can do this.”
    Jo rdan lowered his arm, stepping away putting some distance between them shoving his hands in his pockets.
    “ Why? Tell me what the problem is.”
    “ Why would you even think I would sign those papers? Do you honestly believe because we’re friends I would simply sign on the dotted line without even questioning it? Jordan we’ve been friends for ten years, do you think I’m that gullible?”
    It was the combination of hurt and anger in her voice that made him realize he had been wrong about his assumptions thinking that marriage between them could only amount to a simple business agreement. It was then he realized that maybe she wanted more, but did he want more as well?
    He didn’t know what he wanted, b ut one thing’s for sure he didn’t want things between them to be strained. Payton wasn’t just his friend. she was the woman he’d grown to depend on for advice and comfort when things in his life were at their most chaotic. Though they hadn’t been together sexually, he still felt closer to her then he’d felt with any other woman in his life, with the exception of his mother.
    “Fine, I tell you what, let’s sit down and talk about it, maybe we can reach a compromise.”
    Payton eyed him for a moment. “Do you honestly think it’s that simple, the two of us sit down talk then bam I sign on the dotted line? I don’t think so; I think we need to forget the whole thing, you need to come up with another plan.”
    “That’s not an option , there are no other alternatives.”
    “ This thing has really got you spooked doesn’t it? Personally if it were me, I’d call your father’s bluff and go from there. I’m sure you’ll