"Have you lost your mind? You can't live together?" Elena said.

"They are grown adults, Elena. They can do whatever they want. Besides, it's better than her marrying him."

"Marry?" Elena stared at her husband like he had lost his mind. "Marry?" she asked of Billie, wanting her to explain.

"It was an option on the table," Billie admitted.

"You let them bet over getting married?!" Elena smacked her husband as he passed her to put his poker chips away. "How can you let this happen?!"

"Me? I didn't do anything. They did it themselves."

"Billie, please be reasonable. This is no way to go about getting a man," Elena tried to reason.

"I already have him, Elena. Now I'm just trying to figure out if I should keep him."

Quentin grinned at this assessment of their relationship. Okay, so she's accepted his feelings for her, but the jury was still out on whether Billie had feelings for him.

"You ready to get going?" he asked.

"Ready whenever you are," Billie replied.

"No, no, no," Elena said. "Stop them, Carlos. You know this will only end in tears."

"It is their lives, Elena," Carlos said putting the cards away.

Quentin took Billie by the hand and led her back into the house. He was still stunned that she was here but of course, Carlos and Elena were aware that Billie was coming. Very sly of them to make excuses as to why he should stay. He owed them one.

"Goodnight Carlos, Elena. Thank you for the iced tea, dinner, well everything," Quentin said.

"Billie?" Elena made her name into a plea.

"I'll be fine. I promise," Billie said kissing the woman's cheek.

"I'll follow you?" Quentin asked since they came in separate cars.

"Yes," Billie said although she wished they didn't have to separate so soon.

"This is all your fault!" Elena said to Carlos when they got into their cars and drove away.

"Isn't it always?" Carlos said dejectedly as he closed the door.

***

They parked in the garage and walked to the co-op together hand and hand. Before they got into the building, however, Quentin stopped them.

"Everything okay?" Billie asked. Quentin looked like he was pondering something.

"Yes, it's all good," Quentin said and continued walking. They entered the building and waited for the elevator.

Once inside the elevator, Billie heard Quentin say, "No, it's no good."

"It's not?" Billie asked concerned.

"No, I can't do this," Quentin said turning her so she had to look at him.

"You can't?"

"It's nearly impossible," Quentin said.

"Are saying you want out of our deal?" Billie asked. She should have known it was too good to be true.

"What?" Quentin was confused. "No, why would you ask that?"

"You just said..."

"No, I just meant that it's impossible to be this close to you and not want to do this." Quentin pulled her into his arms. His lips descended upon hers. Billie didn't even put up a fight. Her hands wound in his hair, her whole body pressed against him. His arms gathered her up, gripping the clothes at her back, pressing her even closer.

Quentin's kiss lasted the entire ride up to Billie's floor. They only broke apart because the door dinged and when it opened, there was a man with his wife standing there looking scandalized. Billie gave them a half-smile, before saying, "Excuse me", and lead Quentin past them to her apartment.

Once inside Billie turned to ask, "Why were you worried about kissing me?"

Billie wore no make, her hair was tied back in a knot and she was wearing the equivalent of a woman's version of a man's suit but her lips were still wet and slightly swollen, from their kiss. Her eyes were nearly black as they were dilated with passion. Her chest rose and fell more rapidly as she was still trying to catch her breath.

"Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now?" Quentin said, and Billie laughed.

"Is this your new way of changing the subject?"

Quentin grinned back at her. "No, I just needed to tell you that."

"Thank you! You're looking rather sexy yourself, but that doesn't answer my question."

Quentin entered her apartment. No, their apartment. Did he really agree to live with her? He's never lived with anyone other than his parents and that was a long time ago. Not even Calista and he lived together. They both thought they would find a place after they were married.

Quentin wandered further into the room. "Well here's the thing. You are undoubtedly aware that I am VERY attracted to you."

"And the feeling is mutual," Billie said with raised brows wondering where Quentin was going with this.

"It is? That's good to know."

"You were in some doubt after that kiss," Billie asked astonished, as she pointed with her thumb back to the hallway.

"No. Well, not exactly but it does cause some serious complications," Quentin said.

"I don't see how but I'm guessing you're going to enlighten me?"

Quentin walked further into the room and began pacing. "Doesn't it bother you in the slightest that you're having me move in when you've only known me a few days? I mean we haven't even exchanged phone numbers," Quentin said in an effort to explain.

"Oh, is that all?" Billie said with hand outstretched.

Quentin sighed this is not what he meant but he did give her his phone because it would have made today so much more productive if he had the ability to call her.

Billie was surprised he did not have his phone locked when he handed it to her. Was he really that trusting? She got to his contacts and put her information in and then handed it back to him.

Quentin glanced at the phone and laughed when he saw she put in her name as Billie (the sexy one), he also took note that she added her address here and an office number if she was at work, she was very thorough.

"Nice," he said, putting his phone in his back pocket. Quentin walked towards her and Billie wondered what he was up to. He reached back and undid the bun her hair was in. He ran his fingers through to fluff it out, then he unbuttoned the top two buttons on her blouse before he stood back to admire his handiwork.

"Give me your best come hither look," Quentin requested and pulled out his phone to take her picture.

"Come hither?" Billie asked giggling, "I wouldn't even know what look..."

"Think of our time in the bedroom together after I removed my towel." Quentin knew instantly the moment she got the image in her mind and snapped a photo. "That's the one."

"Let me see," Billie said reaching for the phone, wondering what look she gave him, but Quentin easily held the phone out of her reach.

"Nope, that look is for me and me alone," he told her and held out his hand for her to give over her phone.

"Oh right," Billie said digging her phone out of her purse. She had to undo the security.

When she unlocked her phone, she noticed a missed call from Donavan. He must have called her during the game. She always turned off her phone prior to playing because she didn't want it to interrupt. She quickly swiped the notifications away wondering why she felt guilty.

Billie handed Quentin her phone. He took about 30 seconds to fill out the information and handed it back to her.

Billie looked at the phone. She smirked when she saw, Quentin (love of your life).

"Projecting, are we?" she asked, there was no address since he was living with her and there was no work number. Billie glanced down at her phone again, "Do you not work?"

"I have my projects. I'm sure I have an office at H-Tech but I couldn't tell you where it is. So, I definitely have no idea about the phone number."

"You seriously have no interest in the business at all?" Billie asked finding it hard to believe. She loved her father's business.

"See it's little things like that, that worry me?"

"What things?"

"You think less of me because I don't work at my father's business but I've never had an interest in my father's business. I want to do something worthwhile with the money that we have, so I've set up several foundations. That's what I spend my time on."

"And you think I would look down on you for that?" Billie asked surprised.

"No. I don't know, maybe? You're all sorts of ambition, deadlines, and schedules. You probably know everything you're doing for the next month. Me, I'm more interested in seeing where life takes me. What opportunities there can be? I don't like to time block because some of my best ideas have come to me when I'm doing nothing at all."

"So, you're a creative type?"

"I don't paint, draw, or write. I do dance but only for fun and I do play an instrument but not professionally. I just like the freedom of being able to make up my mind on the spot. I never have to turn an opportunity down because of a prior commitment.

"But how do you follow through on anything?" Billie asked traveling to the kitchen. "Coffee?"

"Yeah, sure. What do you mean to follow through?"

"Well, you get this great idea. It could be a billion-dollar idea but without any planning how do take advantage of it? How do you make it work?" Billie asked taking mugs out of her cabinet and setting up her coffee maker.

Quentin shrugged. "I don't know it just works out for me. I never expect there to be an obstacle in my way. Usually, when I want something it wants me. So, the pieces just fall into place."

"Huh? I can't do anything without planning it first," Billie admitted. "I research the heck out of things, trying to predict all possible outcomes and prepare for them. Even then I only venture in when I think the risk is not too great."

Quentin leaned in the doorway as he watched her move around her kitchen. It was so well organized that he had no problem finding everything he needed when he made breakfast for her this morning. Was that really only this morning? They were fast approaching another evening together and Quentin knew he had to make up his mind about how this was going to work.

"So, you're telling me you planned, to find me at Carlos' and making a wager for me to move in with you? You predicted the outcome would be that I'd be standing here in your kitchen doorway discussing the variations in how we pursue things?"

Billie stopped mid-pour of the coffee. "Actually, no. I didn't plan any of this. I just knew what I wanted and I went for it."

"Exactly?!" Quentin said with excitement. She actually got it. Then something else she said sunk in. "Wait. Then that means you want me."

Billie finished making the coffee and turned to hand him his cup. He was surprised she got it exactly right. She must have logged it away when he made his in the morning, not that he drank it.

"It's not a secret that I want you, is it?" Billie wondered if she was that bad at giving the right signals.

"No, I know you want me. God knows I want you too, but is that all you want?" Quentin asked and Billie walked past him to the couch and sat down.

"I don't know what I want, but what I do want I know involves you," Billie tried to explain.

"So, this, what we are doing here is... research? You trying to decide whether or not I'm worth keeping."

Billie shrugged. "Sort of."

"Sort of? You seriously don't have any other feeling other than sexual for me?"

"If I did, you'd be the last person I would admit that to?"

"Why?"

"Because then you have an advantage over me."

"Billie, this is a relationship not a partnership in a business."

"But you see, I see them as one and the same. Relationships can be ruined. Partnerships can be dissolved. What I'm really looking for is a partner in a relationship. Someone who is willing to help shoulder the burden, work with me, tell me I'm crazy when I'm crazy and I'm awesome when I'm awesome, but who isn't going to quit on me when things get hard, because sometimes life is hard."

"Okay, fine. You win. You're crazy awesome," Quentin said and received a 'you're not funny' smirk from Billie.

"Can't you take me seriously for at least one conversation?" Billie inquired.

Quentin melted into the sofa with his coffee still in his hands, his head resting on the back of the chair. "Serious? You want me to be serious but Billie where is the fun? The excitement? All those things that make having a new relationship great?"

"What do you mean?"

Quentin sat up suddenly and almost spilled his coffee on his pants. "My God, you really are that serious! Billie while you're trying to 'figure this out' you could have been enjoying this..."

Quentin set his coffee mug down and leaned over and kissed her. It wasn't an earth-shattering kiss but he didn't stop there. "Or this..." he said deepening his kiss making it last a little longer and just when he could tell she was gaining an interest he pulled away. Quentin smiled mischievously when he caught her slight pout that he did not continue.

"I'm going to perform a little experiment," Quentin began. "Call it research if you will. I want you to tell me exactly what you're thinking when I do this..."

He took her cup from her hand, put it down on the table, and pulled her into his lap. He showed her no mercy when he kissed her this time. There was no holding back. His hands roamed her body, teasing, taunting. He felt her squirm in his lap and then freeze when she discovered how turned on he was.

Billie smiled against his lips and squirmed on purpose this time, causing a groan, nearly a growl to escape his lips. He returned the favor and Billie gasped, opening her mouth to him which he took full advantage of. He refused to let up.

Her desire was growing. He could feel it. The way that she moved, the frantic tug at this shirt. She wanted him, and she was determined to have him. Quentin picked Billie up in his arms and then did the unthinkable. The kiss ended and he plopped her unceremoniously back on the couch.

Both participants were panting hard. His skin felt electrified. His body was crying out for him to finish this, to find some sort of satisfaction but he did not give in.

"What were you thinking?" Quentin asked and Billie looked up at him dazed.

"I... uh... um... I can't think, not when you doing that to me."

"My point exactly. You can't get the mind involved in everything. It'll just f it up. Some things are meant to be experienced, felt, enjoyed. Do you get what I'm trying to say, here?"

"I'm sorry, no," Billie replied still looking bemused and Quentin laughed, perhaps he took things too far and her brain was now too addled to get his point.

"But if you have a point you're trying to prove, I'm all for you trying again," Billie said coyly and Quentin shook his head at her.

"Minx!" he complained.

"Tell me you don't want it to. That your research hasn't yielded a high return as far as valuable information you've now gleaned about yourself and me?"

Damn it how did she turn the tables on him? But he had to give her this one. He had learned more about her, about her body. Each time he touches her he finds different ways to pleasure her, but as much as he'd love to become her addiction would that be enough for him?

"I'd love to but I can't help but think we should..."

Billie's phone rang. She frowned and chose to ignore it.

"we should..." The phone rang again. Quentin tried not to be annoyed by it but had to ask, "Aren't you going to answer that?"

"I wasn't planning on it," Billie admitted. She wanted Quentin to finish what he was saying.

It rang again. This time, annoyed, Billie chose to answer it. "Hello!"

"Hey, Billie. Didn't catch you at a bad time, did I?"

Donavan!

"Actually, you have. Can I call you back tomorrow? It's late and..."

"I was wondering if you'd like to get together for lunch. I can meet you at your office?"

"I don't think that's a good..."

"I have something I want to give you. It's something I meant to give you years ago. It has to do with your Mom. Please, Billie, don't say no."

"Um... I'll call you tomorrow. Okay?"

"Don't worry about it. I know how busy you are. I'll just stop by on Monday," Donavan told her.

"I didn't say I'd..." Donavan didn't give her a chance to finish her sentence, he said goodnight and hung up the phone.

Billie held the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a minute in disbelief. She'll just have to call him tomorrow and tell him she can't meet him. She let out a slow sigh.

"Everything okay?" Quentin asked.

"Yeah, it was just someone wanting to set up a meeting with me?" Billie said sticking to a partial truth since she didn't want to admit her ex-boyfriend just invited himself to her office for lunch.

"At this hour?"

Billie knew things looked odd. She was such a bad liar. "What can I say I'm in high demand," Billie said hoping to use humor to defuse the situation.

"That I can believe," Quentin said with a smile and Billie smiled back feeling grateful he didn't pursue the matter further, yet she didn't quite know why she withheld the truth from him. It's not like there is anything going on between her and Donavan.

"You were saying," Billie asked wanting to escape her thoughts.

"I was saying that I think it would be best, at least in the beginning, as we get to know one another that we..." Quentin cringed when he said, "don't have sex or make love or whatever you would like to call it."

This snapped Billie completely out of her dazed thinking about what to do about Donavan. "What?! Why?"

Quentin sat down next to her on the couch again. "Billie, I want you, and as much as I thoroughly enjoy how well we work together in this area, I'm worried that if we aren't careful this is all we'll have between us."

"You're afraid if we have sex, that we'll just what ...? Become roommates with benefits?"

"Something like that, yes," Quentin admitted.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Billie said standing up and pacing the room. The real truth, however, was she didn't think she could do it. Didn't his little experiment a few moments ago prove that? How was she to be consistently around him and not want him? It'll drive her mad.

"You want us to see if we have something real, substantial, a true partnership. Would you get into bed with a partner before you really got to know them?" Quentin posed.

He was using her own philosophies against her, damn him. He knew she wouldn't. There was no way she would allow that to happen, in business or elsewhere.

Seeing the acknowledgment on her face, Quentin asked, "Well then?"

Billie threw her head back and moaned, "Ugh, why must you always ask the impossible?"

Quentin got up and grabbed her by her shoulders. "Nothing is impossible, and I believe the reward to be far greater."

"So, you expect us, despite what you just experienced in the elevator and a few seconds ago on the couch, for us to be completely platonic?"

Quentin looked stunned that she thought he'd take things that far. "Good God, no. Neither of us could survive that. I'm just saying ..." he grinned that sexy grin at her, "we get creative."

Billie bit her lip to try and keep from grinning when he used her phraseology from the day before.

She waved her hand towards the bedroom. "Okay. I'll follow your lead on this one."

"Seriously?" Quentin said obviously in disbelief that Billie agreed.

She nodded before saying, "This is going to kill me."

Quentin's smile grew wider as he took her hand and led her into the bedroom saying, "Possibly, but what a way to die."