Contracted for Christmas: A Second Chance Holiday Romance

Five million dollars, for five weeks with my best friend.

My dad gambled away everything he had and more. If I don’t do something, he’ll be worse than homeless—he could be dead at the hands of the sharks he owes.

Good news: I know the owner of the casino where my dad gambled everything away. Bad news: it’s Nikola Milovic. Once, he was my best friend, but he dropped me like a hot potato after we graduated. I’m shocked he even takes my call.

I’m even more shocked when he offers me a deal. One I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams or worst nightmares. Five million dollars, for five weeks in the tropics, from the end of November through the New Year.

I take it, but I give myself rules:

One: Don’t beat myself up if I enjoy any part of this. If Nikola doesn’t feel bad about making demands, then I refuse to feel bad about complying.

Two: Minimize interactions with Nikola outside of the bedroom. I don’t know him anymore, and I can’t trust him.

Three: What happens on this trip stays on this trip.

Coming up with these rules is easy. Sticking to them? That’s harder. Especially when I start seeing more and more glimpses of the old Nikola, the one I used to secretly pine for.