Page 10 of Marriage Masquerade

So much for the carefully rehearsed speech she’d practiced in the cab.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers.

“I expect we’ll get along fine. We have for five years.”

“I meant, precisely how do you see this working? Would I keep my apartment? Visit your place when you wanted to hold a party or something? Move in with you right away?”

Share a bed?That she couldn’t voice, not yet.

He shook his head.

“Our arrangement must appear to be a normal marriage in every regard, Gemma. We have to convince your government that this is real. The Immigration and Naturalization Service’ll interview and question us. INS will want to inspect our living arrangements. You’ll have to give up your place and move into mine. If you don’t like my apartment, we can look for something together that would suit us both. It’s imperative that we convince Immigration that this is a true and lasting marriage. I understand they frown on foreign nationals making marriages just for the sake of remaining in the United States.”

“Which this would be.”

“As long as we give the appearance of a normal marriage, I doubt there will be any challenges. In fact, your pregnancy could work strongly in my favor. No one would question a hurry-up wedding if the bride is already pregnant.”

She nodded—especially if they didn’t bother to name the real father. She kept her personal life private. She cleared her throat, wishing she had typed up a list of questions. Her mind spun, but no coherent thoughts seemed to come through. At last she spoke.

“You said a normal marriage. Normal, how? Like cooking and cleaning the apartment and shopping?”

Like sleeping together, kissing, making love?

She longed to ask about every aspect, but shyness kept her tongue silent. She wasn’t looking for normal in any sense. Her lesson had been hard-learned, but permanent.

“I don’t need a cook or maid. I have a man now who looks after the apartment. I see no reason Hal wouldn’t continue his duties just because you’ll be living there.”

She nodded. What else was there?

“I have some furniture that belonged to my parents,” she said. “I’d like to bring that.”

“Of course. It will be your home, so do with it what you will.”

“And I have lots of friends. I don’t want to change that because of a new husband.”

Although, until yesterday, she had planned to cease her friendships except for a few very close ones. She hated the thought of everyone knowing the circumstances of her baby.

“I wouldn’t expect you to change your life drastically. My home would become your home. You’d be free to invite whomever you wished to visit us.”

“I’m not good at social chitchat,” she said, her mind still spinning.

He countered her every worry. Was she seriously considering the proposal?

A hint of amusement crept into Nikos' eyes.

“Neither am I, truth be told. I much prefer the working environment. But duty necessitates social obligations. Especially when dealing with business rivals, clients and vendors. It makes the entire process run more smoothly. You’ll do fine, Gemma. You’re polished and sophisticated….”

His voice trailed off as he glanced at her worn jeans.

She grimaced. “Fooled you, Nikos. This is me when I’m not working. I’m not into fancy dresses and lots of jewelry. I prefer jeans and comfortable tops. I’m not all that sophisticated or polished even after five years in New York. I clean up good. But my jeans are already getting tight. And in another few months, I’ll be pretty big.”

And on her best days, she never looked like a supermodel.

“I like what you’re wearing,” he said.

“You do?”

He astonished her.

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