Page 21 of Marriage Masquerade

Hal entered, placing a bowl of soup before each of them.

“Perhaps not so casual. But the dishes we will normally use are not fine china. Do you like to cook, Gemma? Will you be vying for time in the kitchen with Hal?”

“No worry there. I like to bake brownies or cookies once in a while, but I have done little cooking lately. It’s hardly worth it for a single person.”

“Ah, but what about friends? Do you entertain?”

“Rarely. We usually go out and each pay our own way. After working all day, the last thing I want to do is more work, and that’s what I think cooking is. Though my mother was a great cook.”

“Was she? Tell me about your parents, Gemma.”

“My mom died when I was fourteen. My dad only a few weeks later. I thought he died of a broken heart. They were very close. I lived with an aunt until I moved here. Aunt Bea died just before I came to work for you. No other close family. Until my baby’s born,” she said briefly.

As the meal progressed, Gemma relaxed. The food was prime rib, twice-baked potatoes and a collection of steamed vegetables. Another case of Hal outdoing himself for her first dinner?

She didn’t question it, just enjoyed every morsel.

“We’ll take our coffee in the living room,” Nikos said at the end of the meal.

“Thank you, Hal, it was perfect.” Gemma said as she rose to join Nikos after they finished. “I’ll skip the coffee, however. I’m not having caffeine these days.”

“My pleasure, madam,” Hal said formally.

“You’ve made his day,” Nikos said a few minutes later as they sat on the sofa in the living room.

“Katrina never said thank you or told him that a meal was delicious.”

Hal entered the living room and set a tray before them on the coffee table, fragrant coffee in a fragile pot. A second pot contained hot water. Two cups and a small plate of assorted tea bags completed the tray.

“I brought an assortment of herbal tea,” he told her.

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Gemma said with a smile.

“Hal was here then?” Gemma asked as she poured a cup for Nikos after Hal had left. She was touched he’d brought her tea.

Did that show he approved of the forthcoming alliance? Or only that his training was excellent?

“Yes.”

His clipped tone clued her in. He didn’t want to discuss his ex-wife.

Then why had he brought up her name?

“Shall we discuss the wedding?” she asked.

“It will be the two of us and witnesses. Elise has scheduled it with a judge. Tomorrow you can find a suitable dress.”

“So, will we leave work early or just dash out on our lunch break?”

She couldn’t help the hint of impatience in her tone. Wasn’t the bride supposed to have some say in her own wedding—no matter how arranged it was?

He glanced at her, raising one eyebrow.

“We will be married at one o’clock, eat a celebration luncheon and then return home.”

“Here, you mean?”

“Of course. This is your home now, Gemma.”

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