Page 67 of Marriage Masquerade

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Gemma asked, looking at the boxes yet to be opened.

“Certain.”

A few minutes later, Nikos had the parts of the crib spread across the floor. It turned out to be a simple task to affix the ends, the slide rails, the sides of the crib, insert the springs. Gemma held the ends as he attached the various items.

He could almost feel her excitement.

“Did Hal wash the linen?” he asked as he tightened a screw.

“Yes, everything's ready to be used. But if we set it up this early, everything will be dusty before the baby's born.”

“And everything can be washed again,” he said.

She smiled at him, her eyes shining.

“Yes, that’s true, isn’t it? I can’t wait to see how it all will look.”

He stared at her for a long moment, forgetting the screwdriver he held, forgetting the last steps left in the crib's assembly. She looked so pretty holding the end of the crib, her eyes full of dreams. He wasn’t expecting to feel so much for her. Their relationship had always been completely business like.

But he wanted her. Tightening his grip on the screwdriver, he drew a deep breath. When she looked up at him with that smile, he wanted to throw caution to the wind, sweep her into his arms and kiss her until tomorrow.

“We still have the cradle to assemble, too, don’t forget,” she said happily. “I didn’t realize how multi-talented you are. This is great.”

Sycophants over the years had tried flattery to get something, but the compliment from Gemma was heartfelt. And touched him as nothing else ever had.

Dragging his gaze away from her, he finished what he was doing.

“Wait a minute and you can help me make up the crib,” she said, hurrying from the room.

In two minutes she was back, arms piled high with the bedding.

Nikos enjoyed working with her. His fingers brushed hers as they smoothed the sheet, brightly covered with circus animals.

“Okay, now set up the mobile,” she ordered, placing the teddy bear in one corner.

Once they finished, he could escape to the office, immerse himself in the last-minute details he wanted to complete before their trip. Focus on something to take his mind off the growing desire he felt for her.

But until then, the sweet scent of his wife and her enthusiastic delight in the mundane task of making a baby's bed surrounded him.

When they entered her bedroom to assemble the cradle, Nikos hesitated in the doorway. There was a feminine feel to the room he’d never noticed before. Her scent filled the air, a frilly nightgown lay where tossed across the pillow, trailing to the floor. Near the dresser was a pair of high heels, one on its side, as if Gemma had kicked them off and let them stay where they landed.

The need to distance himself grew. He was growing too interested in her, too involved. Too caught up in the fantasy of a family life, or what one could be like.

Yet nothing had been confirmed with a lasting commitment. Time enough to reevaluate the situation once the baby was born.

The cradle looked small when he lifted it onto the supports a few minutes later. Gently pushing it, he could picture a tiny infant snuggled down in it, soothed by the swaying.

He brought his gaze up to Gemma. Would the baby look like her?

She smiled and reached out to touch his arm.

“Thanks. This is perfect.”

He drew her into the circle of his arms and lowered his face to kiss her. She tasted sweet and warm and womanly. Deepening the kiss, he let the feelings sweep through him, hot and exciting. He wanted her.

Then he stepped back, turned and left the room. That road was one he had traveled before. He didn’t plan to go that way again. He needed distance. Distance and distractions. Gemma wasn't Katrina.

Even so, the better way forward was not to fall in love with his wife.

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