Page 12 of Marriage Masquerade

Nikos reached for her hand and clasped it lightly in his, then lifted it and turned it palm up. Lightly he brushed his lips across her wrist.

“You do me honor in your agreement,” he said in his husky voice with the slight British intonation.

“It is I who am honored,” Gemma replied, still feeling the warmth his light caress engendered. “I’ll make sure my baby does nothing to sully your family name.”

He smiled slightly and leaned closer.

Pulling her hand free, Gemma turned and fled. She snatched up her purse in passing and hurried to the elevator. The car she’d come up in was still on the floor, so she instantly stepped inside and punched the button for the lobby, leaning against the side wall, willing the doors to close swiftly.

She tried to get her roiling emotions under control. She was engaged to Nikos Petropoulos. And he’d sealed their bargain with a kiss.

Not on the mouth, as she might have expected, but a kiss. One she could still feel. If she hadn’t run like a scared rabbit, would he have given her an actual kiss?

Gemma turned right from the building entrance and began walking briskly to escape her thoughts. She couldn’t believe she’d just agreed to marry the man. She still had a dozen questions, a dozen concerns. But it was too late—she’d said yes.

With an odd sense of elation, Nikos watched Gemma practically run from the office and head for the elevators. Slowly, he turned and moved to the windows. It was sunny and warm outside, but the climate control of the building gave little hint of the balmy weather. He wondered where Gemma was heading in such a hurry. The offices were too high for him to see her when she emerged from the building, but he watched the pedestrians, anyway.

He knew little about his assistant beyond how well she worked for him. Who were her friends? How had she gotten mixed up with a married man? Judging by the signs, she was hurt, afraid, and doubly wary now.

Which suited him. Their marriage was a business deal. When the crises had passed, they could each resume their normal lives. He didn’t want her imagining she was falling in love.

From this moment on, however, she was his—temporarily.

A peculiar feeling of completion filled him. Her visit surprised him this morning, and he felt intrigued by her wearing clothes that were so different from the attire she usually wore to work. He liked her top. Its snug fit displayed her figure to full advantage. She was stunning.

The softness of her skin had been another surprise. Had she not pulled away so abruptly, he’d have kissed her again, moving this time to that inviting mouth that seemed to cry for his attention this morning.

How could he have overlooked it in the past?

Would she be shy in her kisses? Or daring?

Impatient with his thoughts, he turned back to his desk. There were a few more items he wished to cover today. Monday, he’d have Elise clear his calendar for the week, except for the longshoreman's contract negotiations, which wouldn’t wait. He wanted to be prepared for every demand and be able to back up his counteroffers with as much data as possible.

But just before he pulled the analyses from the folder, he looked through the door to where Gemma usually sat. He almost wished he’d been going with her today—wherever she was going.

Time enough when they were married to do things together. They hadn’t discussed that possibility. He looked forward to Gemma’s reaction when he brought it up.

When Gemma stepped off the elevator Monday morning, fellow workers wishing her well instantly surrounded her. Nikos had obviously wasted no time in letting the entire firm know about their pending nuptials.

“Thank you.”

She smiled politely as two secretaries wished her happiness, then bombarded her with questions.

“So, tell us how it happened?”

“When did he propose?”

“Isn’t he the most romantic man you know?”

“Where are you going to live?”

“Will you keep your job?”

Gemma looked at Monique. The young woman had worked for them for seven months. She was competent, but not at all satisfied with her job. Ambitious, she had yet to prove herself ready for additional responsibility. Sometimes Gemma thought the woman just wanted more money.

“Did you get your ring yet?”

With a glance of disappointment, Shelly looked at her left hand, then brightened. “Oh, I know, you’ll shop for it together.”

---