Page 30 of Marriage Masquerade

Chapter Five

Gemma’s heart raced as she parted her lips. She knew she’d lost her mind. Instead of anticipating Nikos’ kiss, she should jump up and put the length of the room between them.

In a minute.

First she wanted—

Hal cleared his throat.

Nikos slowly released the cascading waves of hair and sat back, looking impassively at his servant.

“Yes?”

“Excuse the intrusion, Mr. Mannering is calling. He says it’s urgent.”

Hal held out a cordless ivory phone.

Nikos took it and sat up.

“Yes?”

Gemma struggled to rise from the low divan. She ignored Hal and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows to gaze sightlessly out on the springtime beauty of Central Park. She hugged herself as she tried to find some rational thought. What was she doing letting herself be seduced by Nikos? Hadn’t she learned enough from her experience with James to know that men had their own agenda?

It was easy for Susan to fantasize about Nikos; she didn’t have to live with him or work with him. Or consider what their next step would be. Gemma did.

She needed to be very careful not to get caught up in the make-believe world they were creating. He valued her as an employee—this absurd idea of marriage proved that. Plus, she was able to help him out.

Nothing had changed. Unless he thought because they were married, he could now change that relationship.

“Gemma.”

She turned. He’d laid the phone on the side table.

“What did Phil have to say?” she asked, keeping her distance.

They had to settle things before she’d feel comfortable again.

“He contacted Immigration. They are naturally suspicious, considering the haste of our wedding. We are to meet with an inspector the day after tomorrow. If he isn’t satisfied with our explanation, the deportation will go forward.”

“Then we have to make sure he’s satisfied, don’t we?”

“A single interview with us probably won’t be the end.”

Gemma shrugged. “We’ll do the best we can.”

“And as long as we present a united front to the world, he won’t find anything amiss.”

She eyed him suspiciously.

“What does a united front mean?”

Slowly, he smiled. Gemma felt her heart melt. Did he have a clue how devastating that smile was? How it made her feel tingly inside, as if her blood were filled with effervescent bubbles like fine champagne?

“To the world, we’ll appear as a devoted couple. We’ll start at the party Sven Johannsen is giving Friday night. He has a new artist as protégé and is hosting a showing at the gallery on Fifth Avenue.”

“This Friday night?”

“Yes. I’ve already accepted the invitation. You’ll attend with me, of course.”

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