Page 25 of Escape Clause

“It was Krogan’s idea. He spearheaded it then delegated it to his second-in-command.”

“Have you seen any other alien brides besides the humans?”

“No. I think so far, we’re the only ones. There were twenty-five women on the ship with me. Nobody else from our village though.”

“Tell me the important stuff. Don’t hold back any details.”

“I told you everything.” What was more important than the pandemic?

“You know…” Prudence’s voice lowered. “Have you guys…bow chicka wow wow?”

Hope’s face heated. “We just met! And this is a marriage of convenience.”

“So? Girl, what’s moreconvenientthan sex with your hot alien husband?”

“I’m not going to talk about this.”

“Not gonna kiss and tell. I get it.”

They hadn’t even kissed. For a moment, she’d thought he’d intended to seal their vows with a kiss, but then he grabbed a tech-tab to sign his name instead. Maybe Caradonians didn’t kiss. “How about you and William?” She turned the tables away from her sexless marriage. “Have you two bow chicka wow wowed?”

“Frequently and with great abandon.” She grinned. “We’ve been together forever. He became my boyfriend in kindergarten. I remember I came home from the first day of school and told my parents I was getting married.” She laughed.

Hope giggled and then sobered. “You’re one of the lucky ones, Pru.” She’d always envied her friend. Her future had been set from the start. William had never not been in her life.

“That’s why I want you to find your bliss. Just because you entered into this assuming it would be temporary doesn’t mean it needs to stay that way. You might fall in love.”

I hope not.Even if she changed her mind, Krogan wouldn’t. He’d made it perfectly clear when they’d had their talk that he intended their union to end in a year. As long as they remained on the same page, everything would be fine. But the only thing sadder than entering into a marriage in name only would be falling in love and not being loved back.

At all cost, she had to guard her heart.

Chapter Thirteen

Dealing with the fallout from the pandemic and a myriad of other crises claimed Krogan’s waking hours and then some. Sometimes he slept at the office. When he did go home, the penthouse offered a serene haven from responsibility, stress, and worry.

But never had he been so eager to get home as he was now that his new bride was there.

He found his wife in thekitchenpreparing dinner while the service android idled. He stared in disbelief. “Hope?”

“Hi, honey, how was work?” She smiled so sweetly, his heart skipped a beat.

“What are you doing?” Why was she working and not the android? That’s why he had an android.

“I’m cooking dinner for us.” Two spots of pink color tinted her cheeks. Her eyes were bright…and bleary? What was wrong with her eyes?

He glanced at the robot. “Is Don One malfunctioning?”

“I will run a diagnostic,” the android said.

“I’m preparing dinner because I enjoy cooking, especially baking. Don Juan showed me how to operate the appliances and described the different ingredients.” She persisted in calling the android by the nickname she’d given it. Sometimes he caught himself thinking of the service bot the same way. “I’m learning what foods are similar to Terra Nova’s.”

“The diagnostic is complete. All my systems are operating within normal parameters,” Don One reported.

Hope removed the apron she was wearing. “Would you finish up for me, Don Juan?” she asked.

“Of course, Hope Bennett,” it replied.

“You remember how to do it?”

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