Marriage of Convenience and nothing more

y's

ere suggesting something as cas

d, my brows furrowing as I struggled

you shou

you would suggest something as serious as marriage. Why would I marry you?" I gestured

ze shifting away. The ai

e I don't want to," he admitted,

isting in my mind. Why would a g

, carefully choosing my words. He was my

in your decision not to marry her? Or bet

didn't see the obstacle in front of me. Sud

rubbing my nose

ocking onto me like a pr

palms felt clammy, and my fingers twitch

f to you?" His voice was lo

d. My heart pounded against my ri

or orders from you?" he

gaze dropped to my toes, the confidence I'd felt moments a

le

ould hear his controlled breathing and feel

In public, we'll pretend to be a loving couple. In private, we go our separate ways." His eyes burned into mine, leaving no

are of your grandmother's medical bills. It's just for a year,

ath hi

ke a storm cloud-offering re

uld s

ld wal

mother's hos

ed, curling and uncurlin

e said, slipping a hand into his pocket.

ek, black busines

t, tucking it into my ba

-

andmother's hospitalization, I hadn't been able

duce, carts squeaking against the tiled floor. The scent of ripe

ed it toward the vegetable s

ract m

at my life

d be covered. On the other... I'd be marrying a man

uld Gra

s of lettuce and bundles of spinach in

ut of n

exploded acr

de. My breath caught in my throat,

led throug

. My skin stung, the imprin

exclaimed. "Why w

focus. My heart pound

ere sh

ing in her eyes. My fingers curled into tight

d into a sneer.