Vows of Convenience, Hearts of Fire

anhattan's tallest towers, its panoramic view stretching across th

a prison

ontaining the marriage certificate, prenuptial agreement, and a carefully typed set

o each other's

ssary com

unless arranged or

ain as the elevator d

orned with abstract art. Everything inside was mi

p as he sipped an espresso. He looked like he belonged on the cover of Forbes, dre

second-strangers aga

he said, setti

rprised I'

. "I'm surprised

said, walking past him into the livin

e, two lounges, a private terrace, and an indoor lap pool. Pl

following at a distance. "Closet's empty.

rfe

surroundings with clinical det

I won't

Elara sighed and pulled out the folder,

aries I mentioned in

ession unreadable. "You treat marr

ow talk and candle

You really don't

ember, you were an arrogant teenage snob

rachiever who made ev

don't chang

lightly. Not a rea

, "if we're laying ground rules, let's be clear-I

o expect applause

get along

****************

penthouse buzzed w

and her late grandmother on the nightstand, a little anchor of warmth in the sterile, art gallery-like suite.

a knock at

d envelope. "Media dinner tomorrow night," he s

ng our fake-love script

ughs tomorrow. Your favorite wine, your pet charity, a few coup

easily with eve

waver. "Only w

ext M

a t-shirt, hair tied in a messy bun. She hadn't expected to run into Asher, b

t moment, something flickered acr

for a morning

herself coffee. "Unlike some people, I

s of green juice. "You know, for someone who agree

marry yo

ed me with tho

"What, you want me in

low smile. "But you're

despite herself. "

"Someone timid. Someo

rry to di

nted," he said be

ight:

blue silk, flowing and elegant, her hair swept up in a chignon. Asher wore a c

hed. They whispered cl

they looked li

ked and high society buzzed a

long as Asher introduced her to bus

said at one point, voice proud and believable. "Fluen

mpliment was scripted

th an investor, a red-lipped woman in a di

re," she said, gaze scanni

d politely.

s thought he'd marry

t how?" E

r head. "More polis

ara echoed, h

. For thi

iled sweetly. "An

d just in tim

nking her arm with his

ara leaned her head

rself well tonig

didn't emba

boring. And I appreci

it a publi

oman-Camilla. She used to

athe

t need to

aid, smiling faintl

eal one. Short, su

a crack appeared in

dn

e as she stared at the skyline. The city pulsed below, a consta

he sat down beside her, of

ng the wolv

s gently against his

ank in

asked, "Do y

estion. "No. But I don'

that," he s

for the first time, she saw not the ruthles

owly, "this doesn't

o her. "No,

touch. They

time, they share

of unde