He looked into Maggie’s eyes. “I want Kate to be happy. I think this would make her happy.”
Maggie narrowed her eyes. “Is that all?”
He let out a breath. “Okay, to be totally frank, being a married man might make my life a little easier in other ways. Success tends to attract a certain type of woman—”
“Gold diggers?” Maggie supplied.
“That’s one term for them. Anyway, I could do without the aggravation of three calls a day from the Anna Christiansons out there.”
Maggie thought for a moment, then nodded. “If I move out at the end of the summer—”
“Marital discord,” Alex said. “We’ll say we’re trying to work it out.”
“Even if that would work, I’m not sure it justifies a marriage.”
“Think about it.” He gave a brief smile that warmed his face. “Please think it over. I believe it’s the only way.”
Holding his gaze, she reached for the chair behind her, found it, pulled it toward her and sat down. “I can’t believe I’m considering this.”
“It’s a very sensible offer.” He gave a half shrug and his voice softened. “And as you so persuasively pointed out, it’s vitally important for Kate.”
For several long seconds they sat in silence. There was a lot of merit in what he said. After all, this was not meant to be a romantic proposal. Could she separate her feelings? Could she, even for a short time, lock herself in marriage with this man and accept that it wasn’t real?
Finally she said, “If it weren’t for Kate I’d walk away from this ridiculous conversation.” And if it weren’t for the fact that I need to stay in this country so I can earn the money to send home where there is almost no employment. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was very tempted to take him up on his offer for her own selfish reasons.
“If it weren’t for Kate we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.” Alex stood. “I’ll need an answer today and I’ve got a meeting downtown in two hours. Let me know, Maggie.”
An hour later Maggie and Alex were back in the office where the whole conversation began, he in his chair behind the desk, she in the one opposite. Alex had his closing argument perfectly prepared.
“…so by marrying me, I’ll offer you the chance to complete your Montessori certification. Also, you’ll be able to apply for citizenship so that after we separate you can remain in this country as a legal citizen. You can vote, collect benefits and take a teaching job anywhere you want freely, without restrictions.”
“I don’t even know how long one has to be a resident before being eligible for citizenship,” Maggie said.
“Three years. I’d expect you to live in the area during that time so you could be available to Kate when she’s not in school. Naturally I will compensate you for your time.”
Three years. This was no small commitment. Maggie raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And what happens to Kate after the three years?” And what happens to us in the meantime?
“We’ll have to agree now that you’ll continue to be part of her life, at least to some degree. I’ll make it financially possible for you to visit with her whenever the two of you would like.”
“But what about between visits?”
“I’ll be here much of the time, but I’ll make sure there’s a housekeeper here at all times as well.”
Maggie struggled not to roll her eyes. “Oh, well, as long as you have an hour or so a week—”
The look he gave her stopped her cold. “If we’re going to keep arguing like this, maybe we should forget the whole thing.”
Maggie saw he meant it. Suddenly the answer was clear. She realized with vague irony that she had shoved her attraction to him aside. At that moment, the man’s very coldness made her feel that it would be possible to marry him in the legal sense only. The glimpses of sensitivity she’d seen were enough to make her believe that, with a little bit of time and understanding, perhaps he would see the close relationship he could have with Kate. Without vanity, Maggie believed that she was the one person who could help this come to fruition.
And that was as noble and worthy a cause as she’d ever had. Whether Alex Harrison realized it or not, he had given her much more than an opportunity to finish school or get a good job. He’d given Her a challenge that, if she succeeded, could change all their lives. But for the better? Maggie didn’t know the answer to that. “Let’s not forget about it, Alex,” she said aloud. “I accept the challenge.” She took a deep breath, met his eyes and held out a hand to seal the deal. “You’ve just bought yourself a wife. When’s our wedding?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll do it,” Maggie said. “It seems best for everyone involved, as you said.” Her eyes were brighter than usual and her face had grown paler. She looked like a porcelain doll, except that there was nothing fragile about her. She was willowy but solidly built. She was beautifully built, as a matter of fact. “But I think we have to have an understanding about this.”
“We’ll have a formal agreement, of course.” It was a lesson he’d learned from bitter experience. “A prenuptial agreement that addresses both of our concerns. What are your yours?”
“Several things.” She drew a breath. “As you know I had an entire hour to think about this. I made some notes.” She took a folded piece of paper out of her pocket. “First, finances. Will I continue to get a weekly check or did you have something else in mind?”
“I could establish an account in your name and arrange for automatic deposits according to your spending.”
She sucked air in through her teeth. “I’d rather take care of my own economics.”
“Fine.” He hesitated, then wrote something down on a piece of paper. “I can’t very well keep my wife on salary but I can call it a monthly stipend for your personal use. Direct deposit would be more subtle.” He slid the paper to her.
Maggie looked at the paper. “But that’s considerably more than I’m earning now,” she said. “If my duties aren’t going to change, I don’t think it’s appropriate for my salary to change.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you arguing against a raise?”
Her look hardened slightly. “I have no intention of taking advantage of you. All I want is what’s fair.”
He tapped his pen against the pad. “This is a somewhat more constant occupation. Don’t forget you’ll be my wife as well as Kate’s supervisor.”
She lowered her chin. “That sounds ominous. What does being your wife entail that warrants so much more money? Besides scaring off gold diggers?”
He shrugged. “Regular wifely duty type things. Nothing much.”
She frowned for a moment, then her eyes widened. “Oh, no.” She stood up and shook her head. “No, no.”
“What?”
“Is this about sex?”
He lowered his brows and tried to keep from laughing. “Who mentioned sex?”
She put her hands on her hips. “You increased my salary because I will also have to perform wifely duties. Do you mean you expect me to sleep with you?”
“Did I say ‘perform’?” He pushed away