His Convenient New York Bride. Andrea Bolter

all to yourself. I’ll take the guest room.”

      The master suite. Where he slept. Again he was making crystal-clear that his proposal had nothing romantic attached to it. He wanted to be sure she received that message loud and clear. Separate bedrooms.

      “You’ve already offered to let me stay with you,” she quipped, perturbed by this whole suggestion.

      “Why haven’t you said yes?”

      She uncrossed her arms and twisted the thimble on her finger, studying its painted details. Unable to answer Jin’s question.

      To tell him anything would be to tell him everything. Which she never had and never would. She’d decided years ago to settle for the friendship, the concern, the trust and the fun.

      It had never been easy but it had always been worth it.

      “We could make it quite simple,” he insisted. For him maybe. “No one would know that we were living apart under one roof.”

      “I’d like to help but…”

      “Please—” he glanced at the thimble then back to her eyes “—let me finish. As I said, I know this is a huge thing to ask of someone. I’d want it to be worth your while. What if we got married and I named you as LilyZ’s new designer?”

      “What?” Lead designer for his prestigious label? Otherwise known as an ultimate career goal? Her eyes bugged at the suggestion.

      “You could do it. I know you have the talent. I’ll teach you everything else you need to know.”

      Like thousands of others who go through design school, Mimi’s goal was to have her own fashions manufactured, sold and actually worn. It was the carrot every young designer was chasing. Not to merely assist a company with their ideas, but instead to be the one creating the vision. Only a few made it that far. Others adjusted their expectations into other occupations in the industry. Some left it altogether.

      Be careful what you ask for, the saying went. Because you just might get it.

      Life had a sense of humor, though. Offering Mimi what she’d always wanted.

      In more ways than one.

      Except the most important.

      “Look, if I could, I would hire you as my designer with no strings attached. But the industry would crucify me for appointing an apprentice as my lead. And I’ve got employees with far more experience than you. They would feel betrayed and overlooked. I could never do that to them.”