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It was this man sitting in front of her.
‘I’m not looking to compliment you,’ he said. ‘I’m looking to pay you.’
‘Pay me?’
‘What? You think I’d ask you to marry me out of the goodness of your heart? No, sweetheart. I won’t pay you for your virginity, but I’ll certainly pay you any sum you care to name for your hand in marriage.’
Glory could feel her heart thumping painfully hard behind her breastbone, shock moving slowly throughout her entire body.
When she’d come to this party, she’d thought it would only involve one night. She’d thought that if she somehow managed to catch his eye and he agreed to her offer, she’d lose her virginity in the best way possible: to the man she’d been admiring and desiring for months now.
But this was...not that. This was marriage in aid of some project he’d said was confidential. It seemed bizarre and strange, and considering his reputation, she shouldn’t touch this offer with a ten-foot pole. Especially when it was clear a night with him wasn’t on the table, which she couldn’t help feeling disappointed about.
Except...he was looking at her so intently. As if he was desperate for her to say yes. As if he even needed her, which was odd considering he could have any woman he chose. He didn’t specifically have to have her.
Does it matter why he wants you to marry him? If it means Annabel can have her treatment, then it doesn’t matter.
True. As long as it wasn’t anything illegal, of course, or something that would end up hurting someone.
He didn’t say anything more, watching her, leaving the ball clearly in her court.
When he’d asked her whether she really believed he had a good side, she’d got the impression it was something he wanted to believe himself but didn’t. She did though, even if she wasn’t quite sure why.
Annabel called her naive sometimes and too optimistic for her own good, and maybe that was true. But trying to make the best of things and always looking for the silver lining had helped make things easier for her sister, who wasn’t a bright-side kind of person.
‘Well,’ she said at last, still doubtful, yet at the same time oddly reluctant to disappoint him by refusing, ‘This project of yours isn’t illegal, is it? And it’s not going to hurt anyone?’
Slowly, he shook his head.
‘Okay,’ she murmured. ‘So...how would it even work?’
The corner of his mouth curled in the most fascinating way and it felt genuine this time, as if her answer had amused him, though she wasn’t sure why. ‘It’ll be a marriage of convenience only and for...say, a year or two, not for ever, if that’s what you’re worried about. This would purely be for show.’
‘Does it need to be legal though? You need an actual marriage?’
‘I do. The people involved in this project might investigate and so I will need documentation to prove I am actually married.’
A shiver of unease went through her. ‘What people? Investigate how?’
‘I can’t tell you that. Or at least, not yet.’ The fierce glitter in his eyes burned. ‘Well?’
He was driven, she could see that immediately. It was clear by the look in his amber gaze and in the vibrating, leashed energy that crackled around him. Driven by what, she had no idea, but whatever it was, it certainly drove him hard.
Curiosity tightened way down deep inside her. What on earth would compel a man like this one? A man who had everything. Everything she didn’t. Ah, but it must be to do with that secret she’d sensed in him, that aura of pain.
You shouldn’t bequiteso fascinated by him.
No, she shouldn’t. Especially when all those questions she kept asking herself weren’t going to help her obsession with him.
Yet...she couldn’t help herself. There were so many terrible rumours swirling around him and yet he didn’t seem to be quite so bad in person. And that intrigued her probably far more than it should.
You should refuse him.
Maybe. Then again, there was Annabel.
Her sister had always wanted a family of her own and while cancer and her treatment had interrupted her plans for finding a partner, it had also sharpened her desire. She wanted a child before when and if the cancer returned, and Glory wanted to help her get her wish. She wanted it desperately.
‘So...’ Glory said carefully. ‘What exactly would it entail?’
