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Marrying a guy who didn’t love her, and who would probably despise her for marrying him on such terms, would not be a ticket to happiness, Maribel ruminated ruefully. It would be a stony road full of disappointments and hurts. So, what was new? On the other hand, if she was destined never to love anyone else, she might as well be with him as be without him. Surely any marriage would be what she made of it? Looking to Leonidas to make a constructive matrimonial input would be naïve and foolish. It would be like unlocking a lion’s cage and expecting the predator to come out and behave like a domestic pussycat. Leonidas had had no positive marital role models. Not only did he not have a clue, but she would have to contend with the unhappy truth that he had no intention of changing.
‘Yes,’ Maribel said gravely. ‘I’ll marry you.’
‘With reservations?’ he derided softly.
‘Plenty,’ she admitted without hesitation. ‘I’m a realist and you’re unpredictable.’
Leonidas studied her with brooding dark eyes that now glittered like ice crystals. ‘I want the wedding to take place in three weeks.’
Maribel blinked. ‘Only three weeks from now? For goodness’ sake, Leonidas—’
‘It’ll get it over with. My staff will make the arrangements.’
Maribel worried at the soft underside of her lower lip, her eloquent eyes veiled to hide her discomfiture. It’ll get it over with. She now knew all she needed to know about Leonidas’ view of marriage and it did nothing for her self-esteem.
‘I’m off to New York tomorrow,’ Leonidas imparted. ‘It’ll be at least two weeks before I’m back in the UK. I have other stuff to take care of. If you and Elias come to London today, I’ll be able to spend some time with him before I leave.’
‘Yes…all right.’ Her agreement was swift for she had never felt comfortable about keeping father and son apart.
‘You’ll be spending the night with me.’
Her soft lips parted as though she would have said something, but then finding her mind blank of inspiration, she closed her mouth again. For an instant, she thought he might just mean that she was to stay beneath the same roof, but there was an intimate light in his brilliant eyes that told her otherwise. A dulled flush of awareness illuminated her creamy skin. ‘Just like that?’
‘I’m not waiting for the wedding night,’ Leonidas told her with disdain.
But Maribel was rather confused, for she had reached the conclusion that the marriage he was suggesting was one of convenience alone. ‘A business arrangement that includes…er…sharing a bed?’
‘Think of it as a deal sweetener, hara mou.’ Leonidas advised, smooth as the most expensive silk. ‘Once you’ve shared my bed, I know you won’t back out on me.’
Maribel veiled her expressive gaze, lest he see the growing bewilderment etched there. A marriage that was a business arrangement—of the most intimate sort? And why would she back out? She was not in the habit of last minute changes of heart. For possibly the first time it dawned on her that Leonidas did not trust her either, and she was surprised by how hurtful she found that discovery.
Long brown fingers tipped up her chin. ‘Have we a deal?’
Hot enough to feel as though she were burning up, Maribel gave him a self-conscious nod of confirmation. He lifted her hand and she watched in surprise as he slid a magnificent ruby and diamond ring onto her engagement finger. The jewels shone with dazzling brilliance. ‘If I have to do this, I’ll respect the conventions,’ he breathed curtly. ‘This, like the wedding, is part of the surface show.’
Any thrill she might have received from the ring was swiftly squashed by that assurance. It did not even feel like a personal gift; it felt more like a prop she was being allowed to wear for the sake of appearances. ‘I’m amazed that you care about the conventions.’
‘But you do, and when I say I’ll do something, I do it right and I deliver on my side of the bargain.’ His keen, curiously forbidding gaze whipped over her taut and troubled face. ‘I hope you’re equally thorough in the wife stakes.’
Blue eyes sparkling violet at that challenge, Maribel suppressed her misgivings and murmured, ‘No doubt you’ll soon tell me if I’m not.’
Without warning an appreciative grin slashed his perfectly shaped masculine mouth, instantly putting to flight his icy aura of unapproachability. He bent his handsome dark head and, for a split-second, she actually thought he might be about to kiss her. But he frowned instead and checked his watch. ‘A helicopter will pick you up at home at two.’
