The Marriage Of Inconvenience. Nina Singh

other.”

      Then they’d be rare exceptions, R.J. thought. A sudden flash of lightning tore through the sky in the window behind the Bays. The storm was going to be a furious one.

      Mila leaned closer to him. “So tell me, R.J., what’s your secret?”

      “Uh, secret?”

      She smiled. “Yes, how did you know that Angeline was the one for you?”

      * * *

      Angel prayed for a strong gust of wind to tear the roof off and suck her right out of the apartment. This was excruciating. Mila Bay was actually asking R.J. about their relationship. R.J., the same man who hadn’t even held on to his wedding band.

      She stood up quickly, sparing him the discomfort of having to answer.

      “What’s wrong with me? You two must be starving after such a long journey. Let’s get started with dinner. R.J., would you show our guests to the table?”

      He moved toward the dining table and pulled out Mila’s chair. Then he motioned for Tavov to sit down. Just as if he was the true man of the house.

      “Excuse me while I start to serve.”

      R.J. cleared his throat behind her. “I’ll help you.”

      They both moved into the kitchen. Angeline couldn’t get to the sink fast enough. Splashing water on her face, she turned to catch R.J. watching her, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

      “What?”

      “Why are you getting so nervous? It’s going great.”

      “Great? You think this is going great? Our guest just asked you to tell her what makes us such a great couple.”

      He grinned. “I could have come up with something.”

      She walked over to him, entranced by the way his smile transformed his face. “Oh? And what would you have said?”

      “I would have said that you fell madly in love with me on sight and I couldn’t get rid of you for anything.”

      Angel opened her mouth wide in shock, then saw his mischievous grin. She poked his chest with her index finger. “You wouldn’t have dared.”

      He grabbed her wrist playfully and pulled her toward him. “Wouldn’t I?”

      “R.J., if you had said something ridiculous like that, I’d, I’d—”

      He pulled her closer, an amused glint dancing in his eyes. “You’d what?”

      “I’d have laughed in your face.”

      He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Ooh, violent.”

      His sarcasm was not lost on her. “Then, I would have pretended to accidentally spill hot soup into your lap.”

      The grin faded. “You wouldn’t.”

      She shrugged. “You sure about that?”

      “That would hurt.”

      “That’s the point.”

      He seemed to contemplate that for a moment, then let go of her hand. “All right, I’ll try not to make any snide comments.”

      She laughed when he gave her a painfully put-upon look. “Why, thank you.”

      He returned the smile, and it was so easy to remember all the reasons she’d fallen so hard for him. Nothing she’d experienced before or since had even come close to what they’d shared.

      “Just be careful with that soup.” R.J.’s mock reprimand pulled her back into the present. “Actually,” he said as he moved toward the stove, “I think I’ll serve it.”

      Angel watched him walk back out to the dining area carrying the serving dish. Still giggling, she was only vaguely aware that their little exchange had lessened her anxiety.

      Minutes later they were all seated around the table, the aroma of cream of asparagus wafting up from the plates.

      “Angel mentioned that you own a corporate security firm,” Mila directed to R.J., then blew on her spoonful of hot soup.

      “Yes, that’s my primary focus right now. Angel heads most of the operations for TeaLC.”

      He had managed to answer the question without one lie.

      “Such a dynamic field, network security,” Tavov said. “I imagine something as trivial as tea distribution isn’t very exciting to you.”

      Uh-oh. Angel swallowed. “More soup for anyone? R.J., I see you’re done already.” She started to stand.

      “No, Angel. I’ll hold off until the main course.” He braced his elbows on the table and leaned toward the other man. “On the contrary, Tavov. I find my wife’s side of the business fascinating. But I would never presume to understand as much about it as she does. She’s the brains behind TeaLC. She always has been. I can only be impressed by her tremendous success.”

      Angel blinked at R.J.’s answer. He was impressed with her as a businesswoman? She gave a mental shake of her head and spread her napkin back on her lap.

      R.J. was playing his part as the doting husband. And he was doing it quite well. It was no more than that. He might sound convincing, but she couldn’t forget how fictional all this was.