not.” He lowered it to his chest. His biceps bulged again as his skin began to sheen with a light sweat. “I’m proposing something entirely different.”
She swallowed and kept her eyes on his face. “What is it?”
He finished a count of twelve and set the bar down again, an unreadable expression on his face. “If you married an American you could stay in the country with a green card. When enough time passed, you could apply for citizenship.”
“Who on earth am I going to—”
“Me.” He sat up and rubbed his palms on his sweatpants, then met her stunned gaze.
She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “That’s impossible.”
He looked back at her, the full force of his concentration powerful and compelling. “No, it’s not.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Then you could stay on full-time through the summer, then move out when Kate starts first grade in the fall. Get a place of your own nearby so you can stay involved with Kate. She won’t need full-time care then anyway. You get your green card and Kate doesn’t have the shock of breaking in another nanny. Seems to me this arrangement would be mutually beneficial.”
Mutually beneficial. Alex Harrison was offering her marriage as a cold-as-marble business proposition, nothing more. But what in the world could she expect? “I can’t do that.”
He crossed his arms in front of him. The muscles beneath his gleaming skin rippled with the movement. “Why not?”
“I can’t imagine being in a marriage that wasn’t real.”
He shook his head. “Real marriages don’t work. That’s been proven over and over again by countless unhappy people. Business arrangements, on the other hand, generally do because both parties go into it with an understanding about the outcome.”
“Meaning…?”
“Everyone wins. Kate would have consistency, she’d have the very best care, she’d have you, which is what she clearly wants. You, on the other hand, would have an opportunity to gain financial security before returning to your country, if you decide to go back.”
“I’d rather forge my opportunities for myself,” Maggie countered hotly, his detachment suddenly irritating.
A new look came into his eyes. “You’re not very practical.”
“That may be true. But if I agree to some plan so I can stay, for Kate’s sake as well as my own, I don’t want you thinking I was doing it for financial gain.”
“Why would you care what I think? I’m proposing the plan.”
She stiffened. “I care about Kate.”
“So do I. So stay. For a while.”
She sighed, looking into those cryptic blue eyes. “As your wife?”
He held up a hand. “My wife in name. Kate’s nanny in fact. A simple business arrangement that solves all short-term problems.” Alex reached out and touched Maggie’s arm. “Is it so horrifying?” he asked. “Am I?”
An electric current passed between them at the unexpected words and touch. Maggie was aware of a quickening of her pulse.
“And how do you benefit from it?” she asked.
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
