Mail-order Bridegroom Part 55

and selling stocks. "

"Well, I can see where that might be a bit of a trial," Kate agreed."But I hardly see how getting married will solve it.""That's the other part," he muttered."She's determined to see me happy.""Married," Kate translated."Right." He shot her a harried look."She's got five daughters left to marry off and that isn't enough. She's determined to find me the perfect wife. She even says it in hallowed tones:

" The Alexakis Bride'. Like the Holy Grail. "

Kate smiled at his tone.

"Well, in the words of one of our former first ladies,

"Just Say No" "

"It won't work."

"It never does," Kate agreed complacently.

"That's what's wrong with it."

Damon gave her a narrow look. She gave him an impish grin in return, then sobered, remembering that the proposition he'd made her was no laughing matter.

"Well, I don't see how marrying me will solve your problem. Married is

married, however you look at it.""No. Married to you is a business arrangement. Married to Marina is----' "Whoa! Hold on. Who's Marina? This isn't a hypothetical marriage she'strying to arrange, then? "

He grimaced.

"Not any more."

"She found her? The Alexakis Bride?"

"Apparently."

"So, who is the lucky lady?"

He glowered at her sarcastic tone.

"Her name is Marina Stavros. She's the daughter of one of my mother's

dearest friends."

"Your version of Jeffrey."

"If you like," he said with bad grace.

"You don't, I take it."

Dark brows drew together.

"Like Marina? Of course I like Marina. She's young and sweet and beautiful and everything a man could ask for in a wife."

"Then why don't you many her?"

"Because, d.a.m.n it, I don't want a wife! Not now. And when I do, I'll pick her."

"But if you marry me ' " You're a business deal. I marry you and you canstay on to help Sophia, as her sister-in-law this time. I guarantee he saidthe word as if it had a hundred- pound weight attached that Stephanos won'tlay a finger on you. I also guarantee to send plenty of business your waywhen we're done. "

"We're going to be done?"

"Of course we're going to be done," he said impatiently.

"You don't think I want to be married to you forever, do you?"

"No, of course not," Kate said hastily.

"I don't want to be married to you at all," she pointed out, in case he

thought she was enthusiastic about his little plan."Not even to save your business?" He gave her a nasty little smile."That is what you've been worrying about, isn't it? That I'll do you in?"Kate's teeth came together with a snap."You wouldn't dare.""Wouldn't I?"She had a pretty good idea that he would. And he wouldn't lose any sleep over it either.

"Plus," he went on, as if their last exchange hadn't even taken place, 'you

get proof positive that you were telling the truth to Daddy and can't possibly marry Jeffrey. "

"But I'd still be married to you," Kate reminded him.

"In name only."

Her eyes widened.

"Don't you. . .1 mean, is there. . . Do you not urn, like women?"

"d.a.m.n it! Of course I like women!"

"Oh. I see. You mean you'll be. . getting it. . elsewhere.""It?" He gave her a sardonic look."You know what I mean," Kate said awkwardly, aware that her colour was deepening again.

"Yes, Ms McKee," he drawled mockingly.

"I know what you mean." He sighed and rocked back on his heels.

"And no, I won't be getting " it" anywhere as long as the marriage lasts. I

promise you that. I don't condone adultery. I told you that." He gave her a level look and she remembered what he'd thought about her and Stephanos.

"Well?"

Kate knotted her fingers together, wis.h.i.+ng she was dreaming, hoping to wake up.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," she muttered."I can't think of anything crazier.""Marrying Jeffrey?" he suggested smoothly."I am not going to marry Jeffrey! I have no need of a man to support me. I have a business of my own."

"For the moment," he agreed silkily.

Kate's eyes snapped up to meet his.

"d.a.m.n you."

"d.a.m.n me all you like," he said easily.

"But I'm trying to do you a favour. Stop being such an obstructionist, Ms

McKee. It's tiresome. Do you want to save your business or not?"

"Of course I do."

"Do you agree that Sophia needs help?"

"Yes."

"And do you agree that being able to produce a fiance on demand will get your

father to lay off about Jeffrey?"

"Probably," she muttered.

"Then where's the problem?"

Kate couldn't answer that. Everything he said made perfect sense in a

horrible skewed way.

"But I don't love you," she protested.

Damon snorted.

"And I sure as h.e.l.l don't love you. I told you, marriage has nothing to dowith love. It's----' " Business," Kate filled in for him.He nodded."Ah, you're catching on. Forget love, Ms McKee. You had that once, apparently. So cherish it. I promise I won't usurp his place in your heart.All we'll be doing is acting out the old axiom: you scratch my back and I'llscratch yours."

She just looked at him. The room was eerily silent."For how long?" Kate asked at last.He gave her a long look, as if he knew she was really considering it at last."Not long. A few months.""But once you're divorced, won't they?""Marina's family won't accept me if I'm divorced.""I see.""Will Jeffrey?""Accept me? He'd accept me if I was breathing, I think," Kate said grimly.

What mattered to Jeffrey was getting his hooks permanently in DeMo mayEnterprises. She was a means to an end, nothing more. And she suspected herfather knew it--and didn't care. He liked Jeffrey.