Husband For Keeps

He shrugged. “I’ve got news for you. Most people who get married the so-called normal way don’t know all that much about each other, either. Though they might think they do.” His tone was tinged with a bitter note, Carey noticed, which she strongly suspected arose from experience. But she didn’t have time to question him about it.

“Besides,” he continued. “What you’ve described isn’t a real marriage, anyway. It’s more of a business arrangement. I came here for a job interview, remember?” he reminded her. “Why don’t you just interview me, formal as you please, and see if I qualify?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I’ve rarely been more serious. Go ahead,” he encouraged. “Tell me all about…the position.”

She coughed into her hand. “For instance?”

“Well, what are the hours? What are the duties, responsibilities? Don’t you want to know if I have any experience?”

“Do you?” she replied, struggling to suppress a playful grin.

“Plenty, ma’am,” he assured her, his gaze narrowed seductively, and the small smile that tilted his full lips made Carey’s heart skip a beat. “I even have a few letters of reference handy.” He pulled some folded pages from his shirt pocket and handed them over to Carey.

For a brief moment she was almost afraid to read them. He didn’t look like a professional gigolo…but how could a person tell such things?