t up the wide granite steps of

to the loud, echoing lobby filled with happy couples hold

k in a fish tank. He was leaning casually against a marble p

ips curving into a sharp, victorious s

unzipped her bag, and practically shoved her birth

ere. They snatched the documents from Arlington and began fil

Arlington were ushered to a s

amped a paper and looked up. "Are you both ente

. She hesitated. The silence st

es, replaced by a sharp, professional frown. She slowed her movements, leaning closer to the glass partition.

d hers in a vice-like grip. He squeezed hard enough to grind her bones together, the

warning, silently promising absolute destruction for

gritted her teeth, forcing a sick

out, her heart sin

final seal. "Congratul

unter. Caroline stared at the piece of paper. It felt

rass doors of City Hall, Caroline viol

her voice trembling with

He slowly, deliberately a

moothly, "is Long Island. We ar

struck by lightning. She spun ar

art of the deal!" she yelled, ignor

. "We are legally married. Visiting

"If you refuse, I will call the press right now and leak this marr

She hated him with a burning, visceral passio

g in her throat and nodded o

bach was already waiting, the dr

mediately pressed her back against the far door, putti

ed smoothly

ed brain to work. She turn

ice tight. "They cannot know we met

eaned back against the plush leather

onths ago. It was love at first sight. You are a polite, normal financial executive. You

dark chuckle that vibra

and anger. "Memorize it! If you mess thi

d. He closed the distance

ive skin of her ear. "Don't worry, darling," he whispe

d around her waist. He hauled her across the leat

al proximity," he murmured, his

inst his side, staring blankly out the tinted window as the familiar subur