by Holly Rayner
Once their hunger was satisfied, they lingered over the meal, tasting this, testing that. And talking. As during their time together yesterday afternoon, Hallie found Karim to be not only an interesting conversationalist, but a spellbound listener, asking all the right questions and respectfully waiting until she had answered before going on.
By nine o’clock, noticing that Hallie was trying to hide her yawns, Karim suggested they take their coffee to the living room.
“For some strategizing,” he said.
She drew in a breath. Herein lay the crux of the matter. There would be no backing out of their agreement now; she had already (most reluctantly) accepted his proposition.
“I was pleased, but somewhat surprised, when you called me last night. Might I ask what changed your mind?”
Irked, Hallie stirred sugar into her coffee and set the spoon aside.
“I have bills to pay,” she said shortly.
“I see. I’m sorry for that, Hallie—”
He broke off with a sharp exhale, and a little flick of his hand.
“There I go, sorry again. It’s just—well, I can understand how you must feel forced into this situation, simply because of needing money. It is the great leveler, is it not? And the idea does not sit well with you. You have pride, and dignity, and I wish there had been another way to achieve my aims.”
“Uh-huh.”
Karim sighed. “Would you like dessert?”
“Can I take mine to-go?”
The comment stopped him dead on his way to the cart. He turned slowly, in one of his less-decisive moments, to stare at her. She was curled up sideways on his couch, looking at him over the rim of her china cup. Her eyes were crinkled.
“Ah. Your sense of humor. I must get used to that, if we are to make this weekend a success. For your dining pleasure, we have lime cheesecake, and you may take the whole box if you wish.”
He returned to his seat, leaned both elbows onto the chair arms, and laced his fingers together.
“Now, then. Here is what I suggest.”
He had certainly worked out all the details, Hallie mused, watching him as he spoke.
Besides assuming the role of his wife, she was to have worked at Karim’s company—Al Ahsan Enterprises—as an HR executive with whom he’d fallen in love. Supposedly, they’d been married about eighteen months ago, and little Aaron was the result. The apple of his father’s eye, of course.
They consulted on a wedding date and setting (an intimate January ceremony on a tiny island off the coast of Al Ashan), birthdays (and zodiac signs, just in case), and all the other personal anniversaries that make up a couple’s life. Details, details. Favorite foods, favorite colors, favorite place to unwind, favorite travel destination…
“But I don’t have one,” protested Hallie, startled. “I’ve never traveled outside the States.”
“Ah. But where would you like to travel, given your choice?”
She needed only a second of thought.
“The south of France. The Languedoc…wine country.”
“Very well. It’s settled. Have you any other questions?”
“I—I don’t think so. Not at the moment.”
Peering at her with concern, he extended his hand to help her rise.
“Then let’s leave it, for now. You are nearly falling asleep before my eyes, Hallie. May I offer you my driver to take you back? I do not want you to drive so exhausted.”
“Oh, no, I’ll be fine. Some fresh air will do me good; besides, I need my car tomorrow.”
It was not like him to fret over last-minute particulars. Perhaps because the matter was so important?
Karim then handed her a check, saying, “I hope that this will be sufficient for you to purchase whatever you think you might need for you and the baby for the event—clothing, and so on. Obviously, this is just to cover costs for the party. Your actual payment will come once we’re finished at the event.”
Hallie eyed the check for a second, seeing it was written out for five hundred dollars. Before she had the chance to say anything, he continued.
“And, remember, my limo will be at your apartment at ten o’clock Saturday morning. You and Aaron will be ready to go?”
“Yes, Karim. We’ll be ready.”
“And you will be able to take the time away from work?”
Hallie was already slipping her shoes back on and gathering up her bag.
“Yes, I talked to my supervisor this morning and she gave me—uh—grudging approval.”
She was reaching for the door handle when he stopped her.
“A moment, please. I will escort you.”
“Oh, that isn’t necessary. I can—”
“Of course it is necessary,” he disagreed. “I will see you to your car.”
It was hardly a magical night, since the hours of their companionship had involved conniving about skullduggery and pulling the wool over an old man’s eyes. Not exactly moonlight and roses material, nor the little bits of golden glitter so favored by fairy godmothers with a wand.
Still, the area around the hotel was decorated with cypress trees and twinkling white lights, the air was scented by night-blooming flowers, and easy-listening music could be heard drifting over from a nearby café.
Karim had taken Hallie’s keys to unlock the car door and hold it open for her. Just before she slid inside, he took hold of her arm.
“Thank you, Hallie. You are doing an enormous favor for me, and I won’t forget it.”
A slow, warm hug—surprising in itself, because he had moved before she’d realized what he was up to—and a gentle kiss on the cheek. Then, in a nice display of manners, he stepped back and waited while she settled herself and drove away.
In a daze of whirling emotions. A definite daze.
Chapter 8
While the limo driver stood, waiting—somewhat taken aback by all the various pieces of equipment and baggage Hallie had piled onto the front step of her apartment, ready for transport—Karim did not. He had already been exposed to a baby’s needs, and knew just what to expect. Opening the rear passenger door, he climbed out to greet her.
“Good morning!”
His voice rang out cheerily through the morning air, but Hallie was glowering.
“And right back atcha, pal,” she muttered.
Karim could be forgiven for not knowing quite how to react. With everything loaded, and mother and baby settled, he turned to her.
“What is it, my dear? You look less than happy.”
She glared at him. “Are you always this sunny? It’s getting tiresome.”
“And are you always this irritated? That, too, is getting tiresome.”
They stared at each other as the driver pulled away from the curb, then both burst out laughing.
“Touché,” said Hallie, still giggling. “Karim, I think we just had our first fight.”
“Perhaps,” he agreed, unperturbed. “If so, it was the briefest on record. Now, tell me what is wrong, and let me see if I can fix it.”
The limo, one of the spacious stretch versions with an interior almost as large as Hallie’s whole apartment, had been specifically ordered with infant car seat in place. A wide-awake Aaron was looking around with great interest, being much taken with the new sights and sounds his mother had conjured up just for his enjoyment.
Handing him another toy to chew on, she adjusted the light blanket over his legs against the vehicle’s air-conditioning and considered.
“It’s been a stressful few days, Karim,” she finally answered quietly. “I should be fresh and rested, ready for this adventure, and I’m not—I’m exhausted. And cranky—yes, I’ll admit it. So, please forgive me if I’m not quite the wife you expected.”
Gently, he took her hand in his.
“Hallie, you are you. That means anything you do, anything you say, will be the wife I expected. Now, as lovely as you look today, please talk to me.”
Well, she supposed she did look…perhaps not exact
ly lovely, but certainly presentable. Having dipped into his seemingly-unlimited funds for her purchases, she was wearing a casual but classy pale blue maxi-dress with eyelet lace details, paired with low-heeled white sandals. Both of which managed to scream “designer label” while maintaining absolute silence.
Slowly, he managed to pry word after reluctant word from her.
Caring for a baby demanded not only an enormous amount of equipment, but also an enormous amount of time and energy—as he was about to discover. Per his instructions, she had indulged in a whirlwind shopping trip for suitable clothing that both of them could wear to this weekend in the country. That, and working at the hospital in between, and making arrangements, and sorting and packing whatever had been purchased, had just about worn her out.
“Again, I have placed a great burden on you,” said Karim with regret, after he had listened and digested all this. “All I can say is, things should be easier on you for the next couple of days. I plan to do what I can to help you—and, if necessary, we can hire a nanny. Will that be suitable?”
Hallie sighed. “Yes, it will. And I don’t mean to be a crab—it just sort of happens.”
“I understand. As I mentioned, you are you. You cannot help being a crab.”
Involuntarily, she slapped lightly at his wrist.
“Play fair, Mr. Al Ahsan. You can’t go throwing my sins back in my face.”
“I would never dream of such a thing,” he said sweetly. “So. We were discussing you being worn out.”
“Uh-huh. And I wasn’t inferring that Aaron could ever be a burden. He’s the light of my life.”
“I understand that, as well. You were merely explaining the situation.”
He was still holding her hand. In sympathy, she thought. But his eyes, meeting steadily with hers, held a spark of unexpected warmth beyond sympathy. Why was he still holding her hand?
The air of the interior suddenly felt too thick to breathe, and almost visible with steam.
“It occurred to me,” he said, smiling, “that you are not completely prepared to play this part.”
Puzzled, Hallie watched and waited while he withdrew a small velvet box from his jacket pocket.
With the lid popped open, Karim removed a beautiful and unique matched set: a diamond and emerald engagement ring, whose facets caught every glimmer of sunlight, and a platinum wedding band studded with smaller versions of the same stones. They were absolutely stunning.
Her breath stopped as he slipped both pieces onto the fourth finger of her left hand. However temporary its installation, as part of the whole ‘marriage’ farce, this felt permanent. Clearly, he had put some consideration into his choice—which fit almost perfectly.
“I guessed at the size. They fit all right, yes?”
“Karim…” She looked up in wonder, her green eyes glowing nearly as brightly as the emeralds. Had he purposefully matched the gemstone to her eyes?
“Ah. I take it that means you approve. Good. All is well.”
Lulled by the motion of the limo, careening smoothly along city streets, Aaron let out a huge yawn and promptly fell asleep. While Hallie watched as they drove through the outskirts of Philadelphia toward the small airport where an Al Ahsan Enterprises branded plane was waiting, Karim kept hold of her hand and continued an easy conversation. The fine weather, the countryside, the area in which they would be visiting—all were fair game to discuss.
It wasn’t long before they arrived on the tarmac and could board, two passengers awake and walking, one still sweetly slumbering and carried. With their luggage stowed in place, they were soon taxiing down the runway and sweeping into the air.
Aaron, strapped into his car seat, continued to sleep. Involuntarily, his mother followed her son’s example. Ensconced in the most comfortable seat she had ever occupied, and suddenly freed from every task, Hallie slowly slid sideways and dozed off. Only Karim stayed hard at work, for the world of high finance never stops. With laptop and cellphone both in use, he glanced up occasionally from various screens with a smile for each of his passengers.
It might almost have been the real thing, instead of make-believe.
Although Chip and Annemarie Griffin had extended their invitation to include a stay at their century-old farmhouse estate, Karim—with his ever-ready pocketbook—had decided to rent a country mansion of his own. Amazing what money could buy, on such short notice. Given the rather unusual circumstances of their coupledom, he’d felt that privacy would be a more comfortable option all the way around.
For Hallie, the few hours since Karim’s arrival at her apartment had passed by with incredible speed. She felt as if she and her baby were floating leaves, being carried along by the current of a fast-moving stream. And where they might end up was anybody’s guess.
A disembarkation at a small private airport, an unloading and a reloading of their baggage, and another brief limo ride until they arrived at their destination. Hallie was feeling overwhelmed. She had been in and out of more various vehicles today than any other day in her life.
“Feel free to explore,” said Karim, as everything was dragged out yet once again and stashed inside the grand hallway by their accommodating chauffeur. He would be back, as needed, he promised.
By now, Aaron was awake and making strong demands for food. It was as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks, and he wanted his mother to realize his extreme distress. Clearly, Hallie’s first order of business was to locate the kitchen.
“May I help?”
Surprised, Hallie turned toward the Sheikh. She was so accustomed to doing everything by herself, on her own, that she could easily forget there was now a partner available, however temporarily or loose the term.
“If you’ll carry Aaron in his seat, I’ll bring the bag with his food. Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary. It is at my request that you are here. Lead the way, if you please, and show me what you need done.”
Aaron, parked on a beautiful marble countertop in the car seat that did double duty (in a pinch) as his high chair, took great interest in the proceedings. He kept up a lively stream of encouraging “Oo-dahs” and gurgles while an enchanted Karim hovered over him.
“I believe he is asking you to please hurry with his food, before he starves to death,” Karim said brightly.
“Oh, he is, is he? And you understand baby talk, now?”
Smiling over her shoulder, Hallie continued mixing some sort of gluey paste that was actually a deconstructed cereal and banana dish. Regardless of its questionable appearance, Aaron was interested. Crowing, he reached out one hand in demand.
“May I?”
More surprise. It seemed that her fake husband was taking his role to heart.
Hallie handed over the spoon and saucer with only a murmured, “Of course.”
Once the bib was in place, Aaron opened his mouth like a little bird, demanding nourishment, and Karim immediately obliged.
“You have been without a mealtime far too long, have you not? There, another mouthful…ah, not so much at once.”
Taking a seat opposite, in the marvelous kitchen that she would love to investigate, if given the time, Hallie propped her chin in one palm and watched.
If she could admit that her heart could melt, that was certainly the state of it right now. The feeling extended right down to her toes. Certainly, she was feeling more kindly toward Karim, and this arrangement to which she had agreed, as made clear by the easy tears threatening to overflow.
No. Anything pertaining to her beautiful baby boy had her weeping like a waterfall. She was not about to hand over too much credit to this virtual stranger, just because he was behaving like the father Aaron had never had.
“The bowl is empty,” said Karim, drawing her attention by a noisy scrape of the spoon. “Is there more?”
“A bottle. For now. But first, a change, definitely needed. I don’t suppose…” She paused deliberately.
With a grin—a wide one that sent a glittering dance in hi
s eyes—Karim held up his hands.
“Oh, I think not. That is beyond my expertise. A mother’s great ability…”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” She would grudgingly admit that, just by the remotest chance, he might be able to tease her into good humor. Another very small point in his favor.
Once the baby had been dried and powdered and tucked into a fresh diaper, Hallie glanced around. The kitchen was a large room, encompassing not only the usual stainless steel equipment but a small sitting area, which looked comfortable in its checkered green-and-white upholstery. Tall windows looked out onto a shaded flagstone terrace, surrounded by flowering shrubbery and a few exotic trees probably more suited to Florida than to upstate New York. Even from here, she could hear the occasional buzz of a bee and glimpse a butterfly making its rounds through the exotic blooms.
“Do you think I can move over there with him?” she wondered aloud, almost in a whisper, as if she were worried that the owners might suddenly make an appearance and demand to know why she had broken into their home. How dare she trespass? How dare she use their space with such impunity?
“Certainly, you may. And I will join you. Rest easy, Hallie. I have paid quite well for a weekend’s use of this house, believe me.”
Before she could settle on the inviting loveseat, spread with a couple of pillows and an inviting soft afghan, Karim reached to take the baby from her arms.
“But I’m going to—”
“I know you were. But let me, please. See, he’s looking up at me as if he knows me already. And, as Aaron’s temporary surrogate father, I should surely find out what it’s like to give him a bottle. Agreed?”
Reluctantly, Hallie agreed. Let him play his paternal part, if he would. But she refused to let him get too close to her child. After this weekend, Karim would be gone from her baby’s life; and she feared that, even at nine months of age, he would wonder why that nice man had appeared and then disappeared so quickly.
Unfortunately, the same held true for her. This weekend was a mere stopgap in her existence, a glitch along the road that she must somehow deal with. Two days, and she would be back to the usual routine, work and baby care, baby care and work.