She didn’t move far because he stopped her.Something had broken down in communications, but that wasn’t his fault.He’d signed a contract, as had she.This marriage was going ahead, which reminded him.The minister was waiting.He’d been unhappy getting rousted from his bed, so they should hustle in case the man left.
Mikhail grasped Edwina’s hand and tugged her inside the chapel.“Hurry, the minister is waiting.”
“What minister?You’re crazy.Wait, this is a prank, right?”She whirled, only stopping when his grip on her hand halted her.“Suzie and the guys arranged this, didn’t they?”
“No,” Mikhail snapped, impatient with her dawdling when he needed to return home before everything went to hell.“We’re honoring the agreement our grandmothers signed six months ago.”
She froze and blinked twice.“What agreement?”
He cursed in his native tongue, the words gutter-level and unsuitable for a woman’s ears.Mikhail sucked in a steadying breath.“The one where we get married.”He tugged her hand, dragging her a few steps before she dug in her heels.
“No.Hell, no.I don’t want to marry anyone.”
“Then why are you at the gathering?”
“Humoring my grandmother to receive something I desire—not marriage to you.”
Mikhail subdued his panic.He sent calming vibes to his tiger before focusing on his goal.This marriage.
Everything hinged on his marriage.
Everything.
“What do you want?”he demanded, exercising patience when every part of him desired action.
“My dream is to study music.My grandmother promised that when I returned to New Zealand, I could attend Wellington University without her opposition,” Edwina said.
“She told you she would honor her promise when youreturnedto New Zealand?”
“Yes, that’s what I said.What she said.”
“When you re-entered New Zealand,” he said, understanding the trickery behind her grandmother’s words.
“Yes, she—” Edwina broke off, every muscle in her shapely body tensing.“You said she signed an agreement with your grandmother.”
“Yes, they are childhood friends.”
“She informed you I’d be at the gathering.”
“Yes, and she sent a current photo so I’d recognize you.”
“She said nothing to me.”
Mikhail watched the emotions racing across her face.The betrayal.The disappointment.The fury.“My understanding was you knew about this agreement and were okay with it.”
“I’m not.”
“I require a wife, and you are my last hope.”
“Why?What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.I need a wife to fit my lifestyle and not bother me with romantic expectations,” he said.“The minister is waiting and is vocal about the delay.”
“Not my problem.No matter what my grandmother agreed to, you can’t make me marry you.”
“Your grandmother can return the money I sent her via my grandmother?”
“What money?”
