“Yes.”
“And you just told that to a stranger who came here looking for a childhood book.”
“That’s the situation.”
She stares at me. Then suddenly she laughs. Not politely. Not awkwardly. Actually laughs. “You’re serious.”
“Completely.”
“And your solution was to recruit someone in a bookstore?”
“I prefer the term propose a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“That sounds even more suspicious.”
I smile slightly. “Maybe.”
She tilts her head.
“And what exactly are you proposing?”
I meet her gaze directly. “You need financial stability.” Her expression stills slightly. “I need a wife.” The air between us shifts. “Marry me for a year,” I say calmly. “And I’ll solve your financial problem.” Silence settles between us. She looks at me like she’s trying to determine whether I’ve completely lost my mind.
“Do you realize how insane that sounds?” she says slowly.
“Yes.”
“And you’re still saying it.”
“Yes.”
She studies my face carefully.
“You’re not joking.”
“No.”
Another pause. Then she looks down at the book in her hands. Her fingers tighten slightly around the cover. Finally she exhales.
“I need time,” she says quietly.
“That’s fair.”
She nods once. Then she looks up again.
“Thank you for the book,” she says softly.
“You’re welcome.”
She hesitates a moment longer before turning toward the counter. "Wait," I call out. She turns back to face me, her hair falling on her face, she's gorgeous, "I didn't catch your name."
"Divya," She says softly and when our eyes meet I don't want to look away. So I do what naturally comes to me, I walk towards her.
Hands in my pocket, I hand my business card to her, "It was so nice to meet you, Divya." I smile. She takes the card from my hand, ours eyes still locked, I inhale deeply when our fingers brush, she smiles one last time and turns away her hair hair hitting me in process and I pick a hint of rose, that's how her hair smells. And as I watch her walk away—I realize something strange.
For the first time since my father’s will forced the word marriage into my life—the idea suddenly doesn’t feel impossible anymore.
2. THE KNOCKS I HATE
