Marriage of Convenience Read online

  “Not at all,” she said. “You know us ladies. We try to keep our preparations to a minimum, but as they say: the best laid plans….” She smiled as her voice trailed off.

  Malcolm smiled in return. “You look lovely. So rest assured, your plans paid off in the end.”

  Caroline giggled lightly. “Well, thank you so much. I’d hate to disappoint.”

  Malcolm couldn’t imagine she’d disappointed many people. “Shall we?” He gestured to the car. Geoffrey was standing at the rear, holding the car door open.

  Malcolm offered his arm to Caroline, and they walked side by side to the waiting driver.

  Caroline sank into the butter soft, cream-colored leather, and Malcolm settled beside her.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I do need to make a stop along the way. I’d hope to be able to take care of this before, but…”

  “Please, don’t worry about it. The City is beautiful this time of the evening. Let’s enjoy the drive. Where are we headed?”

  Nice, thought Malcolm, she’s flexible. Post one point under winner.

  “The Empire State Building, actually.”

  “No kidding? I’ve never been there.” Caroline laughed. “People say when you live at the beach, you never go to the beach. I guess as a native to the City, you never do the tourist attractions.”

  “You’re kidding. It’s an amazing building. Did you know it was built at the beginning of the Great Depression and wasn’t profitable for more than twenty years?” Malcolm’s eyes lit up as he asked the question.

  His excitement about the old building was catching.

  “That’s interesting. Why’d they even build it then? I guess they must have conceived of the project prior to the crash.”

  Malcolm was encouraged by Caroline’s question, even if she had answered it herself.

  “You got it. For years it was called the ‘Empty State Building’.”

  Caroline laughed and waved her hand as if to suggest he must be kidding.

  ****

  The car pulled to a stop. Caroline was surprised at how quickly they’d covered the distance between her place and the famous building.

  “Come up with me.” Malcolm opened the door and leaned back inside to offer her his hand.

  “Really? Will they let me?”

  “I just need to drop this off on the 57th floor. I’ll meet you on the Upper Observation Deck.”

  “Where are you going?

  “I’m dropping off a donation to support the renovations to the lower deck. I won’t be a minute. Go on up. You’ll love it.”

  Curious and encouraged by his enthusiasm, Caroline took his hand and allowed herself to be guided out onto the street. Though it was late, a doorman held the door open. Did he lock it behind them? She looked to Malcolm to ask, but was sidetracked with the arrival of the elevator and his caution to watch her step over the threshold.

  It was the longest elevator ride of her life, Caroline thought, as she tried to look at everything other than Malcolm. He was standing beside her, and she felt tension grip her stomach. Although she knew they had much in common, she didn’t feel like engaging in pleasant conversation just to pass the time. She was a woman with a plan, a mission. But being this close to him, she could smell his cologne, his soap. It was intoxicating.

  “I can wait for you here,” Caroline said as the car slowed to their first stop.

  “No, please, go on. Depending on who’s in the building, I may get a little sidetracked. But I’ll be up in no time. I promise.” Malcolm kissed her hand as he stepped out. Before she could protest, he was gone, walking swiftly down the hall. Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. She had managed not to jump on him this time, but she wasn’t sure she could be in that close proximity again and not let her hormones get the best of her.

  The doors closed silently, and Caroline felt her stomach fall slightly as the car continued its upward journey. A bell tinkled as the doors slid open once more. She stepped out of the car and was surprised to see uniformed waiters silently hustling back and forth along the deck. Two of the waiters stopped and took up positions on either side of the door leading to the deck. She smiled uncertainly and wished them good evening. They smiled, bowing slightly and held the exterior door open. Leaving the comfort of the elevator interior, Caroline walked out onto the deck and stopped.

  The sun had fallen, casting a shadow over part of the deck. Nevertheless, the view was unbelievable. Caroline walked to the edge and looked out over the City. Amazing.

  Following the walkway, she walked around the building, gazing not at the architecture of the walls holding her up, but out to the expanse of City the view provided. She loved New York City, and this view only enhanced her love. She’d spent time all over the City as a girl with her nanny running errands, as a teenager looking for something to do, as a college student always on the lookout for a quiet coffee shop, and as an adult loving the park, the people, and the culture. She brought her gaze back to the buildings immediately surrounding the Empire State Building and mentally visualized her location. If Times Square was over there, and that way was south … and yes! Her favorite building in the City was the Flatiron. Often called the Wedge, the 5th Avenue building was once considered a groundbreaking skyscraper. Gloria had refused to share Malcolm’s most intimate secrets, saying that she should look forward to finding them out. That didn’t go both ways, apparently.

  Continuing around the side to get a better view, Caroline stopped and raised her hand to her mouth to cover her involuntary gasp of surprise. Set up in front of her was a dining table complete with candles and flowers. She stepped lightly to the right, hugging the wall, not wanting to intrude. Though she was disappointed not to see the Flatiron from this vantage point, she was hesitant to disturb the couple whose romantic evening was probably just getting started.

  “What are you doing?” Malcolm whispered into her ear. The hair on the back of her neck stood up straight, and she clapped her hand over her mouth to smother a scream.

  Flattening her back against the building, she closed her eyes and caught her breath.

  “You scared the heck out of me!” she whispered loudly, her eyes still closed.

  Malcolm chuckled and leaned in closer to her. This close to him she could smell his cologne. It was a warm spicy scent that reminded her of exotic getaways and seductive dances.

  “Sshh!” Caroline drew her pointer finger up in front of her mouth and pursed her lips, eyes wide. “Something’s going on over there. Let’s turn around.” She slid under his arm and began tiptoeing away.

  “Wait, what is it? Let’s go see.”

  “What? No! It’s so sweet that we shouldn’t interrupt.”

  “We don’t have to interrupt. Just show me what you saw.”

  Taking his hand, Caroline led him back to the wall, and together they crept around the side ‘til the table came back into view.

  “Isn’t it sweet? A candle-light dinner, under the stars, looking out onto the City. It’s very romantic.” Caroline’s voice was wistful.

  “I’m glad you like it. Shall we eat?”

  “You planned this?” In shock, Caroline whispered the question. She hoped he didn’t find her response insulting.

  “It hadn’t occurred to me when I thought of having dinner here that you wouldn’t have been here before. That was just an added bonus, it seems.”

  Caroline took the arm he offered and let him lead her to the table. She was a little overwhelmed. Dinner on the high deck, flowers, candles? If he meant to impress, he’d succeeded. She’d expected dinner, obviously, but this required thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and a certain dedication. Not that he didn’t have a lot riding on it. But a lot of men she knew would have simply let their money do the talking and assumed she’d be bowled over. This was different. This was deeper. This was commitment. Wow. That c-word. If she wasn’t careful, she’d lose sight of her plan and get dragged into this. Play it interested, but watch your heart, she warned herself.

&nb
sp; Malcolm pulled her chair out and waited for her to sit before going to the other side of the table. The table had been raised so that they had a full view of none other than the Flatiron.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Caroline eyed him over the table, while smoothing a cloth napkin over her lap. “And I suppose you didn’t know that was my favorite building?” Her eyebrow rose, and she looked skeptical.

  “The Flatiron? Fantastic, isn’t it? Actually, I chose this spot because it’s one of my favorites, and I wanted to share that with you.”

  “So Gloria didn’t tell you that it was my favorite?”

  “No, I swear.” Laughing, Malcolm held up two fingers. Scout’s honor.

  “Really? So you know that when it was completed in 1910 it was the tallest building north of 14th Street?”

  Malcolm smiled at her across the table.

  “Nice try. You and I both know that it was completed in 1902, and yes, it was the tallest building in what was considered the divide between downtown and uptown.” Take that.

  “Hhhmm. Okay, maybe she didn’t betray me.” A smile played on her lips, and Malcolm thought, Another point under winner. I am on a roll!

  She smiled wider as her stomach rumbled and asked “So what are we eating tonight, Doc.?”

  Malcolm liked her playfulness. He was happy he’d put so much effort into planning the evening. She was responding well, and he felt a warmth for her already.

  When he’d left his place earlier that evening, he’d asked Geoffrey, his driver and butler, to make his way slowly over to 72nd street. Malcolm had enjoyed the ride, and the streets that far north were tree lined. Central Park was only a few blocks away. He’d been excited about the evening, but given his last date, he’d been on edge.

  To relax, he’d opened a bottle of red wine as he’d made last minute adjustments to the evening’s plans. Upon reflection of his first experience, he’d determined that he’d left too much to chance. He wanted to get to know the woman as authentically as possible, but he’d realized that an organic process would simply take too long. He had to force the experiences and circumstances and see what response resulted. He wouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary, something the woman couldn’t expect of him later, but he’d have to provide an opportunity for them to see each other in as many ways as possible. Tonight he had been going for surprise, romance, and gratitude.

  When the car had stopped in front of a Queen Anne townhouse Malcolm had taken the front stairs slowly, thinking that if this was his last first date, he wanted to relish the nervous feeling and feed on the flurry of anticipation in his stomach.

  So far he was anything but disappointed. He smiled across the table at her and waved to the waiter.

  To answer her question, one of the uniformed waiters appeared with serving tray in hand. A lid was lifted revealing a steaming dish.

  “Tonight we offer Penne a la Vodka Sauce. The sweet and salty pancetta was lightly sautéed in butter, then cooked in vodka, tomato sauce, and cream to make a rich and flavorful sauce for the al dente penne. Enjoy.”

  The waiter disappeared as quietly as he’d appeared.

  “I should have asked before making the menu for tonight if you’re allergic to anything.”

  “No, I’m not aware of anything. And I eat for a living, so to speak, so I think we’re safe.”

  “Great. Are you comfortable talking over dinner?”

  ****

  Caroline looked across the table and suddenly felt a heated rush. She reminded herself this was like a business meeting over dinner, yet she had to get Malcolm to see her as an asset, how together they could be something special to each other. She knew she had one shot at it, and she was determined not to waste the opportunity.

  “Of course. I’ve had a lovely time already. You’re full of surprises. I love it.”

  “I’ll admit that I’m relieved. I was hoping you’d be open to a little adventure and like surprises.” Malcolm took a sip of wine. “So, Caroline, tell me why you accepted this invitation, understanding the situation I’m in and what it potentially means for us.”

  This is what he wanted to talk about? No small talk? No more getting-to-know-you? He had caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected the question, or at least not at the beginning of the evening. She’d thought it might be something that he’d want to talk about as they parted, leave them something to ponder as they considered the possibility of a second date.

  Caroline put her fork down beside her plate and swallowed a sip of wine. Here goes.

  “Well, to be honest, I’m not completely convinced. I know probably what every other person knows about you. I’m not against marriage, and I want a family one day.”

  “But surely you’ve had other options? Other dates, other men, men you’ve known longer, deeper and with whom you would probably, at least according to conventional theory, have a better chance of building a lasting relationship with?”

  “I’ve had several,” she said, leaning back into her chair. The night stars were twinkling above, and the noise from the street was almost nonexistent. With the wine, the warm food, and a handsome dinner partner she wondered if it could always be like this. “But I don’t have the most successful track record when it comes to choosing a partner, so I didn’t see how this would be any more challenging than what I’ve already experienced.”

  “But it’s something you’d consider?”

  “You’re someone I’d consider,” she said in a warm tone. “You have all the characteristics I look for in a man and those I’d be interested in passing on eventually. I don’t see what I have to lose in coming to dinner.”

  ****

  He didn’t say anything for a moment. Her response to his last question had sent a little zing of excitement through him. She might have had bad experiences in the past, but she was willing to try again. With him. Only him? He didn’t see the need to push his luck here, but he thought her follow-up had alluded to the answer. He did have a lot to offer.

  “But I do understand that you may have plenty of options yourself, and so I am prepared to be put to the test, if you will.”

  He took a sip of wine, thinking that he didn’t have many options. Like her, he’d been around the block a few times and always ended up where he started: intelligent, wealthy, caring, but alone. In recent months he’d all but stopped thinking about it completely. He’d figured he’d continue with his professional goals, and his personal ones would either fall in to place or not. He wasn’t big on religious or spiritual philosophy, but in the case of his love life, he was prepared to accept that certain things just weren’t meant to be.

  “I can appreciate that with more time and the right circumstances, we’d both experience some level of success at this relationship thing. But given certain … personal matters, I don’t have that time.” Malcolm took another sip of wine. Caroline waited.

  “Without putting too fine a point on it … we know what I’ll be bringing to the relationship, Caroline. What will you bring?”

  He didn’t intend to pressure her, but to his thinking they both should be prepared for the question. She was allowing him to lead this interview process, perhaps because it had been his idea, his situation that led them to this dinner. But he thought that since they’d both be living with whatever decision was made, they had equal stakes in the process. If he beat to her to punch in asking, it wasn’t because he wasn’t prepared to answer it himself or wouldn’t review his assets with her if she asked for details.

  Sitting across from her, he had little doubt as to what she’d bring in certain areas of their new life. He could smell her perfume from across the table, and it was playing havoc with his concentration. She was fully dressed, but he could see her naked as he made love to her. He couldn’t recall the last time he felt the sort of sexual tension that had been building over the last hour. He intended to find out where it would lead.

  “Well certainly I’d bring respect, loyalty, and partnership. I’d bring professional su
ccess to match your own and personal financial security. I’d like to think that eventually I’d bring love for you and our family.”

  Malcolm absorbed her words and let his eyes lose focus as he gazed on the City below. He liked that she didn’t throw herself at him and allowed that real love would take time to develop. “And what if we’re not … compatible?”

  Caroline chuckled. “Seriously?” His gaze met hers, and he could see the incredulity in her eyes. Given the feelings he’d been experiencing since picking her up, he thought the notion absurd himself, but he wasn’t taking chances. He wanted to hear and see her response.

  “You’re a beautiful woman. I’ve found it difficult not to touch you all night. You’re intelligent; we have shared interests; you’re playful and charming. I have little doubt that you are what you say you are and everything Gloria described. But first impressions aside, how do we know we’re attracted enough to take the next step?”

  Caroline blushed at his compliments.

  “Trust me. This won’t be an issue for us.”

  “Prove it.”

  Malcolm eased back into his seat, uncrossed his legs, pushing his chair out slightly as he did so, and rested his arms on the armrests. The gauntlet thrown, he’d have to wait to see the results. He’d been thinking the words, but he hadn’t realized he intended to say them out loud until they were out. And the look on her face told him that it was too late to retract them. Surprised, yes. Interested? Definitely.

  Caroline must have heard the challenge in his words. Malcolm watched her deliberate movements. She set her glass down gently and pushed away from the table and stood. She walked around the table and seemed to contemplate his position. She quirked a brow and flashed a small smile, but said nothing.

  Malcolm pressed his lips closed as she braced her arms on the chair. Then she placed her knee to the outside of his thigh, and raised herself up to straddle his lap. She eased herself onto him and wiggled herself comfortably into place. The move brought them face to face, only inches apart.