Husband By Request

What was he talking about?

“Admit that’s what you want spelled out in the divorce papers before signing them. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell me that last night. Paul could have redone them right there.”

Her nails dug into the palms of her hands. “I’m not here because of unpaid medical bills! Where is this coming from, Andreas? My insurance has paid for everything and it always will.”

A stillness swirled around him. “Then what have I missed?”

“When Paul showed up at the consulate I realized you were ready to give me a divorce. D-Does that mean you’re going to marry Olympia?” she stammered.

His jaw hardened. “If I tell you yes, does that mean I can expect to wait as long for my freedom as I forced you to wait for yours?”

“That’s a cruel question to ask—” she cried.

“You taught me the meaning of the word,” he answered with wilting contempt.

“Andreas—” she tried appealing to him, but the look of savage anger on his face stopped her from saying anything else.

One black brow lifted patronizingly. “Why all this sudden show of emotion? A year ago you left me without a backward glance.”

Drawing on her dignity, she whispered, “Of course I would never stand in your way.”

His mouth thinned into a taut line. “Then I’ll bring the papers out to you.” He started for the villa.

“Wait—”

Andreas turned back toward her. “What now?” he demanded in a fiery tone.

“I’ll sign them, but I was hoping we could talk a little first.”

“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?” His callousness seared her like a blast of fire.

“Please, Andreas—I came all this way to see you.”

“Under the circumstances, one phone call would have sufficed.”

His dismissive attitude shattered her, but she stood her ground. “Not when it’s something as important as our marriage.”

“Important?” he mocked. “You dare use that word with me when you’ve spent a precious year we can’t get back demanding I give you a divorce?”

“I know what I’ve done, but there were reasons. If you’d just hear me out, I would like—”

“What is it you really want?” he cut her off brutally.

This was it.

She smoothed the hair away from her temples. “I’d like us to live together for a month to see if we can find our way back to each other again.”

There was a long, sustained silence while he stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. His black gaze probed every square inch of her flushed face and body until she quivered.

“Obviously the idea is abhorrent to you,” she murmured in an aching voice.

He swore softly, but that only made her more determined.

“I don’t think thirty days out of a whole lifetime is too much to ask. If things don’t work out, we’ll have the rest of our lives to go our separate ways.”

“Not if I make you pregnant.” He fired his answer back so fast, she was incredulous. “Are you afraid your cancer will come back before you can have a baby? Is that what this is all about? One more month to try to become a mother?”

“Andreas—” She let out an agonized cry. “Of course not!”