[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

use just in time, it looks like. He glanced at Jose's double armload and he moved aside as they
stepped into the elevator.
Chris pressed the button for the third floor and the old elevator slid smoothly up the
shaft.
She shook her head numbly. All of this because she had complained to the owner? Or was
all of this because the owner wanted to impress on her that he was as good as his word? It was an
awful lot of money to spend just to impress someone. He must be as desperate as she was.
As they stepped out of the elevator and headed for her door, she noted that the wallpaper
was being redone on this floor, too. Rodriguez certainly didn't waste any time when he wanted to
accomplish something, did he? The manila envelope practically burnt a hole in her shaking hand
as she reached her freshly oiled oak door.
As she unlocked the door and let Jose into the apartment, she dropped her bag onto the
sofa and said,  Let me help you with those. She reached for one of the bags he carried without
letting his protest stop her. He shook his head and grinned as he followed her into the tiny
kitchen where she set the bag down and turned to unload his arms. He held the bags one at a
time as she quickly put her groceries into the little fridge and the cupboards, and when she
turned to him and smiled so brilliantly, he had to smile back.
"Thank you ever so much. I sort of feel like Queen for a Day. She grinned as she folded
up the bags.  I suppose you would be insulted if I offered you a cup of coffee or maybe an
obscenely large tip?"
He smiled, as if hating to refuse.  Thank you very much, but no, señorita. I must be on my
way. He tipped his hat and bowed politely as he headed for the door, closing it after himself.
She watched him go, and she sighed. He was so nice. He had told her about his own
family his wife Maria and their three daughters. She had asked him why he wanted to work as a
chauffeur for his living when there were better paying jobs, and he had laughed. He had simply
replied,  My family has worked for the Rodriguez family for five generations, señorita, and they
take very good care of me. My daughters have the best schooling, and my family and I have
excellent medical care. Perhaps I could make more money driving a truck, but why should I give
up what I have to earn a few dollars more?"
She drew a deep breath and walked to the sofa where the manila envelope stood beside
her bag. Indeed? Why give up what you have to gain a few more bucks? Especially when you live
on a hundred acre estate and take care of a car that costs more than a lot of people make in three
years. When you have no expenses and everything is provided for you.
She sat down on the sofa and opened the envelope, wondering what she was going to say
after she read his offer. What she was going to do about her amazingly erotic attraction to another
dismally gay male. She groaned aloud.
There were five pages in all. There was a hand written note, scrawled in a flowing hand
on a single sheet of vellum, paper-clipped to the top copy. She lifted it and read,  Miss Lange. If
you have any questions or wish to change anything in the agreement, call me. It gave two phone
numbers. The second was obviously a cell phone. She ran her fingertips over the page, almost
able to feel his fingers as he had written the note. Dear God, she was so completely pathetic!
She set the note aside and her eyes ran down the first page quickly, noting that this was
definitely a legally binding agreement on both sides. In effect she was agreeing to marry Antonio
Miguel Rodriguez-Hidalgo for a term of not less than twenty four months. It didn't stipulate that
the marriage was to end at the end of those twenty four months, but he couldn't say that, could
he? She would have to take that on trust.
During the marriage she could expect to be fully supported by her spouse, as well as
receive what the paper referred to as  spousal gifts from her husband during the duration of the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]