morning.”
Robert was a lawyer and a mutual friend. He specialized in immigration law, which made him an excellent choice.
“He said that the options you laid out are pretty much everything.”
Crap. I’d hoped that in my sleepy haze I’d overlooked something major that could help Hunter out of his pinch.
“His only other suggestion was marriage.”
I stopped in the act of cutting my sandwich and opened my mouth to protest. Hunter placed his hand on my right thigh. The contact singed me, warmth spreading from the point of contact, electrifying me. I sucked in a breath.
“Hear me out first, Josie. You’re the only person I trust. It’s a huge risk, and if I had a viable alternative, I wouldn’t ever ask you this.”
“Hunter, this is madness.”
“I would take care of you no matter what. You know that, right?”
Crap. I knew, and therein lay the problem. Hunter had looked after me when no one else had. My family was great, and there was nothing they wouldn’t do for me, but they all lived in Montana. Leaving home at fifteen had been one of the hardest things I had to do, but I couldn’t turn down the scholarship—it had been my one shot at attending a great private school. When I’d come to New York, we’d spoken on the phone as often as we could afford, which wasn’t often at all.
Hunter had never asked me for one thing. Not one damned thing. And now he needed my help. I couldn’t possibly say no.
“You’re not seeing anyone, right?” he went on.
“Not seriously. No.”
I’d had a second date with a guy I’d met at the theater a few days ago, but that was all.
“So, this wouldn’t inconvenience you in that regard. It’s just a piece of paper.”
“Such a romantic proposal.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Hunter, we’d have to keep up the sham for two or three years, minimum. It can take up to a year for the immigration services to approve your green card, and it’s usually best to stay married for two years after you receive it to avoid suspicions. I researched that yesterday. It’s good that your current visa is still valid for one year.”
He pulled back his hand and nodded. “You’re right. Forget I asked. I’ll tell my lawyers to start the legalities for one of the other options first thing on Monday.”
“I didn’t say no,” I said quickly. I didn’t want to leave him in the lurch. “I’d do anything for you. This is just so.... I need some time to process everything.”
“It’s too risky. I didn’t think this through. I just jumped at the opportunity because it seems to be the one most likely to guarantee a positive outcome.”
“How involved would this have to be?” I was thinking out loud more than directing the question at him. “We’d have to live together... pretend for everyone. My family and your mom don’t live here, so that would be easier... but Amelia and the rest of the Winchester clan? Not so easy. Unless you want to tell them the truth?”
“I don’t like the idea of lying, but I don’t want to tell anyone the truth because that’s more of a risk overall. Plus, then I’d be asking them to lie for me too. Everyone would get in trouble if the immigration services got wind of it.”
“No one would believe us, you know. That we’d marry.”
“That we’re suddenly in love? Why not? Would it be so unbelievable that I’ve fallen for you after so many years of friendship? That you’re the one?”
He shifted closer, smiling down at me. God, why did his smile have to be so dazzling?
I cleared my throat, shifting a little, seeking a bit of distance.
“You’re good, I’ll give you that. I suppose given our long friendship, a spur-of-the-moment marriage with me is more believable than with anyone else.”
With a pang of disappointment, I realized this was probably why he’d asked me in the first place. Not because deep down somewhere, he was attracted to me.
I mentally slapped myself. I didn’t want him to be attracted to me. The reason our friendship had survived all these years was because it had been strictly platonic. Hunter wasn’t the type to settle, and I wasn’t the type to be friends with benefits with anyone. I’d resisted all that sex appeal he had going on until now.
If I lived with him for three years? I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to pretend he wasn’t drop-dead sexy. I mean... just looking at all this deliciousness