He’d been headstrong and emanating an unshakable sense of power since the day I met him. The two of us were scholarship students at the private school we attended. The other kids picked on me because of my clothes—my family didn’t have the money for fancy ones. But where I’d been short and scrawny, Hunter had been tall and muscular and not one bit afraid to use his physique to intimidate others into leaving me alone.
I checked the immigration services requirements for green cards and visa extensions, then investigated some statutes. The knot in my stomach turned tighter as the hours went by, because these were murky waters, especially once they’d decided not to renew your existing visa.
It was three o’clock in the morning when my phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Hunter: Are you asleep?
Josie: No, still researching.
I’d made lists upon lists but had no definitive answer for him. I scrunched my nose when he called.
“I’m not done with the research,” I said instead of greeting him.
“Josie, go to sleep. I’ll have my team deal with this on Monday. Hell, I’ll have a new team brought in.”
“I want to look everything up too. The immigration services are pretty exact in their terms.”
“All right, hit me up. What did you find?”
I was lying on the bed on my belly, dangling my feet, chewing the end of a pencil. I didn’t like talking about my work until I had researched every possible angle of the law to exhaust all available options.
“Come on, Josie. I’m your best friend, not a judge. Just hit me up with whatever solution you have.”
“Okay, okay.... Short of marrying an American, you’re stuck with going through complex paperwork and keeping your fingers crossed. I mean, paperwork will be involved anyway, but this is a more straightforward route.”
He gave a strained laugh. “You’re joking.”
“Unfortunately, not. Look, you have options of course, especially because you have a huge business, but they didn’t renew your visa... so I’m not quite sure what they’re looking for. Anyway, you need a green card. Your lawyers never mentioned that?”
“They did, I just didn’t have time to deal with it.”
“Okay. So, about the green card. Many people marry to obtain it. As a lawyer, I definitely don’t recommend that course of action. It’s a felony. If you’re discovered, your American counterpart can get up to a few years in prison, and you’d be deported.”
“But as a friend, you’d recommend it?”
I hesitated. “From my experience, it’s the easiest route. It’s not easy by any means, but easier than other options.”
Hunter said nothing for a few seconds. He sounded dejected when he spoke next. “I haven’t found anyone to marry in thirty-two years. I don’t think I can just whip someone up on demand....”
Interesting. I hadn’t known Hunter wanted to find anyone. He’d made it clear on more than one occasion that he didn’t intend to settle down anytime soon. I supposed when you looked the way Hunter did and had so much wealth... why settle?
“It doesn’t have to be real, Hunter. Just an arrangement with someone you trust until you’re done with this. But, again... that’s against the law, so you’re better off exploring your other options. Do you want me to email you after I’m done with my legal suggestions?”
“Yes, please.”
“Okay.”
“You’re amazing, Josie.”
The timbre of his voice was deliciously sensual. Most times I managed to ignore that, but not now, in my sleepy haze. Heat coursed through me with an intensity that made the muscles in my belly contract. My own voice was a little uneven as I bid him goodnight.
Some days, being Hunter Caldwell’s best friend was a dangerous endeavor.
I finalized my research at four o’clock in the morning and sent it to Hunter. Thank God tomorrow was Saturday. As a lawyer, I often worked long hours, but I hadn’t pulled an all-nighter in a few years.
I’d assumed I’d sleep the second my head touched the pillow, but ugly thoughts pummeled my mind.
What if Hunter didn’t get this sorted out? I’d gotten so used to him getting his way that it had never occurred to me that he’d ever encounter an obstacle he couldn’t overcome. What if he had to relocate?
For a few seconds, I reverted to that teenage girl who’d had no one but him, and an icy shiver slid down my spine.
I almost reached for my phone to check if he’d replied to my email. I was ridiculous. What was I expecting? That he’d emailed me back in the last five minutes, informing me that he’d found a miraculous solution, as always?
By the time I fell asleep, it was early morning.
I woke up four hours later, feeling as if my head weighed a ton. I was truly too old for all-nighters. I intended to head straight into the shower, but the phone caught my attention. I had an unread message from Hunter.
Hunter: You’re probably going to sleep in, but shoot me a text when you wake up.
Josie: I’m up.
He answered right away.
Hunter: Do you have plans today?
Josie: Just in the evening.
Hunter: Can I drop by in an hour or so?
Josie: Sure.
I was certain he wanted to go through the list I’d sent him this morning. I hurried with my shower, wanting to have some time to read through it again. I was still too sleepy to form any real coherent thoughts, so after showering, I settled on my couch, sipping a large coffee. I lived in a comfortable one-bedroom apartment in Kips Bay. It was a good compromise between not having a killer commute to work and not wasting half my salary on rent. Most days, the lack of décor in my home didn’t bother me, since I wasn’t here much, but on my days off, it did become obvious how simple it all was. White walls; furniture in various shades of cream and gray. I had one single painting from IKEA, depicting a rainforest, hanging next to the TV.
Interior design had never been my forte. Neither was fashion, but that was easier to wing. I owned suits—practically my lawyer uniform—and a few cocktail dresses. I was still a plain girl at heart.
I’d just reread the email for the second time when the doorbell rang.
When I opened the door, Hunter was grinning down at me, holding a take-out bag from my favorite breakfast joint. Why, oh why did that smile have to be so damn sexy and alluring?
“I come bringing gifts.”
I smelled grilled cheese and pancakes. My mouth watered. I narrowed my eyes.
“Are you trying to bribe me into going to one of those fancy-pants galleries with you?
Because I’ve got to tell you, once was enough for me.” I was grinning, but I kind of meant it. He usually started buttering me up by bringing me breakfast on the weekend.
His smile widened. “I’m trying to bribe you to marry me.”
Chapter Three
Josie
“Wait, what?” I blurted out.
“Let’s have breakfast. I’ll explain everything.”
I opened the door wider, letting him in. My mind was racing, and so was my pulse. He couldn’t be serious.
Hunter went straight to my living room, kneeling at the oval coffee table. As soon as I handed him plates, he unloaded the goodies.