The Last Bachelor. Judy Christenberry
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Everyone’s been setting me up with blind dates and insisting I bring a woman to family occasions. They’re driving me crazy. Now I can take you, and everyone will be happy.”
Ginger stared at him. Why was he not married? He was a handsome man, educated, not like that beast her mother wanted her to marry. How could Joe have no lady in his life? She stared at him.
“Don’t worry, Ginger. I know I’m too old for you. I’ll let you go after the year when your citizenship is official. It’s just so you get your green card.”
“You would do that?”
“Of course.”
She dropped her head again, trying to think. The panic still lingered, making it difficult to think clearly. “I must call Daisy.”
“Why?” Joe asked.
“She—she’s my friend. We tell each other things.”
“Does she know about your being from Estonia?” he asked, sounding like he might be jealous if Daisy knew her story.
“No. I didn’t tell her everything. I didn’t want her to get in trouble.”
“Then don’t tell her until we return.”
“But—”
“I’d like to invite her to come with us as your maid-of-honor, but Harvey would kill me if I took his two most popular waitresses away at the same time. Now, you start packing. Pick something comfortable to wear on the plane, jeans or something, and pack your fanciest dress for the wedding ceremony. I’ll call Harvey.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Joe stood there, watching Ginger as she crossed the room and opened one of two doors. It was a small closet, but there wasn’t a lot in there. She pulled out a small cloth bag, then a simple blue dress and some sandals.
She hesitated, looking at him, and he hurriedly picked up the phone. He didn’t want to make her self-conscious by staring at her.
He was amazed, however, at how right saving Ginger seemed. He’d always picked up strays as a boy, bringing them home to feed and care for. His mother had believed he’d grow up to be a doctor, but he’d turned to architecture to satisfy his artistic side. He’d once considered becoming a starving artist, though his fiancée had protested his choice and had eventually left him for a man with more money. Joe had concentrated on his career as an architect to show her she’d made a mistake.
He’d avoided women for a while, but then he became the ultimate bachelor. He enjoyed the companionship of many women, but he planned no future with any of them. Ginger, he reminded himself, was too young for any real interest. He was rescuing her, that was all.
“Let me speak to Harvey Small,” he said to the club receptionist when she answered the phone. When Harvey picked up, Joe launched into the reason for his call. “Harvey, this is Joe Turner. I need to borrow Ginger for a couple of days. Is that a problem?”
Harvey didn’t take the request calmly. He poured out demands and questions that Joe had no intention of answering. “I’ll explain later,” he said.
That response didn’t satisfy Harvey.
“Two days, Harvey. That’s all I’m asking.” Joe pulled out the heavy artillery. “Would you prefer her to quit?”
“No! But I don’t see—”
“Harvey, slavery was abolished a long time ago. Ginger has some rights. Now, she’ll be back at work on Monday, and that should be enough to satisfy you.”
With that, he hung up the phone. He didn’t even worry that Harvey might fire Ginger. Joe didn’t want her to work, anyway. However temporary their marriage, she would be his wife. And he would take very good care of her. For a little while, at least, Ginger would not be alone.
Ginger stared out the window of the plane, her brow furrowed. “Are we still in the United States?”
“Of course, honey. Why would you think we weren’t?”
“When we flew to America, it was a long flight. Is America really this big?”
“It’s a lot bigger. Didn’t you fly to Texas when you ran away?”
“No. I—hitchhiked,” she said carefully.
“Lord have mercy, that’s dangerous. You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“No, the people were very nice.”
“Don’t ever do that again. There are some evil people out there.”
“No, Joe, they were very kind.”
“I’m glad, honey, but you’re my responsibility now. I don’t ever want you doing that again.”
“But we are not really—”
Joe covered her mouth with his hand to stop her from finishing her sentence. He leaned closer and whispered, “We don’t ever tell anyone, even strangers, that our marriage isn’t, uh, normal. Okay?”
Her eyes big over his hand, she nodded.
He released her and sat back, drawing a deep breath.
After a moment, Ginger leaned closer to Joe. She whispered, “Won’t everyone think it strange that we came to this place to marry? They will wonder why, won’t they?”
He took her hand in his, realizing he had a lot of questions to answer. Clearly, Ginger had concentrated on her work and her classes at the junior college, but knew very little about American culture. “You’ll see when we get there. A lot of people go to Vegas to marry. No one will think anything about it.”
He believed that, as long as she didn’t say the wrong thing. But he’d be on his guard. Maybe if she said something inappropriate, he’d stop her by kissing her. That would make everyone believe they were newlyweds.
His heart rate tripled just thinking about kissing Ginger. She was so beautiful, so naive and unprotected. He loved the idea of protecting her. He’d never seen himself in the hero role, but it was enticing, especially when he saw that emotion in her gaze. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her smooth skin.
When she jumped in surprise, he leaned closer. “People will expect me to touch you, Ginger. Try not to act so surprised. In private I’ll leave you alone.”
She frowned. “You will?”
“Yes, of course. I promise.”
“But I will be your wife.”
His heart beat faster. “Yes, but not—” He stopped himself. Great. Now he was the one having problems with their secret. “We’ll talk later.”
The pilot spoke over the loudspeaker. “We’re now approaching Las Vegas airport, so please be seated and fasten your seat belts. Thank you for flying with us today.”
Joe leaned over and snapped her seat belt.
“I can do it,” she protested gently.
“I know, but I like to help you. In a few minutes we’ll be on the ground. Are you excited?”
She met his gaze briefly, then looked away. “Of course.” She thought that was the answer he wanted. But she hated the idea that she was trapping him into marriage.
Joe was a kind man, offering her his protection. She must try not to take advantage of him. Some of the men at the club, especially when they were in the Men’s Grill temporary facilities, where their wives never appeared, were eager to take advantage of her, not to protect her. But she’d always turned them down. She’d never had to turn Joe down. He had never seemed interested in her in that way.
She sent up a small prayer that she would never shame Joe, that she would repay his kindness with loyalty and patience.
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