Otherwise engaged by Keene Carolyn

Author:Keene, Carolyn [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Drew, Nancy (Fictitious character) -- Fiction, Detective and mystery stories, Nancy (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9780671002152
Publisher: New York : Archway Paperbacks
Published: 1997-04-08T19:00:00+00:00

ChApTER

M arry you?” Nadia repeated.

Jake saw waves of emotion wash across her face: shock, confusion, joy, and then hurt, like a small, wounded animal. Nadia leaped up off the couch. She backed toward the door, picking up her boots and cape. “You make fun of me, no?”

Jake scrambled to his feet, his heart in his throat. “No! Nadia, no, never.” He reached out for her, but the room between them had opened like a chasm. “I have never been more serious in my life. You said yesterday that the only way you can stay here is to marry a U.S. citizen.” Jake tugged down his frayed fisherman’s sweater and made a wry face. “This is one U.S. male citizen to the rescue. Not just

willing, but desiring more than anything to marry one Russian female citizen, Nadia Karloff.”

Nadia dropped her cape and boots to the door and took a step toward Jake. She shook her head slowly and took a deep breath. “You do not have to do this thing. I am moved and—I think the word is flattered. I do not deserve such a good friend.”

“Friend!” The word stung Jake.

Nadia smiled. “Oh, Jake ... I do not mean we are just friends. I care for you so much. You must not do this just to save me. Marriage is so serious,” she said, sounding wise. “And we are so young.”

Jake closed his eyes, and pressed his fingers against his temples. “I know,” he said, turning away from her. All his doubts and fears welled up inside again. Did he love Nadia? How would they live? Was he really ready to commit to one woman, forever? “Nadia, to be perfectly truthful, I wouldn’t be asking you to marry me right now, if it weren’t for your visa problems.”

“I know,” she said, sadness filling her voice as she sank back down onto the sofa.

“The point is, we need to do something, otherwise you’ll be sent off to Russia within weeks. Who knows what will happen then?”

“We would stay in touch, I promise you. I would write you every day. Five times a day,

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at least,” Nadia declared, lifting Jake’s hands to her lips. She kissed each of his fingers. With each kiss, Jake’s heart seemed to stop.

Jake shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Nadia, you’re an extraordinary, beautiful woman. I’m sure a horde of guys in Moscow would be willing to take my place. You’d forget about me soon enough.”

“Never,” Nadia interrupted him sternly. “Never another guy. Never will I forget you.”

“Maybe not forget, but we’d drift apart.” Jake put his hand under Nadia’s chin, tilting her head up. He lost himself in her eyes a moment before going on. “This visa problem may be the best thing that could happen to us. We can begin our life together a few years earlier than I planned. ...”

Nadia put her finger on Jake’s lips. “You were planning we would marry before this visa problem . . . Someday?”

Jake nodded.

“You love me that much!” Nadia’s voice trembled.

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