The Tycoon's Marriage Exchange by Elizabeth Lennox Page B

shifted to dangerous thoughts. 
    She wasn’t going to reveal anything.  “The usual way.  He asked me.  I accepted.”   She smiled as she watched her editor’s frustration grow across his features.
    “What’s so unnormal about that?”
    She decided to toss him something, just to get him off the scent.  “For one thing, Hector Christophe is involved.  For another thing, we’re getting married quickly.  Both of those issues make it a not so normal event, wouldn’t you say?”  No way would she tell him that this marriage was saving her family from financial ruin and helping thousands of families to not lose their homes.  Kallista knew that would be a huge story that her editor would run with.  She really did not want her father’s m istakes to be front page news and she refused to violate Hector’s trust by admitting anything about his private life, business or personal, to her editor. 
    She stood up and tucked the bulging wedding file under her arm.  “Oh, I’m sure the paparazzi will come up with something wonderful to talk about after the wedding.  Who knows, maybe I’m already pregnant!” 
    Kallista laughed as Torrance’s face blanched.  “Tell me you’re kidding!”
    She took mercy on him at that point and shook her head.  “I’m not pregnant.  Trust me!”
    She walked out of the office and back to her cubicle.  There, she flipped through the articles again, focusing on the pictures.  She looked very nice, she thought as she stopped at one picture that showed the two of them stepping out of a museum.  It had only been a couple of days ago and she’d worn a dress that had been delivered that day.  It was crimson satin and lace, scalloped at the neckline with matching red heels that had given her an extra two inches.  They hadn’t helped her in trying to catch up to Hector’s height, but what she found interesting was the look on Hector’s face.  Or more specifically, the direction of his eyes, which the camera caught looking at her neckline. 
    She blushed as she remembered that dress, how low cut the neckline had been and how exposed she’d felt occasionally, especially when she’d turned and the fabric had twisted slightly.  She might be blushing, but it certainly was nice to know that Hector was at least looking, even if he wasn’t touching.
    That thought startled her and she sat up straighter, ignoring the squeak from the old metal chair she was sitting on.  Did she want Hector to touch her? 
    What would she do if he touched her in an intimate way?  Her body flushed and became heated at just the thought of Hector’s strong, elegant hands on her.  He was so strong, would he hurt her?   Would he inadvertently touch her too roughly? 
    No.  He was too controlled, and he ’d been with too many other wome n so he knew exactly how to touch a female and not bruise or mar the skin. 
    She hated the thought of Hector being with all those other women, who had probably only been after his money.  Okay, so she was after his power and his ability to resolve this problem with her family.   She acknowledged a large share of hypocrisy in that statement.  But she was determined to be a good wife to him.  And she already cared a little for his feelings.  Hopefully, she could learn to love the strange, moody man who was so kind to her and her family.
    Since Kallista had rejected the credit card, Hector had arranged for someone to send over dresses or outfits so she thankfully didn’t need to shop for clothes for all the events, but it irked her that he’d gotten around the credit card issue.  She’d really wanted to pay for her own clothes, but at the time, she’d had no idea how many clothes she would need.  He had an event practically every night and this file showed her the need for a different outfit if the press were photographing her so often . 
    Her cell phone buzzed and Kallista looked at the number, sighing with resignation.  Hector was calling her once