A fake loveless marriage would be no benefit to her.
“I’d better escort you to your suite now,” he said.
Chapter Five
“Well? You were gone almost an hour and a half. It shouldn’t take that long to break off a fake engagement.” Her sister pounced as soon as Kismet entered their suite.
“We didn’t break it off. We’re getting married tomorrow morning as planned.” She’d fully expected to return to Earth. That’s what they’d decided—until they talked a little more, and they realized that Cosmic Mates might be the answer to his dilemma. Why not help him out? When would she ever get a chance to see, let alone live on, an alien world again?
“What? You’re kidding!”
“Nope. How’d you like to be my maid of honor?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Okay, I thought I’d ask you first, but I’ll try to find someone else.”
“This is serious, and you’re making jokes.”
“And you’re making too much out of this.”
“Marrying Jaryk is a bad idea.”
“You’re giving me whiplash. This whole thing wasyouridea.”
“It wasn’t my best one,” Karma said.
Holding up her hand, Kismet inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Don’t say any more. I want to savor this moment of you admitting you were wrong about something.”
“I didn’t say I was wrong, I said joining Cosmic Mates wasn’t mybestidea.”
“Now you’ve spoiled it,” she quipped, and then turned serious. “You’ve always urged me to step out of my comfort zone. Well, this is it! When will I have a chance to visit—let alone live on—an alien planet again? Jaryk and I had a very niceconversation. We have a lot in common.” Like annoying siblings. “For an alien, he’s rather down-to-earth, excuse the pun.”
She wouldn’t be marrying for love, but she would have friendship and respect, and a girl could hope, couldn’t she? She liked the prince. He was engaging, well-spoken, handsome, and honest about his intentions and aspirations. Her heart might get broken, but wasn’t that the risk in any relationship? If she left at the end of a year, she’d at least have a fantastic story to tell her future grandchildren.Grandma once married an alien prince.
“His brother is a jerk!” Karma said.
“I’m not marrying the brother. If you want to go home, you can. Jaryk will arrange for it.”
“And leave you here alone? No way!”
“I don’t want you to stay just because of me.”
“I’m not.” Her twin sighed. “Seeing an alien world is the opportunity of a lifetime. You’re right about that.”
“What was that?”
“Visiting another planet—”
“No, about me being right.”
“Ha-ha.” Karma twisted her mouth.
Kismet grinned.
* * * *
“This is as good as it’s going to get.” She peered at herself in a three-way full-length mirror. She wore the ivory dress she’d brought for the wedding—a tea-length skirt with a fitted bodice and long sleeves. The boat neck left most of her shoulders bare. For the wedding, she’d kept her hair down but pinned to one side with a silver barrette.
