The Marriage Clause Read Online Free PDF Page A

a money hungry bitch?”
    “There’s no need for names,” Celeste said coldly. “I was making sure I was protected if something ever happened to you. You are a soldier and you do get deployed. As a business woman I was thinking ahead.”
    “You sell real estate and badly,” Mikael pointed out. “I met you trying to get me to buy a condo and even though I was attracted I still didn’t jump. No, you’re floundering for cash and I was supposed to be the money tree.”
    “You’re being childish…” Celeste stopped herself and tried another tactic.  “You remember how good we were together.”
    “Yes, you were very… professional,” Mikael let the double meaning sink in and watched malice flare in her eyes. There’s the true Celeste. “If you have no business on base, I suggest you leave. Don’t use my name to get on here again, you won’t be on my visitors list.”
    “Is that how you’re going to be?” Celeste said.
    “I don’t want you, I doubt I ever did. I’ve moved on and you should do whatever it is you do best,” Mikael answered.
    She laughed. “You’ve moved on? Please, who are you trying to kid? I was the top of the line and you think you can find better than me? You, honey, you aren’t working with all that much.”
    “Oh, a knock on my manhood, I’m crushed. Don’t flatter yourself.” Mikael shook his head. “A knock-off Prada business suit and you think you can hurt my feelings? My grandmother has a few hundred of the real things. I can spot a fake—you, your clothes, and your purse. I’m going to be married and I have a kid on the way. Trust me, it was easy to forget you. Go away, Celeste. It’s almost four and the early bird special at Denny’s will be starting soon.  Maybe you can find your next mark there. Some of those old guys have more than their pension stuffed away in their mattress. You can get in on the ground floor.”
    “This isn’t over, you watch,” Celeste seethed. “You talk to me like that and think you’re going to get away easy, you got another thing coming.”
    “Uh-huh, get off this base. I’m walking inside and taking you off my visitors list and if you’re still on United States Government property by the time that happens… well…”
    There was no actual visiting list, all you needed was ID and to tell them where you were going and sign it. But Celeste didn’t know that, she didn’t ever care about his career, just about his pockets. He let the words hang and as expected he saw alarm in her eyes. He knew she wouldn’t get stopped on the way out, but he wanted her gone and far away from him as quickly as possible. Her true colors had come out quickly and thank God he found those papers before he’d talking himself into marrying her.
    Mikael shook his head as her little car roared away. He went inside and put Celeste firmly out of his mind.  There was a stack of paperwork on his desk, requisition forms, payroll, and leave requests he had to go through. He wanted to get it all done and head back to India’s apartment. They had a future to plan and it was the right one. In his heart he knew that for certain.

Chapter Four
     
    “What kind of appointment is this?” Gran asked. “God, I hate New York traffic. I should move some place warm all year round.”
    “I thought that was what the cruises you and Brownie took were for? We could always relocate you to Boca, Florida,” India teased.
    “Will you get out of the way before I beat you with your own car?” Gran yelled out the window and gave a visible shudder. “Boca, dear? That’s where old people go to die.”
    “I love how you go from road rage to calm grandmother,” India laughed.
    Gran paid her words no attention. “So what’s this appointment?”
    India kept her eyes on the road. “It’s my first OB appointment. Mikael had to work so you get to go with me.”
    “I don’t have to look at your hoo-hoo, do I?” Gran wrinkled her nose. “It can’t be cute like when you