12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Z oya

I’m stunned. Though I don’t know what I expected, I certainly didn’t think I’d be offered a lifeline that wouldn’t involve being detained for months or years. But most surprising of all? Lash, a male I’ve known for less than two full days, just offered to be my fiancé.

For the swiftest moment, I want to slide to the floor between his feet and thank him over and over. Then my thoughts sober. This poor male has been nothing but kind to me, but to offer to be my fiancé? To commit to marrying a woman without a penny to her name, someone he knows nothing about. I can’t let him do that.

“No. Thank you, Lash, but this isn’t right. Miss Samantha, what happens now? Do you need to call the authorities to pick me up? I can’t accept Lash’s very kind offer.”

Through his obvious surprise, Lash murmurs calming words, repeating over and over that he’s willing to do it. I answer with only one word, “No.” I’m a good person. Too good to ruin a male’s life when he makes an impulsive offer to help a woman he barely knows.

When Lash argues with me, saying he’s serious, I look to Samantha for help.

“She’s right, Lash. The government takes this very seriously. You can’t mock this process. You can’t just go through the motions. You can’t lie about your relationship. You have to mean it.”

“I do!”

This male, so very stern and scary the moment he found me wandering alone in the Zone, pierces me with his silvery gaze and repeats, “I will do this.”

I’m about to argue with him and again ask Samantha to take me to detention when Marissa breaks in.

“I have an idea.”

We all stop speaking. I imagine we all desperately want to hear a new idea that will save me from endless jail time.

“Samantha, what if you file this thing, the one you say there’s a precedent for? And what if Zoya and Lash follow the spirit of the K-1 visa? What if they spend the ninety days allowed by law to get to know each other? Look.” She pointedly stares at my small hand engulfed in Lash’s large, warm one.

“You obviously are developing a friendship. Why send this poor woman to detention? Why not use the law the way it’s intended? Let these two have some fun. Get to know each other. Besides, it will give us ninety days to seek other remedies while Zoya stays out of detention.”

Samantha doesn’t hesitate to agree. “That’s not a bad idea. It gives us all some breathing room. Time to find some alternatives. That is, Lash, if you’re serious.”

He leans close, gently grips my shoulders, and peers into my eyes. “Sure, I want to help you, Zoya. But that’s not all of it. I’ve felt something since almost the moment we met. How about you?”

My mouth turns dry, but I nod, because I can’t argue with his statement. I’ve felt so comfortable with him since I got over how terrifying he looked.

“I’d like to give this a try, Zoya. That is, if you’re willing.”

Am I? Am I willing to stay with him? See if by some odd turn of fate, the male who rescued me could develop true feelings for me? And see if my feelings are deeper than just gratefulness.

“Yes. We can try.”