by Elle James
He took the document from her hand and glanced down at the words. They were written in Spanish with the English translation beneath. The paper was thick parchment with fancy scrollwork designs on the border. At the top of the page, it read Acta de Matrimonio, and beneath it, in English, were the words, Marriage Certificate.
Chase’s heart hit the pit of his belly as he skimmed the Spanish to find the signature scrawled at the bottom of the page: Chase Flannigan. Beside his name in neatly written cursive was the name, Maggie Neal.
He looked at the ring on his finger, and then glanced at her.
She stood with what appeared to be a photograph in her hand, staring down at the image, her face blanching a startling shade of white. Then she looked to him. “We’re married?” Her finger pointed from him back to herself, wrapped in the sheet. “You and me? Married?”
With the proof in his hand, Chase had a hard time refuting her statement. He ran his free hand through his hair. “I don’t remember signing this.”
She looked over his shoulder at the document. “Is that your signature?”
He nodded. “Looks like it.” He jabbed his finger at the name Maggie Neal. “Is that yours?”
She closed her eyes. “I’m not believing this. It can’t be.” She spun, dropped the sheet and slipped the dress over her shoulders. “Whatever the hell happened last night…didn’t, as far as I’m concerned.”
“What do you want me to do about this?” He held up the marriage certificate.
“Tear it up. It didn’t happen. You and I are not married. No way. No how.” She snatched her heels off the floor, marched for the door and held it open. “Get out of my room.”
He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“You sure as hell can.” She waved her shoes at the hallway. “Go. Now.”
“Ms. Neal…Maggie, this is my room.”
“If this was your room…” Leaving the door open, she marched to the closet and flung open the door, “Why are my clothes in…” Her gaze took in his crisp white shirt and dark trousers hanging neatly beside his extra pair of jeans and one of the polo shirts his buddy Trevor said he’d need to fit in with the clientele at the all-inclusive resort. “Where the hell is my suitcase?” She ducked her head into the shallow closet as if searching for a hidden compartment. As she straightened, she pressed a hand to her forehead and swayed. “My head feels like steel wool, and I think I’m going to throw up.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and glared at him. “What have you done with my things?”
“Listen to me,” he said as slowly and as clearly as he could. “This. Is. Not. Your. Room.”
“Yes, it is. It says so right on the door. Room 336.” She crossed to the door and pointed at the numbers on the door.
“That’s 326, not 336.” He leaned out the door and jerked his thumb toward the opposite end of the hallway. “Your room is down there.”
She frowned, stared at the numbers, blinked and stared again. With a huff, she whirled and searched the room, her gaze landing on the dresser in his room. “If this isn’t my room, is that my room key?”
Chase retrieved the key card from the dresser and ran it over the locking mechanism on the door. The light turned red. He tried again, still the light blinked red. “I guess, it is.”
She snatched the key from him and marched down the hallway, muttering, “I’m not married. I didn’t come to Cabo to get married. This is not happening. It’s all one horrible, horrible nightmare. Gina!”
The woman was spitting fire, and Chase found it strangely charming. The marriage certificate still in his hand, he followed, telling himself he wasn’t interested, but needed to resolve this little matter of their marriage. “This appears to be a legally binding document. We can’t just tear it up,” he called out after her.
As much as Chase abhorred the institution of marriage, he kind of liked torturing Maggie with the idea she might be legally bound to him in holy matrimony. This thought gave him an inordinate amount of pleasure. He followed her to room 336. “We can’t just tear up this certificate. It’s stamped, and a copy is probably stored in some archive somewhere.”
“We sure as hell can,” she called over her shoulder. “What happens in these kinds of places stays in these places. That certificate won’t hold up in the US courts. I’m a US citizen, subject to the US court system. I’m not married.” She waved her key card over the door lock, and the light turned green. Maggie pushed into the suite. “Gina!” Without waiting for a response, she charged across the room like a bull toward a matador’s red cape and flung open a door. “Gina! What the hell happened last night?”
A startled squeal sounded from the bed. “Geez, woman. Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?”
About the Author
ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of books including cowboys, intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, snow skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories. Learn more about Elle James at www.ellejames.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Newsletter | BookBub | Amazon
Or visit her alter ego Myla Jackson at mylajackson.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter
Follow Me!
www.ellejames.com
[email protected]
Afterword
Interested in more military romance stories? Subscribe to my newsletter and receive the Military Heroes Box Set
Subscribe Here
Also by Elle James
Brotherhood Protectors Colorado
SEAL Salvation (#1)
Rocky Mountain Rescue (#2)
Ranger Redemption (#3)
Tactical Takeover (#4)
Shadow Assassin (crossover)
Delta Force Strong
Ivy’s Delta (Delta Force 3 Crossover)
Breaking Silence (#1)
Breaking Rules (#2)
Breaking Away (#3)
Breaking Free (#4)
Breaking Hearts (#5)
Breaking Ties (#6)
Iron Horse Legacy
Soldier’s Duty (#1)
Ranger’s Baby (#2)
Marine’s Promise (#3)
SEAL’s Vow (#4)
Warrior’s Resolve (#5)
Brotherhood Protectors Series
Montana SEAL (#1)
Bride Protector SEAL (#2)
Montana D-Force (#3)
Cowboy D-Force (#4)
Montana Ranger (#5)
Montana Dog Soldier (#6)
Montana SEAL Daddy (#7)
Montana Ranger’s Wedding Vow (#8)
Montana SEAL Undercover Daddy (#9)
Cape Cod SEAL Rescue (#10)
Montana SEAL Friendly Fire (#11)
Montana SEAL’s Mail-Order Bride (#12)
SEAL Justice (#13)
Ranger Creed (#14)
Delta Force Rescue (#15)
Dog Days of Christmas (#16)
Montana Rescue (Sleeper SEAL)
Hot SEAL Salty Dog (SEALs in Paradise)
Hot SEAL,Hawaiian Nights (SEALs in Paradise)
Hot SEAL Bachelor Party (SEALs in Paradise)
Hot SEAL, Independence Day (SEALs in Paradise)
Brotherhood Protectors Vol 1
The Outrider Series
Homicide at Whiskey Gulch (#1)
Hideout at Whiskey Gulch (#2)
Hellfire Series
Hellfire, Texas (#1)
Justice Burning (#2)
Smoldering Desire (#3)
Hellfire in High Heels (#4)
Playing With Fire (#5)
Up in Flames (#6)
Total Meltdown (#7)
Declan’s Defenders
Marine Force Recon (#1)
Show of Force (#2)
Full Force (#3)
Driving Force (#4)
Tactical Force (#5)
Disruptive Force (#6)<
br />
Mission: Six
One Intrepid SEAL
Two Dauntless Hearts
Three Courageous Words
Four Relentless Days
Five Ways to Surrender
Six Minutes to Midnight
Hearts & Heroes Series
Wyatt’s War (#1)
Mack’s Witness (#2)
Ronin’s Return (#3)
Sam’s Surrender (#4)
Take No Prisoners Series
SEAL’s Honor (#1)
SEAL’S Desire (#2)
SEAL’s Embrace (#3)
SEAL’s Obsession (#4)
SEAL’s Proposal (#5)
SEAL’s Seduction (#6)
SEAL’S Defiance (#7)
SEAL’s Deception (#8)
SEAL’s Deliverance (#9)
SEAL’s Ultimate Challenge (#10)
Texas Billionaire Club
Tarzan & Janine (#1)
Something To Talk About (#2)
Who’s Your Daddy (#3)
Love & War (#4)
Billionaire Online Dating Service
The Billionaire Husband Test (#1)
The Billionaire Cinderella Test (#2)
The Billionaire Bride Test (#3)
The Billionaire Daddy Test (#4)
The Billionaire Matchmaker Test (#5)
The Billionaire Glitch Date (#6)
The Billionaire Perfect Date (#7) coming soon
The Billionaire Replacement Date (#8) coming soon
The Billionaire Wedding Date (#9) coming soon
Ballistic Cowboy
Hot Combat (#1)
Hot Target (#2)
Hot Zone (#3)
Hot Velocity (#4)
Cajun Magic Mystery Series
Voodoo on the Bayou (#1)
Voodoo for Two (#2)
Deja Voodoo (#3)
Cajun Magic Mysteries Books 1-3
SEAL Of My Own
Navy SEAL Survival
Navy SEAL Captive
Navy SEAL To Die For
Navy SEAL Six Pack
Devil's Shroud Series
Deadly Reckoning (#1)
Deadly Engagement (#2)
Deadly Liaisons (#3)
Deadly Allure (#4)
Deadly Obsession (#5)
Deadly Fall (#6)
Covert Cowboys Inc Series
Triggered (#1)
Taking Aim (#2)
Bodyguard Under Fire (#3)
Cowboy Resurrected (#4)
Navy SEAL Justice (#5)
Navy SEAL Newlywed (#6)
High Country Hideout (#7)
Clandestine Christmas (#8)
Thunder Horse Series
Hostage to Thunder Horse (#1)
Thunder Horse Heritage (#2)
Thunder Horse Redemption (#3)
Christmas at Thunder Horse Ranch (#4)
Demon Series
Hot Demon Nights (#1)
Demon's Embrace (#2)
Tempting the Demon (#3)
Lords of the Underworld
Witch's Initiation (#1)
Witch's Seduction (#2)
The Witch's Desire (#3)
Possessing the Witch (#4)
Stealth Operations Specialists (SOS)
Nick of Time
Alaskan Fantasy
Boys Behaving Badly Anthology
Rogues (#1)
Blue Collar (#2)
Pirates (#3)
Stranded (#4)
First Responder (#5)
Blown Away
Warrior’s Conquest
Enslaved by the Viking Short Story
Conquests
Smokin’ Hot Firemen
Protecting the Colton Bride
Protecting the Colton Bride & Colton’s Cowboy Code
Heir to Murder
Secret Service Rescue
High Octane Heroes
Haunted
Engaged with the Boss
Cowboy Brigade
Time Raiders: The Whisper
Bundle of Trouble
Killer Body
Operation XOXO
An Unexpected Clue
Baby Bling
Under Suspicion, With Child
Texas-Size Secrets
Cowboy Sanctuary
Lakota Baby
Dakota Meltdown
Beneath the Texas Moon