by J. C. Reed
She shrugged. “It’s not that bad.”
“Oh please. He’s a nightmare,” I whispered. “Can I sleep in your room?” Avoiding her probing gaze, I began to arrange my clothes in the closet.
“Have you seen it?” She snorted. “It’s like a mixture between a matchbox and a soda can. Too much wood and metal. This hotel is way overrated.”
That was a no, then. I sighed and turned to face her. “Wanna switch?”
“What? Hell no. There’s no way I’m sleeping in here.”
“Why not?”
“Because”—She threw her hands up in pretend exasperation—“it’s your wedding night.”
I shrugged. “So?”
“So you deserve the best.” She emphasized the last word like it was something naughty. I frowned, not getting her, and then the meaning of her words dawned on me. She wasn’t talking about the room; she was talking about Chase.
“This isn’t the honeymoon suite.” I cringed inwardly at the fact that I felt sort of disappointed at the thought. “Besides, he’s sleeping next door. Please switch with me,” I begged, whispering in case he could miraculously hear me, which he couldn’t, obviously. Given his arrogance, he probably assumed the entire world was talking about him anyway.
“It’s your wedding,” Jude repeated, like that in itself carried enough weight to justify that she was being a shitty friend by not helping me out. “Besides, it’s only one night and you’ll be fine. After you get married, Chase will probably hover around the bar until dawn, chatting up girls, and you’ll have the entire suite to yourself.”
She was probably right, but the thought didn’t manage to raise my spirits. If anything, they took a nosedive. I groaned and zipped up my empty suitcase, then dropped it at the bottom of the closet and closed the doors.
“I hope he’ll do that,” I mumbled through gritted teeth, not meaning a word. Somehow, the idea of Chase hooking up with some random woman was worse than spending the evening arguing with him while fighting off his arrogance the size of a mammoth. Where was he, anyway, and why the heck hadn’t he bothered me in—I checked the time on my cell phone—ten minutes?
“You want to grab lunch or something?” I asked.
“Sorry, I’m getting room service. I’ve got a videoconference call for work, for which I might be late.”
I nodded, remembering that she had told me she’d need to fly back early in the morning so she wouldn’t miss shooting, but I was thankful for her company and support, even if only for a few hours. After that, I’d be on my own fighting my way through the marriage jungle.
“Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it,” I said.
“Don’t mention it.”
Jude jumped up and placed a sloppy kiss on my cheek, then headed out, calling over her shoulder, “Meet you later to help?” She tilted her head meaningfully toward the plastic-covered gown on my bed.
I nodded again and watched Jude close the door, then dropped on my bed, considering my options.
I had to get lunch at some point. Should I venture out or order in? I figured if I stayed in, I’d obsess about the wedding, which was in just a few hours.
In four hours and forty-five minutes, to be exact.
My shoulders slumped and my heartbeat picked up in speed.
But if I left the room, the chance that I might bump into Chase was too high. Even though he had said he’d be gone on a job, I didn’t trust him. In the end, I ordered a sandwich and spent the afternoon checking emails and possible job openings in New York City, and sending out my résumé to people who probably wouldn’t even glance at it.
A few hours later, I trudged into the bathroom and took a hot shower, then slipped into my seamless underwear.
By six p.m.—with an hour left and no Jude in sight—I could feel the tension in my shoulders. Where the heck was she? I grabbed my phone and called her, only to find that her cell was switched off. She was probably still at work. If she wasn’t back anytime soon, I figured I’d have to leave without her.
My mood plummeted when it shouldn’t have.
Why did it matter, anyway? It was just a fake wedding. Chase hadn’t called to enquire about me. My fake bridesmaid had yet to arrive. And the dress was still wrapped in a plastic bag, seemingly forgotten.
With slow steps, I reached it, my hands itching to touch it as I imagined myself wearing it. And yet I couldn’t.
The moment had come—that one special moment I had hoped Jude would share with me. With a sigh, I unzipped the bag and removed the plastic bag carefully, holding my breath as I did so. At first, I noticed that the fabric was different. It was shiny, like the color of a pearl, sparkling translucently the way Chase’s eyes had shimmered in the sunlight when he looked at me. My hands brushed gingerly over the soft material for a few seconds before I plucked up my courage and I slipped into it, stepping in front of the mirror.
A smile touched my lips.
It was beautiful.
The skirt fell around me in a perfect, narrow silhouette, emphasizing my bust. Under normal circumstances, that part of my body wouldn’t have been my best or favorite feature but, regarding my image in the mirror, even I couldn’t deny the extra padding and support gave me a flattering hourglass figure to die for.
The miracles of great tailoring.
But what I liked best about it was the fact that it didn’t scream bridal gown—more like an upscale evening dress I could have worn to the opera or a red carpet event. It had all the features of the Vera Wang dress and more. Casey’s grandmother had done more than just a fantastic job. I felt like hugging her again and complimenting her skills. If I had the money, I would have asked her to be my personal tailor.
My back turned to the mirror, I admired the fine details of the stitching, then spun around again. Retrieving my mental to-do list, I ticked off all points as I went along. First, I arranged my hair so it’d fall in soft strands around my face, then hastily applied makeup. My hands shook slightly as I arranged a beautiful crown—interlaced wire vines adorned with dainty white blossoms—which Jude insisted I wear in my hair, and applied some perfume.
I stepped back, more nervous than ever. A short glance at the watch confirmed I only had twenty minutes left.
It was time to leave the bathroom in search of my bridesmaid and groom. Stepping out of my room, I noticed how quiet the suite had become. The living room was empty. I squeezed into my high heels and almost slipped on a stray rose petal. Bending to pick it up, I noticed a trail of them and followed it down the hall to the door. I didn’t consider Chase might have been the one to think of something so romantic until I saw Jude standing there and she said, “It was all Chase’s idea. I told him he was going overboard and that you’re not the romantic kind, but he wouldn’t listen.” She opened the door and inclined her head. “You still doing this?”
Nodding, I left the safety of the suite, wondering for the umpteenth time whether I was making a big mistake.
Too late, Hanson.
Even though it was a pretend marriage, I wouldn’t ditch Chase at the altar.
“The dress is gorgeous, by the way,” Jude said.
“Thanks,” I mumbled. In silence, we rode the elevator down to the lobby and then got into a waiting SUV.
Even though it was still early evening, the street seemed surprisingly devoid of life. I turned my gaze out the window to stare at the dusking sun streaking the sky in orange hues that was mirrored in the countless glass buildings. But even the natural beauty of a setting sun couldn’t distract me from my thumping heart and the knowledge of what I was about to do.
“You’ll be okay,” Jude said, repeating her words from earlier.
I nodded even though the rock in the pit of my stomach was beginning to grow to ominous dimensions.
Chapter 19
The chapel was an inconspicuous building in a residential area in New York City, but even so, it couldn’t have been more perfect, with its brown brick stone walls and the decorative white flowers lining
up the sidewalk and entrance. As Jude and I stepped out of the SUV and into the candlelit chapel, with the traditional church choir playing in the background, and a professional photographer taking snapshots, tears started to well up. I realized Chase’s friend—whoever he was—had done an amazing job finding it and organizing the necessary paperwork in such a short time. I made a mental note to send him a thank-you note, and smiled at Jude with more confidence than I actually felt.
I saw Chase as soon as we entered, and for a second the world seemed to stop around me when our eyes connected. He was standing at the altar, his sexy, hard body dressed in a tailored tux, his blue eyes shimmering like dark puddles that swallowed up the dim candlelight.
“You look beautiful.” Chase stepped forward to place a soft kiss on my cheek, and as he did so his lips almost brushed mine, the gesture instantly cutting off my air supply. I swallowed hard to get rid of the sudden lump in my throat, and pointed at him.
“You don’t look so bad, either.” My words sounded too low, too alien in my ears.
Chase smiled, and his fingers interlaced with mine. “Ready to yield your singledoom forever?” He was making fun of me even though I detected no humor in his eyes. No sarcasm in his voice. Poker face all the way.
In spite of my nerves, I found myself smiling. “Did you just say—”
“Sorry, I meant singledom.” His gorgeous lips twitched slightly, but his eyes remained glued to me, probing, looking beyond the façade I had worked so hard to build around me. His tailored black suit hugged his athletic body in all the right places, and the white shirt brought out his pale bronze skin. I couldn’t decide whether he looked sexier wearing a suit or dressed casually in blue jeans and a snug shirt.
Or maybe nothing at all.
Heat rose up my neck and face. I had almost forgotten the towel episode from the previous night. That one was by far my favorite. I’d welcome the sight on a daily basis. Not that I would admit that to him. It was bad enough that he knew his tongue on my skin had me blushing, or that his touch left me reeling.
“Laurie?” Chase’s brows shot up. “Are you bailing?”
“No. I was just—”
“Staring at me?” His lips twitched again.
“No.” I blushed again. “I was trying to figure you out.” I rolled my eyes in case my words failed me as I slowly began to wilt under his intense gaze—too dark, too broody.
Come on, Hanson. It’s just a man.
Yeah, right, just a man whose teeth were nibbling on my ear.
Could I describe him as just anyone?
Not quite. Because I was about to marry him, and my racing heart wouldn’t stop reminding me of his blue eyes shimmering like an ocean in the morning sun, or the sexy, hoarse voice he used in and outside of the bedroom.
“I forgot to give you this.” Chase grasped a bouquet of pink roses and ivory calla lilies from a wooden bench and pressed it into my hand.
“They’re beautiful.” I lifted the bouquet to my face and inhaled the sweet scent of lilies, wondering how he could have possibly known what my favorite flowers were? He’d even got the color right.
“They’re beautiful.”
“Just like you,” Chase said. For a few moments we just gazed at each other, caught up in the moment.
Caught up in whatever was between us.
“I’m sorry this place isn’t anything special,” he added. “But at least it’ll look real.”
Real.
A tiny pang of disappointment shot through me. Of course he would remember why we were really here.
What had I been thinking? That he had forgotten about our agreement and plans?
I scanned the tiny chapel. What the heck was he talking about? The place, with its Victorian theme and the few rows of white wooden benches decorated with cream ribbons and more roses, was stunning. Maybe it didn’t scream New York elegance. But it wasn’t exactly Las Vegas with Elvis memorabilia and tacky décor. Then again, being a West Coast girl, what did I know about New York?
Somewhere a door opened, and people started to spill in, taking their seats, some of them even waving at us.
“Who are they?” I asked, stunned.
“Our fake audience.” Chase smiled, obviously amused, as the photographer snapped away. And then the wedding officiant entered and the ceremony began.
***
The whole thing was over in less than twenty minutes. From the moment Chase and I confirmed the authenticity of our documents, to the hasty ‘I do’ and the signing of the papers, it all passed in a surreal blur. At some point I thought I heard Jude sighing behind me, but I didn’t look because I was both overwhelmed and mesmerized, floating in a dreamlike state of disbelief. Chase pulled out a wedding ring and slipped it onto my finger, then demanded that I do the same. The idea that we might need wedding rings hadn’t even occurred to me, but he seemed to have thought of everything. Eventually, the officiant pronounced us husband and wife, and before I could blink, Chase kissed me in front of Jude and the paid audience.
Kissed me as if it was real.
His lips—soft and velvety—probed mine, demanding that I play along. And I did willingly, my stomach fluttering as he explored my mouth. I would have continued, savoring him right there and then, if only he hadn’t stopped.
My head spun as we left the chapel strangely elated.
The moment we opened the door, I closed my eyes, enjoying the soft light of the moon on my skin. I inhaled deeply, welcoming the strange, happy thoughts and my new life.
I had signed the papers. I had taken his name.
Laurie Wright.
I still couldn’t believe that I was a married woman.
Chase was now my husband.
He might be just an actor I had hired, but maybe…
No, stop, Laurie.
I took another deep breath and let Chase’s fingers intertwine with mine.
“Let’s go,” he whispered.
“Drinks are on me,” Jude proclaimed as soon as we had taken our seats in the waiting SUV that would take us back to the hotel.
“Sure.” I peered at Chase from the corner of my eye. His face was turned away from us. In the dim evening light falling in through the windows, I couldn’t read his expression, but the impatient tapping of his fingers on his thigh didn’t escape my attention. I couldn’t blame him. As much as I needed a drink, I’d have rather spent some alone time with him.
“Hey, you in?” Jude elbowed him jokingly.
Chase turned, and in that instant I caught a flicker in his eyes—something dark and hard. And then his eyes turned on me and the flicker disappeared, making room for warmth, and not just a flame, but a whole wildfire of it.
Holy dang.
It was a flicker of desire, like a passion running deep.
He was stunning, now more than ever. Darkness suited him. It brought out the mysterious side to him; the one I had glimpsed on various occasions; the one that had kept my thoughts occupied, tied by invisible chains. To me he was an enigma, just like the night around us.
A warm tingle ran through my abdomen and gathered in the most secret spot of my core. I was attracted to him on a purely sexual level, raw hormones and all. That in itself was worrisome enough. But the fact that I seemed to melt from the inside at the mere twitch of his lips or at a glance from those gray-blue eyes was terrifying.
Never in my life had I felt that way about anybody.
Chase smiled and I smiled back shyly, eager to express my gratitude in some way. After all, he had done me a favor without expecting much in return.
If you call your body ‘nothing.’
“Laurie?” His brows shot up, amused. “Do you have anything lined up for tonight?”
Dammit.
There was that double meaning again. My cheeks began to burn, which apparently had become my natural reaction whenever Chase was around. Not only was he out of this world in the looks department, he was also one of those lucky specimens gifted with the uncanny ability to sense
other people’s emotional undercurrents, specifically those of the sexual kind. Either that, or I was a sad, open book to him. Fool that I was, I liked to think that the latter wasn’t the case.
I raised my chin and peered straight into his eyes, holding his gaze daringly. “No. Just drinks.”
He chuckled and a flicker of determination appeared in his eyes. I could almost hear the ‘we’ll see about that part’ in his thoughts.
The arrogance!
Chase began to ask questions about Jude’s job. What she did; how she liked it; all the while gazing at me. Irritated, I tuned out and focused on New York’s City’s skyline flitting outside the window.
Eventually the SUV stopped in front of our hotel to let us exit, and I excused myself to change into something more suitable while Chase and Jude waited in the bar area. I placed my flower bouquet in a crystal vase and had barely slipped into a demure black cocktail dress when the door slammed and a low, sultry laugh drifted over from the hall, disturbing the silence that had barely settled around my mind. I pressed my back against the door and strained to listen.
It was definitely Jude’s tinkling laughter in our suite’s living room. A male voice chuckled and I realized it was Chase. They were having fun. An irrational pang of jealousy hit me in the pit of my stomach, even though I knew my best friend would never flirt with him. She had always been loyal and true to me.
But Chase?
Why was the thought of him having fun with another woman making me jealous? Or worse yet, how come the image of him being with someone else other than me made me feel hurt?
I had known Chase for less than three weeks, during which we had become friends. Sure, we had fun and had gone further than I initially anticipated, but it wasn’t possible that I was developing feelings for him, was it? The thought was improbable and yet so scary I gasped for air. Being attracted to him was one thing, but falling in love with my fake husband was another.
I had no claims on him and yet my heart seemed to think otherwise, as though the fact that we were legally married somehow justified the most ridiculous of reactions: a longing to possess him, mind, body, and soul.