“I won’t be a charity case,” I said.
His eyes lifted. “Charity case?”
He had the nerve to look mildly amused, which had the opposite effect on me.
Annoyance fueled my next words. “You hired me to be your assistant, yet the only thing I’ve done for you is answer your phone. You’ve ignored me today. Do you remember I have a degree, or have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten one thing about you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure doesn’t seem like it.”
He ignored my sarcasm. “If you want to help, you can compose a written account of your movements when you turned in the annulment to the court.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Though it wasn’t a job function, it was something I could do. Remembering that day wasn’t something I wanted to do. Eddie had killed my fantasy of my first time with his actions the morning after. Though I wanted to hate him for it, I knew in my heart he did it because he cared.
Checking my frustration, I pulled out my laptop and began the painful recollection of events. When we arrived in Las Vegas, you would have thought we were rock stars. All the stops were pulled out except for an actual red carpet, though I thought I was walking one.
“Would you like a beverage?” the driver of the car service asked.
The heat felt like a typical Texas summer day, but it wasn’t summer. So, I asked for a water and was given one that chilled my palm. Eddie waved the guy off and stared out the window as if he were farther away than the few feet that separated us.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when we pulled up to the very same hotel we’d gotten married in. I tried not to be affected, but tears pricked the back of my eyes. I was so far in my head, I didn’t pay attention to what was said after we were ushered into a private room as we were checked in.
“Here are your keys,” the registrar said to Eddie, handing him the plastic cards that would give us entrance to our rooms.
When we stepped out and headed for the elevators, it suddenly felt like déjà vu. Though the décor wasn’t quite the same, I could pick out the blackjack table where Eddie and his friends had been playing at when I first noticed him. The closer we got, I remembered him tossing me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
I clenched my hands, my nails biting into my palms, and thought about the men I’d dated since Eddie. The bad boy, the all-star, the nerd, to the current one who could be my father. Had I purposefully sabotaged myself from finding love? If I were honest, I was still completely in love with Eddie. But that ended tonight.
Being here reminded me that he wasn’t mine and never would be.
I stepped off the elevator in a haze. It wasn’t until we stopped in front of a familiar door did I realize what was really happening.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked.
Was he trying to hurt me?
Instead of answering, he handed me a key and tilted his head toward the door behind me.
“Your room.”
I looked away, feeling stupid. He hadn’t gotten us the same room from that long-ago night. I steered my carry-on to the door and opened it. As I turned to close it, I met Eddie’s eyes as he stood in the doorway of that room. His door closed first as my heart kicked up into a gallop.
With the door at my back, I sagged a little. I wouldn’t read more into this than it was. We were here to end our marriage and prove that it wasn’t our fault we were still legally married. All of this so he could make a new life with his current wife.
Don’t read more into this than it is.
I wasn’t a morning drinker, but I could use one at this very moment. Eddie hadn’t given me an itinerary, which proved my job was in name only. I stepped into the room, which was of average size. After passing the alcove that led to a bathroom, I was immediately greeted by a freshly made king bed that looked inviting. Though I was emotionally exhausted, I resisted the temptation of a nap. I didn’t want to be up all night.
I left my carry-on against the wall and headed for the door. I opened it only to find Eddie standing on the other side poised to knock.
“Hi,” he said almost tentatively. He glanced down before meeting my eyes. “I thought you might be hungry.”
“Yeah,” I said on an exhale.
An awkwardness that hadn’t existed before he taken my virginity filled the space between us.
“We can go later if you want,” he suggested.
“No. Now is good.”
He had to step back so I could move into the hallway. When his hand landed on my back, I had to stifle a shiver. The man just moved me in ways no other could.
We found a restaurant in the lobby that served brunch. After we ordered, Eddie filled me in on our day’s activities.
“We have the court appearance later today. Are you ready for it?”
I shrugged. “All I have to do is tell the truth.”
“Yes. Did you write it all down?” he asked.
“I did. There isn’t much. I picked up the envelope you’d left for me. I found a notary—”
“Wait. Did you use the hotel’s services?” I nodded and he said, “So did I. There should be a record of that.”
I shrugged. “Probably. I hadn’t thought about that. They had one on staff.”
His eyes brightened. “We need to check it out and see if they have a record of that.”
He seemed so happy, I forced that same happiness into my smile. It wasn’t that I wanted him in trouble for marrying two people. But it bothered me that he didn’t seem the least bit affected by letting me go.
“Yeah, that’s a great idea,” I said.
I filled him in on the rest of my movements. I’d caught a cab and didn’t have the receipt for that after all this time. I went to the court and found the right place to file the papers and dropped them off. The clerk had told me that was all I had to do and I’d believed her.
“My lawyer is looking into who was working that day and what their work history was.”
The food arrived and we didn’t speak much after that. From brunch we made inquiries regarding records of those transactions. The manager said they would look into it and let us know.
“This is good news,” he said, rubbing his hands together.
“It is.”
He checked his watch. “We have a couple of hours. Why don’t we meet down here then?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll text you.”
I silently agreed and watched him walk away. When I looked away from his fantastic backside, I noticed other women giving him appreciative glances. I had no clue what to do, but I’d been surprised when Eddie hadn’t headed for the elevators.
Not feeling my best, I opted to go to my room and freshen up. Other than Eddie’s hand to guide me to the elevator for a meal, he hadn’t once looked at me like he had our wedding night.
I hadn’t been going for sexy with a pencil skirt and simple top, but the heels did make my legs appear long and slimmer than they were. I’d pulled my hair back into a sleek ponytail, fearful that I would be playing with my hair out of nerves if I left it down.
When I met Eddie in the lobby, his jaw tightened at the sight of me. Not the reaction I’d hoped for.
He introduced me to his lawyer, a middle-aged man with slicked back thinning hair and a face that probably had been handsome before frown lines and too much drinking had edged a lot of it away.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Both of us looked quizzically at his lawyer. The man shrugged.
“I’m just saying she’s a looker. But I guess you want to avoid jail time.”
Eddie stared daggers at the guy. “Yeah, that would be preferable.”
“Okay. But here’s the deal. Neither one of you got official papers from Nevada stating that the annulment was finalized,” the lawyer said.
“No, but I was young and busy with school and working almost a full-time job.”
“Exactly. That’s what we are going
to use. Young and stupid. Though the judge will say you were a lawyer.”
“Law student,” Eddie countered.
“Tomato, tomato,” the guy said, using both pronunciations of the word.
“He’s going to say you should have known better.” His gaze landed on me. “You were younger. He will probably not find fault in you.”
“Because I’m a woman,” I said derisively.
The man’s bony shoulders lifted. “Just go with it. Young and stupid. You filed with your parents’ address and didn’t think anything about it after.”
“We didn’t,” Eddie pressed. “We’d filed a joint claim. I just assumed.”
“Right,” the lawyer said noncommittally. “Do we have a copy of the annulment.”
Eddie shook his head when I remembered. “I think I might.”
Both men’s brows raised. I pulled out my phone. I thought I might have asked the desk clerk to scan it to my email. Why hadn’t I remembered that before?
“Find it. That could help.”
We rode with the lawyer in his BMW the ten minutes to the courthouse.
Standing alone as Eddie conferred with his lawyer on last-minute details, I rubbed my clammy hands on my skirt as we waited to be called. I couldn’t imagine Eddie going to jail for this. If he did, it would be my fault.
Not long after, we were ushered inside. I was actually seated behind the defense table because I was merely there as a witness.
Eddie had chosen the no jury route. I had no idea why, but he had to have his reasons. The judge turned out to be a hard ass and I could see Eddie pale once the proceedings began.
I thought I might puke when I was called. But so far, Eddie’s lawyer had been on the money with how the case would play out. After giving my testimony, I was cross-examined by the prosecution. They pushed that I might have wanted to stay married to Eddie. Luckily, I’d been able to produce the document that had remained buried in my email account. It was time stamped and matched with the records the hotel kept about the requested notary service. Still, it didn’t prove that I’d taken it to the courthouse.
In the end the lawyer had come through. They had a record of the clerk who would have been on duty that day around the time I said I’d gone. As it turned out, she’d been fired not long after that day for mishandling of files and not logging in information.
I breathed a sigh of relief and grinned at Eddie when he turned and gave me that sexy smile of his.
A couple of hours after we’d been called in, the judge was ready to render a verdict.
“Though I think both of you played a role in not figuring out that you were still married, I’m leaning on the side of youth and ignorance, which isn’t an excuse. I’m going to be lenient, as you did take the steps to get the annulment in good faith. However, Mr. McCabe, if you don’t file a proper annulment for one of these marriages before the close of business tomorrow, I will rule you guilty.” He used the gavel. “This case will resume two days from now.”
Eddie stood and hugged his lawyer before waking into the aisle and hugging me. Even though it technically wasn’t over, he’d basically won. He only had to file our annulment by tomorrow to be cleared from the charges.
“I need a drink. How about you?”
I thought the last thing we should do was drink considering what happened the last time, but I nodded.
He stepped away and handed his lawyer a document. The guy nodded.
I thought I heard him say that he would file it right away, but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure.
He dropped us off at the hotel and Eddie took my hand. I followed him to a bar and sat.
“What do you want?” Eddie asked.
For some reason my mind drifted to Sex in the City. The show had been over for years, and I watched for the first time as reruns. Yet I channeled my inner Carrie with a sprinkle of Samantha and said, “Cosmopolitan.”
He gave me a look for which I shrugged. When the bartender arrived, he ordered a scotch for himself. Once our drinks arrived, he lifted his glass in a toast.
“To you,” he began.
“No, to you, Mr. Big—” Quickly, I tried again. “Mr. McCabe.”
His lips twitched, not getting my reference to Sex in the City. Though he probably was thinking about his sex. Which after some more experience under my belt, I could definitely call him Mr. Big for that.
I drained my drink out of sheer embarrassment, feeling my cheeks warm.
“Another?” he asked.
I bobbed my head, trying to get images of Eddie’s cock out of my head. I may have slurped down two more before Eddie suggested we try our hand at the craps table.
“You’re my lucky charm,” he said, holding my hands that cradled the dice.
His piecing eyes burned into my soul, and for a second I thought he might kiss me. Instead, he turned me to the table and instructed me to roll the dice. And I did.
The table erupted when a five and two faced up. I didn’t much understand the game, but when chips were sent our way, I’d guessed we’d won.
Part of me was trying to figure out why Eddie had yet to call his wife and give her the good news. The other part enjoyed his hands on me as he stood behind me as I was once again requested to roll the dice.
We didn’t end our night there, moving between tables and games. Our luck had run hot, and we were told that our room would be on the house. I was too drunk to realize they hadn’t said rooms.
It was late when we stumbled into an elevator. My body felt charged as if from lightning. If Eddie touched me, I was certain I would explode on contact. I backed into the wall with my hands behind me. I was afraid I might do something stupid, like kiss him. He was one step closer to officially being married to someone else.
When I looked up, he was leaning against the opposite wall, eyes dark with something I didn’t want to guess.
“Dammit, Jilly. Why do you have to be so damn pretty?”
I managed not to say something stupid like the better for you to eat me with because that sounded stupid. I meant the way his eyes seemed to eat me up in that moment. What was the point?
Instead, I foolishly stated, “Why do you have to be married?”
“Exactly.”
He didn’t give me a chance to protest. He cleared the distance between us in one powerful stride.
As our lips collided, everything went dark and came to a screeching halt.
CHAPTER 9
I stared at everything and nothing in the absolute darkness. When the buzz of a flicking light preceded a dim glow, Eddie moved away and toward the emergency panel we all ignored and hoped to never use.
As panic set in, I realized I had no idea what floor we were on. Our room was high up. That meant we could be plunged to our death at any moment.
Eddie came back over and cupped my cheek. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”
Before I could dispute his claims, a voice sounded through the speaker box.
“Is everyone okay?”
Eddie, definitely the man I needed in a crisis, took charge.
“Yes. There are two of us.” He proceeded to give our names and room numbers.
“Sit back and relax. We’ll try to get you out as soon as possible.”
“Try,” I said, alarm welling up in me.
She obviously heard me though I was not in front of the speaker box.
“Yes, ma’am. Please remain calm. Help is on the way.”
“What is going on?” I nearly shouted, having glanced at the no signal on my phone.
There was static and then the sound disappeared. Eddie calmly pressed the call button, but when nothing happened, he stepped back.
“Oh my God,” I said, fear rooted in my chest. “This isn’t happening,” I rationalized.
Eddie was there, solid as a rock.
“It’s okay.”
My eyes flew open. I hadn’t known I’d closed them.
“It’s not okay. We’re stuck in the dark.” Though it wasn’t absolute a
nymore. “We have no idea what’s going on. Our phones don’t work in here.”
“We’re alive,” he said.
“And a cheat,” I barked. “You kissed me, and you’re married.”
His hands gripped my shoulder. “I know.”
I shrugged him off, opting to huddle in the corner. “And how is that okay?”
“Can’t a man kiss his wife?”
My pupils were probably already dilated in the faint greenish light, but they had to have gotten larger.
“Wife?”
He moved to cage me in. “Yes. Wife.”
“But how?”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “Let’s see, there’s usually two people.”
I shoved at him, though he didn’t budge. “You know what I mean.”
“It means, my lawyer filed the annulment paperwork for Chelsea.”
He pulled out his phone to show me a text. “Paperwork filed and Chelsea Andrews will be notified.”
“Wait? What? How?”
I hadn’t known that was her full name, but it didn’t say my name.
“Chelsea signed the paperwork when she showed up at the office.”
I was still confused. He sighed. “This was something already in the works before I got the letter from the State of Nevada.”
“But you just got married.”
His laugh had a bitter ring to it. “Cam, Chris, and everyone were right about her.”
“She wanted you for your money?”
“Not totally. She wanted a kid and a man who could support her.”
“Wow. I’m sorry. How’d you find out?”
“I caught her on a call with her girlfriend on the first night of our honeymoon.” He pushed a hand through his hair, while mine covered my mouth out of shock. “I didn’t want to believe it at first, but I got a camera and put it in the room and recorded her conversations. She said enough to damn herself.”
“I’m so sorry,” I repeated. “Do you think she’s pregnant?”
His laugh was even darker that time. “Kind of hard when she was on her period.”
“Bad timing,” I said, not sure how to feel.
“Perfect if you ask me. The last thing I would want is to have a kid with the conniving bitch.”
Blackout: A Romance Anthology Page 45