“Danni?” My voice is barely a whisper, and even I can hear the emotion in it.
Dropping one of her hands, I lift my fingers to her cheek before wrapping them around the back of her neck and brushing over the smooth, tear-stained skin with my thumb.
After blinking and swallowing down whatever it is she’s trying to keep hidden, she turns to look at me. Her eyes are pooled with tears that are going to spill any second. The sight makes my chest ache. I don’t want to be the reason for her sadness.
“You know me, Danni. More than you think you do, and more than anyone else in the world. We may not have spent a lot of time together face to face, but everything I said via message was true. You were talking to me, the real me. Not the man I was pretending to be to find something, someone meaningful. Not the showman act I put on to hide everything that I try to keep beneath the surface. I was just me, and I was totally honest, more so than I’ve ever been. So please, please just give this… us, a chance.”
One tear drops, and I catch it with my thumb. A sob rumbles up her throat, making me wish I could take all of this away, but it’s too late. The deed has been done… quite literally.
Leaning forward, I rest my forehead against hers. What I really want to do is press my lips to hers, but I’m not sure she’d appreciate that right now.
Our eyes lock, unspoken promises and warnings passing between us. She’s afraid of being hurt, I can read that much in them. Fuck knows what she sees in mine. Maybe it’s my weakness, my need to find the kind of connection I know we could have if she allows it. My fear? I’ve no idea, but when she blinks, cutting us off after a few seconds, all I know is that I feel totally lost.
I’d hoped that the day I found myself married to the woman of my dreams, my insecurities buried might settle at last, but it seems my reality is very different from what I always hoped it would be.
“Your coffee is getting cold,” I whisper, pulling back and giving her the space I think she’s desperate for.
She nods, sitting up straighter and accepting the tray when I move it over to her lap.
“Thank you for this,” she says softly.
“Anything.” Her head snaps up, and she blinks a couple of times as she looks at me. It’s as if she’s looking at a ghost and not sure if it’s her imagination or not. After a few seconds, she shakes her head and turns her attention to her breakfast.
16
Danni
I got drunk and married in Vegas. I’m such a fucking cliché.
My lungs burn by the time I run up the unthinkable number of stairs to the suite. I went for the lift, but as I approached a huge crowd moved into it, and the last thing I wanted was to be surrounded by people while balancing on the thin line of sanity I was so close to falling off of.
The second I make it to the main door, I crash through and immediately race to my bedroom before slamming the door behind me. It makes no difference—no one is here to hear my frustration, but I do feel slightly better for letting just a little bit of it out.
I drop my head into my hands as I desperately try to drag up any memories of the night before. The last thing I remember was dancing with Carter in the hotel’s nightclub. I certainly do not remember any mention of getting married or a journey to a chapel. I don’t even know what I wore.
A sob rips from my throat. None of this was how it was meant to be. I wanted to find a nice, respectable man with a good job that I could date for a while. Marriage and kids have always been a part of my life plan, but not yet, and certainly not like this.
I look down at my bare finger. How hadn’t I noticed it when I got up? The continuous pounding at my temples is all the answer I really need for that question. And this new reality sure isn’t helping me recover from the world’s worst hangover.
I fall down onto the end of my bed and allow the tears I was holding in to fall. What the hell is going on with me? I’ve been known to be spontaneous in the past, sure. I’ll say yes to most experiences in life. But this? I’ve never done something so life-changing before without giving it some serious thought. The decision to go back to uni to do my masters while I worked took me months. Yet it seems I just got married on a whim. And to a guy I don’t know.
I think back to the parts of last night that I do remember. The way he looked at me with heat in his eyes. The way his body moved so perfectly with mine while we were on the dancefloor. His husky promises in the bathroom of the burger place.
He’s not a bad guy, that I’m sure of. I don’t need his friendship with my brother to tell me that. I sense it. But husband material? The kind of man I take home to meet my parents and introduce as the one I’m planning on spending my life with? I’ve no fucking clue.
My head spins. My tears fall. Yet I’m no closer to remembering any of it or figuring out what I’m meant to do now. I can’t go home married. Not when we only came here so Biff and Zach could tie the knot. Fucking hell, I’m the world’s worst sister and best friend. That thought only makes my tears come faster.
I fall back onto the bed and stare at the ceiling through blurry eyes.
I’m someone’s wife!
Thoughts about what I could do now are on repeat in my mind. I’m surprised any of them allowed me this time. I really thought one of them would have followed, Carter especially. I’m glad they didn’t. I needed these few minutes to try to get my thoughts together, not that I’m any closer to having a clue as to what I want to happen next.
I’m in two minds when the knock does come at my door. I want to keep him out, pretend that none of this is really happening, but the lure of coffee is too much, and I break down and allow him in.
I regret it the second I look into his green eyes. There’s hope in there, the hope I’ve constantly been trying to squash every time he so much as mentions a future between us.
Why is he so confident that he wants me? He barely knows me, and the little bit of time he has spent with me I’ve been nothing but a raging bitch.
The huge cup of coffee and the pancakes go a long way to making me feel almost human once again, but the second I put the tray to the side and look up at Carter, everything comes crashing back.
“I… uh…” He shifts to the side slightly so he can push his hand into his pocket. “Picked this up for you.” He uncurls his fist and reveals my wedding ring. My stomach twists uncomfortably as I stare at it. The slight tremble in his hand makes me feel somewhat better that I’m not the only one struggling with this right now.
Hesitantly, I reach out and pick it up. It looks tiny in his palm.
“You deserve more than that one, just so you know,” he says as I stare down at it.
“It’s a perfectly nice ring, Carter. It’s just… I’m not sure I should have it.”
“I’ve been rejected a few times in my life, but less than twelve hours after saying ‘I do’ is a new one, I must say.” He puts humour into his tone, but as his eyes darken, I wonder if there’s more truth to those words than he’d like me to know.
“This is so fucked-up.”
“Spend the day with me. No pretence, no bullshit, no Mr and Mrs. Just us, just hanging out. I told Zach and Biff that we’d meet them later for dinner.”
I stare at him. I guess there are worse ways to spend my day than discovering a little bit of Vegas with him.
“O-okay.”
“Yeah?” The way his face lights up at my agreement tells me that it’s the right decision. No matter how things turn out for us, we’re going to need to get along for Biff and Zach’s sake, so I guess we may as well at least attempt to be friends.
“On one condition.”
“Which is?”
“I need more coffee, and at least thirty minutes to do my hair and make-up before walking out of this room.”
“Consider it done, although it’s really not necessary. You look beautiful already.”
I smile at him. “Thank you for trying, but I’m well aware that I look about as hungover as I feel right now.”
He opens his mouth to say more but decides against it. Instead, he stands from the bed and walks to the door. “I’ll order you a coffee. I’ll be ready whenever you are.”
Pulling the door closed behind him, he leaves me alone with my new wedding band. I stare down at it, hoping its presence will bring back memories of me getting it, but still, there’s nothing.
A loud sigh falls from my lips as Carter’s deep voice ordering my coffee filters through the door.
Not allowing myself to think in circles, I push from the bed and set about getting ready to grace other humans with my presence. I know this is Vegas and everyone and their wife is probably regretting the night before in some way, but I’d prefer not to look like I do as well.
I place my wedding ring down on the dresser, but I quickly pick it back up again when it feels wrong abandoning it like that only hours after receiving it. Or maybe I even chose it in the first place, who knows.
I glance around, wondering what to do with it, before my necklace catches my eye. Flipping my hair out of the way, I undo the chain and slip the ring over it. I ensure its hidden behind my jumper before plugging my curling wand in and attempting to do something with my frizzy disaster hair.
I’m halfway through taming my mane when Carter knocks. “Coffee delivery,” he calls through the door.
“It’s safe to enter,” I laugh.
I keep my eyes on the mirror before me and look over my shoulder. I watch him take up almost all of the doorway. He’s not wearing anything special, just a t-shirt and jeans, but shit, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a guy rock the look quite so well. His hair is all over the place, probably thanks to me and this situation we’ve found ourselves in.
A cocky smile appears on his lips when he realises that I’m checking him out. He stalks into the room and comes to a stop right behind me.
“Here’s your coffee, wife.”
My breath catches at his name for me.
“Shit, sorry. Is it too soon for jokes?”
“It might forever be too soon.”
“Oookay.” His face drops as he backs away from me.
“Shit, Carter. I just…”
“It’s okay. I know this isn’t what you want. I just thought that maybe you’d…”
“Maybe I’d what?” I ask when he trails off, staring down at his feet like he regrets opening his mouth.
He sucks in a breath before he brings his green eyes up to meet mine. They’re dark and full of emotion. It doesn’t matter that I can’t get a proper read of how he’s feeling about all of this, because it hits me in the chest nonetheless.
“Maybe that you’d give this a chance. I know it wasn’t planned or whatever, but—”
“Yes,” I say, interrupting whatever it was he was going to continue with.
“Yes?” His cheeks start to lift with a smile.
“Like you said earlier, let’s just hang out. We’ve got plenty of time to figure out what to do about this mess when we get home. Let’s just enjoy Vegas while we have the chance.”
“I’ll be waiting.” He winks and backs out of the room to allow me the time to finish what I’m doing.
I make quick work of putting on some make-up to brighten my complexion before drinking my coffee and finding some shoes.
When I pull the door open, the sound of Carter’s deep, rumbling voice fills my ears, and goosebumps prick my skin at the sound. I wish I could remember last night. The aches in my body tell me that it was a really good one.
I bite down on my lip as I think about our first time. I wonder if last night was as hot? I sigh. Maybe I should see about a replay…
I’m expecting to find him on the phone when I enter the living area. Instead of it being at his ear, he’s talking into it, but the second he spots me, he locks the screen and drops it into his pocket.
“You ready to go?”
“Yeah, but if you’re in the middle of something, I can wait,” I offer.
“No, it’s fine. Let’s go. I’ve got plans.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Come on, I’m going to show you that spending time with me isn’t all that bad.”
“I never said…” I trail off, knowing that I’ve not been all that welcoming to his company since the first moment we met. “Maybe we should just start over.” I stop before the door that will lead up from our suite. “Hi, I’m Danni. Operations Manager for my family’s antique business, five foot two, coffee lover, wine connoisseur, looking for something a little more serious,” I say, rattling off my online dating profile.
He looks me up and down, assessing the goods, and I can’t help tinges of desire erupting in my belly.
“Carter, friends call me Titch. Tattoo artist, some might say comedian, your husband.”
“Comedian?” I ask, ignoring his final point.
“I like to think so.”
Shaking my head. “Why do I get the idea that you’re the only one who does?”
He shrugs and I laugh, following him into the lift.
“So what’s the plan?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
As the lift descends, the tension in the small space becomes heavy. We’re standing side by side, the heat of his body burning my arm. My fingers twitch with my need to do something, but I fight it. Although, when we come to a stop and the doors start to open, it becomes apparent that maybe I wasn’t the only one with the same thoughts, because no sooner have I taken a step than his fingers are linked with mine. He glances at me when I still for a second before he smiles as I continue forward.
He walks straight up to an awaiting taxi, and after quietly muttering our destination to him, we climb in and set off.
It’s a short journey down the strip before the car comes to a stop in front of The Venetian.
“Why here?” It’s not that I don’t want to see it, I’ll happily follow him anywhere to soak up a little bit of Vegas, but I’m curious as to why this was his first choice.
“Seems like a good place. Venice is meant to be…” He leans towards me, his breath tickling my ear. “Romantic.”
“Oh, so this is a move?”
“Yes and no. I always thought it was kinda cool, and I hoped you might too.”
“Lucky for you, I do.”
“Awesome, let’s go then.”
We both thank the driver and hop out of the car.
“Wow, it’s stunning,” I muse as we walk around, looking at the architecture.
With our hands interlocked, we dodge other holiday makers and enjoy the sights this Venice replica has to offer. We head into an art gallery when a painting in the window catches Carter’s eye. He follows me into a couple of the shops, but neither of us spends any money aside from the coffee and cake we stop for.
“You fancy a ride?” Carter asks as we stand on one of the many bridges, watching the gondolas going up and down the Grand Canal.
“No, it’s okay,” I say with a laugh.
“Yes. Come on. Let me give you a memory you might look back on fondly once this trip is over.” His voice has a sadness to it that tugs at my heartstrings. I haven’t meant to make him feel like I don’t enjoy spending time with him. I’ve discovered he’s actually a really great guy, now I’ve dropped my walls slightly. Although, it still doesn’t mean I’m all that thrilled about our drunken wedding.
He takes my hand once more and drags me down to where people have been getting on and off. Thankfully, it’s not all that busy, and after only a few short minutes we’re at the front of the queue.
“After you, m’lady.”
“Why thank you, sir.” I take his outstretched hand and allow him to help me step onto the very wobbly boat.
My stomach tumbles the second I’m basically standing on water. It might be a makeshift river, but still, I already feel a little sick.
I keep my eyes on Carter as he climbs aboard and sits down with him.
“Are you okay?”
“I get a little seasick.”
“And you did
n’t want to mention that before now.” He glances at me, amusement in his eyes.
“I didn’t have much of a chance, did I?”
“I’ll keep you safe, doll.”
“I’m not worried about going over the edge. It’s probably only two foot of water beneath us. I’m concerned about puking my pancakes on your shoes.”
“It’ll be a smooth ride,” the gondolier says with a laugh.
“Great,” I mutter at having both of them laughing at me.
Carter’s strong arm wraps around my shoulders and he pulls me into his warm body. His scent fills my nose, and my body immediately relaxes. The heat of his lips almost burns the top of my head as he drops a chaste kiss there.
“Tell me if you feel too sick. We’ll get off.”
Suddenly, I don’t even realise we’re floating. I’m too lost in him, to his tenderness, his thoughtfulness.
“I’m good.” He stills when I snake my arm around his waist, but my need to connect with him is too strong in that moment. My fingers brush over his abs, and I swear he shudders. A smile of achievement spreads across my face, knowing that my touch affects him so much.
“There we go, lovebirds,” the gondolier says with a smile. It’s only when I look up that I find he’s brought us to a stop at the edge of the river where more people are waiting to get on.
“Oh wow, I don’t feel sick at all.” My cheeks heat as I look over at the very still water surrounding us.
“At least I know never to take you on a cruise,” Carter mutters as I climb out of the boat.
“Was that something you were planning?” I ask with a laugh.
“Who knows, doll. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing we’ve done.”
“True,” I say, a little sadness creeping into my tone.
“So what’s next?” Carter asks, changing the subject.
“I thought you had everything planned.”
“Not everything.” He glances around before his eyes land on something. “Fancy some gelato?”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly, why?”
Trick You: A Brother's Best Friend Romance (Rebel Ink Book 2) Page 11