“You’re not saving your parents from anythin’, darlin’,” he said, his voice cool and confident. “We both know it. And we both know it’s not wise to lie in a church.” He looked up for a second before his fierce green eyes slammed into mine. “Speaking lies here is the equivalent of lying to yourself. Nothin’ but a waste of time.”
“I’m not lying,” I said through clenched teeth.
“You’d cut off your nose to spite your face.” He studied my face for a second before he set a hand on each side of me, leaning in. His head tilted before he moved in even closer, his nose touching my neck before it skimmed up to my ear. His warm breath fanned over my skin, and the smell of his rich, expensive cologne lingered in the air. It smelled so good, I wished it had a flavor so I could taste it. Lick it right off his body.
“You’re doing this for control, which is fine by me, darlin’. You’re owed that. It’ll happen today. Now. You in that dress and me standing here almost tongued-tied because of it. But I won’t accept lies. Not here. Not now. So let's be truthful. You don’t want to take vows in front of your family and friends because this is no sham to you. You’re going to make this as real as I am. Because you’re trying to get even with me.” He became still, and my skin ached for his lips to close the gap between us and make the connection.
“If I don’t take this seriously, you will. To make me suffer. To make me fall for you as hard as you’re falling for me. You don’t want anyone that knows you to see it—to feel it. The truth you’ll give me in front of that altar.” He sniffed at my neck. “I can smell the fear on you, archer. Fear that you’ll speak those vows with truth and I won’t do the same.”
Every word was breathed in my ear with that soft lilt of his, and despite all my best efforts, a chill shook my body.
Kelly had shaken the snow globe that was my life, rearranging all of the pieces, and I wasn’t sure how they were going to settle around me.
“You’re not,” I said, closing my eyes. I was a strong woman, and I knew it, but I was also human. And this situation had thrown me inside of a place I’d never been before. Marriage was a serious commitment, one that I’d always expected to honor and respect. “Going to do the same.”
“Ah,” he breathed out softly. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“This is not real for you. How can it be? This is out of vengeance.” I wasn’t sure why it was so important for me to find out his feelings on this, but it was.
He might’ve been using me as a pawn, and I was still determined to give him hell for it, butIwouldn’t accept lies at the altar. He’d either say his vows with meaning, or…
What could I do?
Nothing.
My palms felt damp all of a sudden, like I was looking down from a sky-high building on a world full of chaos, about to jump into it. I rubbed my hands against my dress, hoping to find a safety net there.
“This is real for you?” He moved back so that he looked me in the eyes again.
“Yeah,” I said. “Youwanted this. So now it’s going to get real. Is thatfine—”I copied his tone “—with you, Marauder?”
He looked down at me for so long that I wondered if he was ever going to speak. Then he smiled, and I hoped he couldn’t hear my knees knocking together. “Grand,” he said, his voice a bit raspy. “Just. Grand.”
“Wait!” I held out a hand when he went to walk away. “Where are you going?”
“My bride wants to get married.” He shrugged, allla de daaa.“I’m going to wait at the altar. I’ll be there when you’re ready.”
* * *
I’d never beready for this.
For him.
Ready or not, though, twenty minutes later, I opened the door to the office, taking one last look in the mirror Father Flanagan had brought in for me to use. One last look at the single woman who was leaving this room. Whenever I walked back in, I’d be married to the man known as the marauder.
The thief of hearts.
I took one step out of the door and ran into a solid chest. When I looked up, my mouth fell open. Then it snapped shut. “What are you doing here?” I hiss-whispered at Harrison.
“What amIdoing here?” He matched my tone. “I should be asking you the same thing! Have you lost your mind? You’re choosing to do this, Kee?”
“Wow,” I said, drawing the word out. “Kelly has a big mouth.”
He shook his head. “We were in the middle of a business meeting when Raff called and told Kelly he had to get here right away. Kelly had me walk with him so we could finish talking. He told me a minute ago to come and check on you. Now I see this. You. Dressed like that. And since we’re standing in a church—not hard to figure out.”
Oh.I had a big mouth then. I should’ve felt Harrison out more before I spilled my secret.
I narrowed my eyes at my brother. “You don’t get to judge me on this, Harrison! You don’t. I’ll do whatever I have to do to survive this.” I went to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.
