“I officially declare you man and wife; you may kiss the bride.”
Oh.Ohshit.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to refuse, but I know I can’t. We’re married, we’re supposed to pretend this isreal, and what woman would refuse to kiss the man she just married? This is meant to be the happiest day of our lives. I have to work with it,pretend.
I swallow thickly as Roman steps forward, his amber eyes softer than I’ve ever seen them, and he lifts his hand, cradling the side of my face, his hard, rough fingers slipping into my hair. His eyes bounce between mine a few times before he closes the gap and his warm, pillowy lips press to mine.
He tastes as good as he smells. A little spicy, and a lot warm. My skin pebbles and my heart kicks up a few beats as I part for him, my tongue sweeping out for a better taste, and for a moment, this doesn’t feel fake at all. He meets my tongue with his own, angling my head to delve deeper, the hair around his mouth tickling against my skin. I feel his fingers flex against my scalp as my own hands run up the front of his shirt, feeling the ridges and dips of his hard abdominal muscles.
A throat clears, and the moment is shattered when we both jump away from each other. I meet his wide eyes, my breath coming out in heavy pants, my lips still tingling from his kiss.
Swallowing thickly, I drop his gaze and look to my best friend, who is gaping at us from the front row of chairs. I’m sure I match that look.
“I’ll have this sent to the courthouse.”
“How quickly can we get the certificate?” I hear Roman reply, but I’m already moving to Ashley, leaning against her for support. What the hell did I just do?
Ashley doesn’t say a word, she simply puts her arm around me and supports me silently, knowing what I need without me ever asking.
Roman finishes speaking and starts toward us.
“Let’s go.” His tone is cold and flat.
The ring on my finger is a weight I’m not used to, and I fiddle with it as I follow him out of the courthouse, toward his truck parked on the side of the road. He opens the back door for Ashley and then mine silently, and the trip back to Sunstone Ridge is much the same; not even the radio is playing to ease the weight of what we just did.
“We’re going to need to talk,” Ashley says as we hover at the gate leading up to the house.
“I know.”
“That kiss looked real, Niamh.”
“Well, it wasn’t,” I assure her, “Just a show. It’s all for show.”
She purses her lips. “Call me later, yeah?”
I nod and give her a hug before she kisses my cheek and heads up the path to her house, leaving me and Roman alone for the first time since we got married an hour ago. He keeps his eyes forward as I climb back into the car and then pulls away from the sidewalk, following the road that leads us back into town.
“We’ll grab you a bag from your place, and I’ll arrange a company to move the rest of your things.” Roman announces, that indifferent tone from back at the courthouse still there.
“Okay.” There’s no point fighting.
“We will get the certificate in a couple of days.” He continues. “It’ll be fast tracked but, in the meantime, I’ve requested the money be transferred to you.”
“You’re not going to wait?”
“We’re married, Niamh. You signed a contract.”
I nod, “Okay. Thank you.”
He dips his chin before he opens his window and rests his arm on the door, a chilly breeze sweeping through the truck. I tuck my arms around myself and look out to the mountains, my thumb twisting my ring.
The bar is packed when we pull up outside, and it just makes me realize how thankful I am for my staff and managers. I won’t be working today, I’m not sure I’ll have the mental capacity to do so, but I know it’s covered, so I don’t have to worry.
I open my door and start for the bar but the steps following me stop me in my tracks.
“You don’t need to come.”
Roman frowns. “Why not?”
