She lets me lead her around for a few minutes, her feet moving to the beat in a way that tells me she’s not a stranger to dancing.
The alcohol makes her stumble a little, but I’ve had plenty of experience leading women who’ve had a few more than they should have.
After a few minutes, she stands up on her tiptoes and says, “I can’t believe we just did that.” Her eyes are wide with wonder. “Didwe just do that?”
“We sure did.”
She throws her head back, the wild mass of her curls breaking free from whatever clips they’d tried to tame them with for the ceremony, so they spill down her back in a way I find a whole lot sexier.
“Ha!” she says. “I bet my stepsister is freaking out right now.”
“Stepsister?”
She nods. “Yup. I’m here for her stagette.” The way she rolls her eyes lets me know exactly what she thinks about that. “She signed me up for that little stunt to embarrass me.” Instantly, I flash back to the blonde with the stupid pink bride sash on who’d been cheering and laughing the loudest. That tracks.
“I bet she didn’t actually think you’d go through with it.”
“Nope.” Maisey laughs again with a tipsy smile. “She’s probably freaking out, thinking it’s real.”
I stop dancing, hold her by the shoulders, and look her in the eyes. “Maisey. How much tequila did you have before all that?” I wave toward the stage.
“Just a few shots.” She shrugs vaguely. “Why?”
I stare at her for a beat. She clearly doesn’t realize that what we just did was very,veryreal. Backstage, they had me sign paperwork that looked very much like a wedding certificate. I’m not sure how to tell her the truth, but there really is no other option. “Maisey, I don’t know how to tell you?—”
“There’s the happy couple,” Rhinestone Dude interrupts us before I can break it to her. “You forgot to take your prize packet.”
Maisey’s eyes light up as I take the envelope for us and slide it into my breast pocket.
“There are all kinds of vouchers in there for free meals, a helicopter ride, and of course your keycards to the honeymoon suite,” he says. “Oh, and the contracts you signed with all the important details about how to claim the rest of your prizes.”
“The rest?” Maisey sways a little, and I hold her tight to my side.
“All the details are in there.” Rhinestone Man points to the envelope in my pocket. “Now, enjoy your new married life.”
“Right.” Maisey laughs. “Except it’s not real, right?”
“It’s only as real as you want it to be, sweetheart,” Rhinestone Guy says.
Something in the way he says it must catch her attention because she stands up a bit straighter by my side. “But it’s notrealreal?”I hear the waver in her voice the moment she sees the look on his face. She looks to me for confirmation, but there’s nothing I can say that will make her feel better in this moment. Her head swings back to the man responsible for this mess, all signs of intoxication gone, when she says, “But you said it wasn’t real.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I said that it’s Vegas. Everything in this town is some level of illusion.”
“Including this marriage, right?” There’s an edge of desperation in her voice as she demands the answer.
“Nope,” he says with a smile. “You two are legally married.”
“What?”
She lunges for him, but I hold her back and tighten my grip around my new wife’s shoulders before she commits murder in the middle of the bar.
The sleazy asshole shrugs with a laugh. “I don’t know what to tell you, sweetheart. But like I said, it’s not a big deal. Just get an annulment in the morning. No harm, no foul.” He turns to walk away but, before he leaves, adds, “But make sure you read the fine print first.”
Chapter Four
Maisey
Isober up in a second. The laughter on my lips has completely dried up.
