“Oh, I assure you this is happening. If you don’t believe me, I’ll have Russell dig out the invoice to prove it to you.”
“Wow. The height of romance. Having your accountant detail your expenses for a date.”
He raises an eyebrow at me, and I can’t help but grin foolishly at him while his hand takes a downwards trajectory from my waist to turn the moment from PG to R18.
“Do I have to remind you we’re in public?”
“Hardly public. There’s barely anyone else here.”
“Apart from the musician, his backing band, the lighting crew, the sound technicians…”
He presses his lips to mine and the list of potential voyeurs scatters in a rush of pleasurable static.
“So bad,” I scold when he finishes. “If you don’t listen, then you’re letting all that good money go to waste.”
Micah smiles. “Believe me, everything on this date is money well spent.” Then he whirls me around until I’m dizzy. With the lights softening their focus and the song changing into a slower number, I let his arm hold me upright while I melt into his embrace.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
MICAH
Six months later
My breath catches in my throat as I watch Marigold tuck Crimson into her wedding dress, tightening the lacing across the back until her shape changes into the stuff of fairy tales.
Erotic ones. Very, very erotic ones.
“Are you sure I should be watching this?” I call out, straightening myself and trying to think about disgusting things so my outfit doesn’t get pulled into the wrong shape for a family event. “What happened to it being bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”
“Our last wedding happened,” Crimson says with an eyeroll large enough to be seen from space. “I thought, just to be on the safe side, we might do everything the exact opposite, this time.”
“Speaking of which, where’s your phone?”
She pulls it out of her cleavage, and I dodge around Marigold long enough to snatch it away. “This can go in the drawer until we’re back from our honeymoon,” I say, tucking it into my pocket so I can hide it later.
“It can go in the drawer until the end of the ceremony, whereupon I want it back upon pain of death,” my darling fiancée counters.
I could argue. Could point out that the entire purpose of the honeymoon is to lavish all our attentions upon each other and the only electronic devices we need are… Okay. I remember I have a toy that requires a phone so I’m willing to admit defeat on this point. But only for that and no other reason.
“Since I’m allowed to see you before the ceremony, it only stands to reason I’m allowed to kiss you before the whole thing gets started, too.”
“No.” Marigold holds up a hairbrush like it’s a sword. “Not after we spent all that time getting her makeup perfect.”
“But the two of you always look perfect.”
“Hm. Nice try buddy.” She parries the brush at me until I back up a few steps. “If you want to curry favour, I suggest you get the number of that red-haired waiter for me because I wouldn’t mind adding ginger to my spice collection.”
“Mari!” Crimson closes her eyes and shakes her head as though pained. “Please don’t treat our servers like a buffet. They’re here to serve food and drinks and get paid, not meet your every need.”
“How disappointing. Surely if I gave them a big tip…?”
“If you’re that desperate for an escort, I’m sure there’ll be a far more reputable service available in the group.” I wink at her.
“You’re not helping,” Crimson says, shaking her head at me. The effect is offset by the fact she can’t hide her smile. Although she still has a fearsome poker face, it only ever appears while she’s playing poker. The rest of the time, I can read her like a book.
Thank goodness. I need all the intel I can get. Our relationship had enough stumbles in its first week that I think I’ve used my lifetime quota.
“You know, you should’ve cut down on the canapes at your engagement party,” Marigold says, refraining from winding up my bride long enough to return to the task at hand. “This dress just doesn’t fit the way it used to.”
