Page 38 of Married at Midnight

“Yes,” Ellie and Olivia replied at the same time. Laughing, they continued up the stairs.

The spacious room on the main floor known as the Sky Church was crowded. The sound of voices and pulsing music enveloped them. Colored lights shone down on what looked like oversize, upside-down umbrellas that hung from the ceiling, saturating the entire room in blue for several minutes, then red, then green, then orange.

When Max and Connor walked away to get drinks, Olivia turned to Ellie, the ever-changing colors of the room reflecting off her crown. “How are things? You look great, happy, even. Is everything with the house going well? Is married life everything you thought it would be?” Her friend asked the questions in a rush.

“Things are on track with the house. The weather finally cooperated, and the exterior is done. Now all we need to do is focus on the interior and the decorating over the next several weeks.”

“And the two of you?” Olivia asked with a quirk of her brow. “I have to admit, Connor looks quite yummy in black.”

Too yummy for her own good. “I’m having fun. That’s what I want for now.”

Relief crossed Olivia’s face. “I’m glad to hear that. I was a little worried about how quickly you got married, but I have to admit, you really look like this arrangement agrees with you.”

Arrangement?Ellie swallowed past the lump in her throat. Olivia had no idea how close to the truth she was.

Olivia narrowed her gaze, suddenly seeing too much. “And the sex? Is that okay as well?”

Ellie straightened and looked from side to side to make certain no one else had heard such a personal question. “Yes. That’s better than fine. It’s been amazing.” At least she didn’t have to lie about that. Just everything else.

Olivia bumped Ellie with her shoulder. “Good. I’ll stop being your mother.”

Ellie bumped her back. “It’s nice to know you care.” She sighed. “My mother never asked about our relationship. She was far too busy letting me know how happy she and Dad were to get me off their hands.”

“Seriously?” Olivia laughed.

Ellie gave her friend a droll look. “Oh, yes. They booked a cruise with the money they’d saved for my wedding.”

“It could be worse,” Olivia offered, always trying to find the bright side to everything.

“It is worse. I didn’t marry only Connor. I married his grandmother as well.”

“Max mentioned Viola was a feisty one. Is she critical of you?”

As best friends, Max had no doubt spent plenty of time with Connor’s grandmother. “No,” Ellie admitted, “but she’s demanding.”

Olivia’s expression softened. “Aw, she’ll warm up to you. How could she not?”

“I hope you’re right, before she moves into Grayson House with us.”

Olivia cringed. “That’s not the best way to start a new marriage.”

Neither was the way she and Connor had entered into their pretend marital bliss. Ellie looked away, no longer able to meet Olivia’s questioning gaze. “The guys are back,” she said, relieved to see Max in his swashbuckler black and Connor in his 1950s bad-boy attire, carrying beverages for the four of them.

Connor slipped in beside her and kissed her cheek before handing her a seltzer with a twist of lime.

“How did you know I like seltzer and lime?” Incredulousness laced her voice.

“Max told me you like seltzer or pink champagne,” Connor admitted. “And since they don’t have pink champagne . . .”

“This is perfect. Thank you.”

Olivia watched the exchange with a raised brow but said nothing. For the rest of the evening, it was Ellie’s turn to watch how affectionate and in love Max was with her friend. Clearly the two of them had found their perfect match.

Ellie’s observations were interrupted when Connor extended his hand to her. “Dance with me?”

She accepted his hand, desperate in that moment to experience some of the same magic Max and Olivia had found. All around them costumed dancers undulated to the beat.

A moment later, a new song started, one with a much slower tempo. Ellie narrowed her gaze on the man before her. “Did you do this?”