Page 46 of The Rented Bride

Chapter Nine

A niggle of guilt wormed through Trent’s guts. Grandfather had insisted Trent wear the kilt that he and his father before him had worn when they’d married. A hundred guests sat in folding chairs while Trent stood in front of Judge Reynolds wearing the Ross colors and feeling like he was sinking in quick sand. The wedding march began and all eyes turned to the back of the room as Cassie entered on the arm of his grandfather. Granddad wore his kilt and looked so happy, And Cassie, her dark hair cascading down her bare shoulders, and a bouquet of wildflowers in hand, looked more beautiful than any bride he’d ever seen.

She took slow steps to accommodate his grandfather and when they reached Trent, his grandfather pulled him into a hug that nearly broke Trent. Annie rose from the left corner chair and helped Grandfather to the chair beside hers. Trent took Cassie’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze when he felt the slight tremor in her fingers. She gave a small smile and nodded as he faced them toward the judge. The judge was an old family friend and when they’d requested a simple civil service, had readily agreed.

“We are gathered here today to join this man and woman…”

Trent kept his gaze straight and clasped Cassie’s hands. When Judge Reynolds asked if he took Cassie to be his wife he replied, “I do.”

The judge asked Cassie if she took Trent to be her husband and for a brief instant he feared she would say no. She murmured, I do,” and relief flooded through him.

“Who gives this woman to be married?” Judge Reynolds asked.

Trent and Cassie shifted and looked in his grandfather’s direction.

He rose and said, “I do.”

Cassie smiled and Trent glimpsed the moisture in his grandfather’s eyes before they faced the judge again.

Judge Reynolds called for the rings and Trent slid the wedding band onto Cassie’s finger. When it was her turn, she fitted onto Trent’s finger the gold band his grandfather had given her from his own hand.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the judge said. “You may kiss the bride.”

Trent pulled her close and whispered, “We’re in for it now,” then dipped her back and kissed her. She played her part well—too well—and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Trent lingered, drawing in her scent and tasting her tongue for a moment before setting he upright. He walked her down the aisle amid cheers and tears and hurried her to the reception room.

“Are you okay?” he asked once they reached the room ahead of the guests.

She nodded. “I have to admit, it’s strange to be married, even if it’s in name only.”

“I know,” he said. “But you’re doing great. Granddad is thrilled.”

She smiled gently. “He is, isn’t he?”

The murmur of voices and echo of footsteps filtered into the room.

“The guests are about to descent upon us,” he said.

“All forty of them,” she said in mock horror.

Trent laughed. “I know, I promised only a dozen guests. I couldn’t stop Granddad from inviting everyone he wanted to invite.”

The guests burst into the room, his grandfather in the lead. He reached Cassie and gave her a bear hug. “Come along, lass, I want to introduce you to some friends.”

She looked at Trent.

“Never mind him,” his grandfather said. “You have your entire lives to spend with each other. Tonight, you’re mine.”

Trent grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and watched as

his grandfather laughed, smiled, and paraded Cassie around to all his friends. Trent couldn’t remember a time when he’d seen him happier. Annie stood alongside his grandfather and laughed when he took Cassie’s hand and showed her the ring Trent had placed on her finger. The ring he’d intended for Lindsey. His grandfather was as proud of the ring as any bride would have been. Any bride except Cassie.

Only yesterday, Trent had imagined Lindsey standing where Cassie now stood, laughing with his friends, glancing up at his grandfather while a mischievous smile curved his lips. Cassie’s eyes narrowed playfully, and his grandfather threw his head back and laughed heartily. Trent’s chest tightened. Would Lindsey have put on as good a performance as Cassie? No. Trent was paying Cassie to pretend to be his wife, but she wasn’t pretending to care about his grandfather. For that, he would be eternally grateful.

The six-piece orchestra began a slow melody that turned the chatter in the room to a whisper.

Across the dance floor, Tomas caught Trent’s eye and lifted the champagne glass he held as he announced in a loud voice, “Time for the couple’s first dance.”

They cleared the center of the ballroom, creating a pocket of public intimacy. Trent took four steps forward and extended a hand to Cassie. She placed her hand in his and soft applause broke out among the guests. The lights dimmed, the chandelier reflecting off the dark sheen of her hair. The soft locks framed her lovely face. The style suited her. The sequined dress flared over her hips, lay flat across her stomach and cupped her breasts, teasing his eyes with creamy flesh and sparkle. Unlike Lindsey’s flamboyant sex appeal, Cassie’s sexuality simmered, heated and tempted a man to notice.