Page 11 of The Irish Arrangement

“Will your mother be there?” he huffed, incredulous about this sudden news that I’d get married. “Can she travel for the wedding?”

“No.” I shook my head, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I wished she would be at my wedding, but even if she could come, she’d be so upset to know I was bartering myself for her care. “I’ll explain it to her later. Just tell her that a more lucrative work deal came through. Tell her whatever seems believable, not the truth.”

I fell asleep in the strange room, unused to such a firm mattress, but my body was tired from the long day of work and the drive. My mind was weary from all the stress and now this new change.

Married. Tomorrow, I would be someone’s wife.

When I opened my eyes, I got up with frayed nerves. I knew nothing about my groom, and I tried my best not to think about him at all on the drive to the church, then as I was led to the room in the back to get ready.

My father didn’t want to walk me down the aisle. He explained that he’d be sitting with Keira to make sure I saw this through.

As if I wouldn’t. I couldn’t chance losing a free ticket to financial freedom and a better standing for my mother to get that kidney transplant. Marrying this man would solve all of my immediate problems.

So when I stepped out of the room to begin walking down the aisle, I lifted my face and started ahead with determination and shaky confidence.

I can do this. I will do this, for Mom.

I’d never thought about marrying. I'd only ever counted on a lifetime of working at the farm.

As I locked my gaze on the tall, brutish man scowling from the altar, I froze mid-step.

Oh, my God.

He looked like a thug. Hard and dangerous. Scarred and so stern, narrowing his eyes as he waited for me to continue down the aisle.

Him? I had to marry him? He looked like he’d just gotten out of jail. His black eye attested to violence, and with the way his muscled frame filled out his tux, he looked like a monster in fine clothing. A wolf in a sheep's hide.

“Oh, fuck,” I whispered as I tried to will my feet to carry me forward.

That man instilled nothing but fear to make my heart race. His intense stare provoked me to tense up, my fight or flight instinct activated.

He looked like a heartless, impossible-to-please killer.

I didn’t think. I couldn’t comprehend how anyone could expect me to marry a rugged, lethal-looking man like that. I was so stunned and insulted, I couldn’t remember my reasoning to go through with this.

My body reacted. I couldn’t commit to being with someone who looked that scary.

And I turned to run away as fast as I could.

5

DECLAN

White lace and satin flowed after the redhead as she turned and fled. She gripped the skirt of her dress and sprinted down the aisle and away.

What the fuck?

Ian frowned at me, then turned toward Shane and Keira, like I did.

She fucking ran. After giving me a stern glare, she ran!

“What the hell is going on, Murray?” I stalked over to him, ready to punch his panicked face in.

“Cara!” Keira seethed, running after the redhead.

“Cara?” Ian was at my side.

“Who the fuck is Cara?” I demanded as I gripped the front of Murray’s shirt.

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