Page 10 of JoJo

“It’s no crazier than strangers who do this, or those poor saps who believe in love at first sight. Arranged marriages have been going on for ages to benefit families, and in some way, what we’re doing is at least something we are both agreeing to. We’re not going in completely blind.” Well, damn. He made sense while I blushed because I hadn’t realized I’d actually been mumbling my crazy mantra out loud. “Are you ready?” He asked as he held the door open for me.

“I could use a drink, or five, but we might as well get this show on the road now, and get drunk after,” I admitted.

“At least this way, your brother can’t protest the marriage on grounds that we were intoxicated.”

I blanched then. “I hadn’t thought of that. Could he do something like that?”

“Desperate people will try anything. Maybe we should opt for the video of the ceremony. Then we have proof beyond paperwork.” Steel and I walked up to the desk where a bubbly blond, who seemed to be all tits and legs, stood to greet us. Actually, I think she stood up only so that she could eye-fuck Steel that much harder.

“Well, hello there!” She called out to him flirtatiously. “My, but you are one huge man. Are you here for the Parker ceremony? If so, you’re really early.”

Steel narrowed his eyes on the woman as I took in the fact that brunette roots were showing. “We,” he pointed between himself and me, “want to get married.” The woman looked down her nose at me, then up to Steel, then back at me again before she spoke.

“Are you sure?” She cooed to him.

“Jenna!” A man’s sharp voice rang out. “Get in back. I’ll handle the customers.” The man, who was probably the woman’s dad, smiled broadly at us. “Sorry about that. Jenna’s new here. How can I help the two of you?”

“We’d like to get married, and we’ll take the video option too.” Steel told him as he pulled out his wallet.

“When would you like to…” the man didn’t even finish before Steel answered.

“Now.” Steel’s no-nonsense tone made the man flinch before he looked down at me.

“I’ll need some ID from both of you. Also, will you be needing witnesses, or?” The door opened and our boisterous friends trailed through cat-calling to us as they got closer. “So, you brought your own then,” the man guessed as I offered him a tight lipped smile in response. Once everything was filled out, we followed the man to an altar in a tiny little chapel area with a floral arbor for the backdrop. It took about ten minutes to get through the vows and then Reverend Ryan Davis pronounced us husband and wife and told Steel, whose real name was apparently Romeo Briggs, that he could kiss the bride.

I gasped in response as Steel picked me up, forcing me to wrap my legs around his hips for balance before he laid the most exhilarating kiss I’d ever had in my life on my lips. At first it was just the two of us in this fiery, passionate embrace, and then the hoots and hollers from our friends began to register. As we pulled away, Steel cleared his throat and whispered into my ear.

“That will look good for the video.” I hid my face in the crook between his neck and shoulder momentarily. Holy hell, the man had my panties drenched with that kiss and he’d staged it to look good for the video?

“Can you put me down now?” I finally asked.

“I can’t believe you just did that!” Keys was damn near shouting in her excitement as she pulled me in for a hug.

“That makes two of us,” I offered in a shaky voice.

“What was up with that kiss?” Her whispered question was almost a punch to the gut when I answered a little bitterly.

“Video proof that our wedding really happened, and we were excited about it.”

“Oh.” She hissed the word out as she pulled away giving me a knowing look. There was no way to hide how rattled I was from my best friend. She knew me too well. “We need to go get drunk and celebrate!” She finally shouted to distract everyone while I pulled myself together.

“Could I get two of you to sign as witnesses before you head out?” Reverend Ryan called out. Keys and Quickshot stepped forward and signed our marriage certificate. Tash came over and gave me a hug.

“Sorry that Angel wasn’t here. I tried to call and text, but you know, she’s with Sweet. They’re probably in bed with the phones off.” I just smiled. It wasn’t like this was a planned wedding about two people being in love. It was more like a contractual obligation. My biggest disappointment of the night wasn’t the fact that Angel never showed. It was that the incredible kiss I’d just had with my new husband damn near wrecked me, and it was all for show. Either way, I was now a married woman.

“Come on princess,” I do believe you required a drink, or five, right?” Steel’s voice gripped me in a way it hadn’t before the kiss. I wasn’t sure what to do about it. He grabbed my small hand, engulfing it with his much larger one, and tugged me along behind him. Steel also had a black and white bag in his other hand that proclaimed, “Just Married,” across its front. I assumed it contained our marriage certificate and video evidence.

---