Page 9 of JoJo

“What do you get out of this deal that you’re willing to offer up a no-sex clause for five years?” I ask, not able to hide the shock in my voice.

“I told you, garage space.”

“Bullshit,” I countered. “The guys would build you a space if you needed it that bad. I thought we were being honest with one another? No games, remember?”

“Fine. It gives me a place to hide while I lick my wounds and figure out what I want out of life.” When I simply quirked my eyebrow up in question, waiting for what exactly he’d be hiding from, Steel just breathed out. “My baggage is heavy, JoJo. I just need to store it for now. I promise I’ll tell you all about it soon, if we agree to do this.” This great big man before me suddenly seemed to have the weight of the world riding his shoulders. He also wore a somewhat defeated look that had me ease back a bit.

“If I agree to this business deal of a marriage, um,” indecision rolled through me at the same time the realization dawned that this was probably my best, if not my only, shot at keeping my garage. “How do we go about doing this?”

“That’s the easy part. We can round everyone up, if you like, and go to a chapel or just the two of us.”

“I’d rather just the two of us,” I started to say as I watched his shoulders drop again. “But,” I continued. “The girls would kill me if they were this close and I didn’t invite them to my wedding. No matter how crazy it is, or that it's just a business venture. It’s still my first, and hell likely my only one.”

“Okay, so should I text Sweet and Quickshot, or no?”

“I can’t believe I’m about to do this,” I managed to choke out.

“Me either. I definitely didn’t see this happening when I left the Dakotas.”

“Go ahead and let them know.” I pointed just beyond his shoulder. “Let them know there’s a chapel in the hotel. We can meet them there.”

Steel glanced back over his shoulder. “Well, that’s convenient,” he mumbled as his thumbs flew over his cell phone. I snapped out of my shocked stupor long enough to shoot off a group text to Angel Girl, Keys, and Tash.

JoJo – I’m getting married. Meet us in chapel of our hotel.

Tash – LOL

Keys – OMG! Are you serious?

Keys – Wait! You’re marrying Mr. Clean?

Tash – LOL

Tash – Mr. Clean?

Keys – You know, the cleaning product commercial guy. Bald head. Muscles.

Tash – LOL You guys are ridiculous tonight.

Keys – I thought it would be Eddie.

JoJo – Eddie’s girlfriend is about to give birth. That would be wrong on too many levels.

Keys – Wait! So, how the hell did you decide on Mr. Clean?

JoJo – He offered.

Keys – Quick says he’s not entirely surprised by that.

JoJo – Well, that makes one of us. Just get here, quick, please.

“Quick says they’re en route back to the hotel now. Less than 15 minutes. No response from Sweet though. I don’t think they’re all together.”

“Okay, well, Angel didn’t respond either.” I shrugged. “They’re probably doing a second honeymoon thing themselves. We’ll have three witnesses with Tash, Quick, and Keys though so that will do. Should we go in and get the ball rolling?” I ask, suddenly feeling like a bowling ball was weighing my stomach down.

“Thought we were waiting for them?”

“I’m assuming we have some sort of paperwork to get done. We could get started while we wait.” He tipped his head up and down once and then turned and placed his hand on my lower back in order to guide me to the door. “This is crazy,” became my mantra on repeat through my head as we walked. Just outside the chapel Steel stopped and spun me to look at him.

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