Page 47 of After the Vows

“No need,” a man says as he approaches. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” He reprimands her but he’s smiling. He knew who he married.

“She threw her nachos on me and dumped her orange soda over me. You know how much I hate orange soda.”

He barks out a laugh. “Yeah, let’s blame it on the orange soda.” He kisses her nose before stepping back.

I remove my handcuffs from my utility belt but hesitate when I notice her daughter watching.

“It’s okay. My daughter needs to learn there are consequences to your actions.”

I place the handcuffs on her wrists. “What kind of rap sheet am I going to uncover when I run your name?”

She winks at me. “None.”

There’s only one reason she doesn’t have any priors. “Damn. You’re on the job, aren’t you?”

“Special Agent Ashford. Nice to meet you.”

“Officer Fellows.”

Weston drags the blonde toward us. “Tammi says she’s learned her lesson and won’t budge in line anymore.”

I don’t believe Tammi. “We’ll have a nice chat down at the police station.” Weston nods in agreement.

I lead Agent Ashford toward the exit.

“He can arrest me anytime!” a woman in line hollers as I pass.

“Sorry.” I wave my ring finger at her. “My wife doesn’t appreciate me arresting women who haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I can pull the blonde’s hair. Will that get me arrested?”

Weston sidles up to me. “Let’s get out of here before the women start a riot for the chance to get arrested by you.”

I glare at him. “I’m married, remember? You were at my wedding two days ago.”

“Congratulations,” Agent Ashford says.

“Thanks.”

Weston rolls his eyes. “Are you making friends with our detainees?”

I snort. “Oh please. You would have picked up Tammi if this were theBootleggerbar.”

“I can pick up whoever I want. I’m not a married man.”

“Your loss.”

Agent Ashford smiles up at me. “Your wife is a lucky woman.”

I grin. “I’m the lucky one.”

And I am lucky.

Chloe could have checked out now that we’re married. But she woke up this morning hours before she needed to go to work to help out. She even took Natalia to summer camp before she had a chance to have breakfast. Not many women would do what she did.

Chloe makes the perfect wife.

Too bad our marriage isn’t real.

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