Page 18 of Illicit Temptation

Wow.

Trace catches her, and she blushes, hurrying toward the exit.

Cologne and heat surround me from behind. “How do you feel?”

Spinning around, I smile. “As far as what?”

“What that asshole did to you this afternoon.”

“Considering what you and your brother probably did to him? I’m in great shape.”

“He won’t go anywhere near you again.”

“You’ve assured that,” I say in a snarky tone.

He dips an eyebrow at me. “You would have given him another chance?”

“No. I told him we were done.Beforeyou intervened.”

I’m glad it’s over. I take Trace in and just melt. I’ve never looked at any bodyguard this way. Of course, none of them ever looked like him.

But I can’t. I just...can’t.

“I’ll be laying low for a couple of days. You can go back to Astoria.” I hand the thick envelope to Trace. “Here.”

“Is that a payoff, princess?” he says with a lopsided smile.

“Consider it a thank you. I’m sure you didn’t expect tobe beating up my boyfriend or mouthing off to a retired police captain for me.”

“That’sexactlywhy I’m here. To keep other men away from you.” He leans down. “You’re mine, princess. And I have the document to prove it.”

“Correction.Ihave the marriage license. It ended up in my purse.”

He growls a laugh and takes out his phone.

No.

Smiling, he shows me a photo he snapped of my shameful secret currently locked in a safe.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

Clark County, Nevada

And yep, there are our names:

Shea-Lynne O’Rourke of East Hampton, New York

Trace Aiden Quinlan of Dublin, Ireland

It lacks a shocking number of details for it to be a real andbindingdocument. Yet it is. And thanks to that piece of paper, I have a husband.

I look up at Trace. “Your da gave you his brother’s name as a middle name?”

“An homage to Uncle Aiden who was very powerful back in the day,” he speaks lovingly of the Astoria Quinlan patriarch.

“I’m sorry your uncle’s not doing well.” Last I heard, Aiden Quinlan was in a memory care unit at a local assisted living facility.

“I plan to visit him next week. Give my Aunt Norah a break. She goes every day.” Trace tugs on his jacket.

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