Page 5 of One Touch

“Forever Mine” is a creepy love song about a guy who stalks a girl, and she ends up falling in love with him. But that’s not what played from the speakers. Instead, at top volume, came the bright, jarring sounds of circus music.

Vlad’s gaze darted to the sound booth. “What the hell?”

The music continued, accompanied by confused murmurs from the crowd.

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

“Is nobody gonna fix that?” Vlad called out. Renfield hit pause, and the music cut out. Vlad cleared his throat, trying not to look humiliated. “Come on, baby,” he said, “I know things haven't gone perfectly today, but . . . you're perfect for me, Lily. You're hot, you run your own business, you sell sexy books. You're, like, cool. Let’s just tie the knot.”

I put my hands on my hips. “No.”

Silence.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I know what you are, Vlad. I don’t like it. And I don’t want you.”

He sneered. “What am I?”

“A clown.”

There were more mutters from the congregation.

I pulled out my phone and tapped the play button. The clown music began again. I calmly walked up to the stage and yanked the microphone away from Vlad.

“He cheated on me,” I said simply. “On our wedding day.”

Vlad blanched, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. “Babe, we agreed we were in an open relationsh—”

“No, we didn’t. You tried to trick me into it by telling me we needed to be more ‘open.’ I never agreed to any terms. I never even understood what you were talking about.” I looked out over the sea of shocked faces, raising my voice to address them all. “My dear fiancé here? I caught him screwing another woman an hour ago. In his tux.”

Scandalized gasps rippled through the crowd. Beside me, Vlad was spluttering, scrambling for an excuse. “I thought you were cooler than this, Lily."

“The wedding’s off,” I declared, tossing my bouquet at Vlad’s feet. Petals scattered across the spit and sawdust floor. I held the microphone close to my mouth. “It’s all off. No more romance.No more men. Never again.” My voice cracked, but I pushed on. “I, Lily Lane, Bluehaven Beach’s biggest fool for love, swear that I will never marry! Love isn’t worth it, folks. Take it from the girl who’s spent her whole life playing Cupid—sometimes, happily ever after is just a fairy tale. And people who believe in fairy tales end up covered in poop.”

With that, I threw the mic onto the floor, then turned on my heel and strode back down the aisle, the circus music still blaring out of my phone. Mary-Beth had tears in her eyes and Elara reached for my hand, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I burst out of the bar and into the sunlight, gulping down lungfuls of fresh air.

I heard Vlad calling my name, his footsteps pounding after me.

But I was already running, hitching up my black dress as I fled toward the Vladmobile. I reached into my bra and grabbed the spare key I’d hidden in there. With a wicked smile, I got in the car and started the engine.

Chapter 2

Ethan

God damn, she wassexy.

The cherry-red 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder gleamed under the garage lights, her elegant curves demanding admiration. I ran my hand over the smooth metal one last time before getting to work.

“Daddy, why are you looking at the car like that?” Ava, my eight-year-old daughter, was too perceptive for her own good. “You look like you want to eat it.”

Since I was a single parent, and childcare was in short supply, Ava had been spending a lot of weekends at the garage. I’d painted a little nook for her with rainbow patterns and put up an enamel sign that said, “Ava’s Corner”. She sat under the sign at a little desk, which was covered with reading books, paper, and felt tip pens.

I rubbed the scruff on my chin. “Just working on my plan of attack.”

She snickered. “You’re going to attack the car?”

“I mean for the stripes.”

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