Page 14 of The Revenge Bride

“What is it?” I ask her, sharper than I meant to.

“I traded shifts at the station.”

“Where’d you get those shorts?”

“I keep a bag with spare clothes in my car,” she says impatiently. “Can we go ahead and get the flowers and cake crap over with?”

“Might as well,” I say. “No use putting it off.”

Key laughs. “Sounds like you two are head over heels.”

Lucy ignores him and directs her focus on me. “Are you coming?”

I wish.I tip my chin toward the door. “I’ll be out in a minute.” As soon as my cock stops acting like a sword.

Once the door closes in her wake, I move around shutting off lights and switching the open sign to closed.

“Why are you suddenly marrying Lucy?”

“It’s fake,” I tell him.

“Why?”

I explain about my grandmother.

“Ah. I see. But if you’re not careful, this marriage will come back to bite you in the ass.”

“How?”

“You might fall for her, and she won’t fall for you.”

“Lucy and I are together for the sake of our grandparents. Nothing more. Love won’t have anything to do with this.”

“If you say so.”

We step outside onto the sidewalk and I lock up.

Lucy is leaning against her car, long legs crossed in front of her. She’s talking to an older guy who looks too fucking enthusiastic during the conversation. He’s flirting with her. Wanting to get into her panties.

I come around the car and slide my hand around her waist, pulling her against my side. “Sorry, buddy. You can stop fantasizing. She’s taken.”

“Honey,” Lucy spits the word out like it’s something bad she tasted. “This is my boss.”

Chapter 5

Lucy

I’m doing my best to smile and make small talk with Valerie, the owner of Pick Your Petals when she gushes about how wonderful it is that Rhett and I are getting married. Finally. That’s what she says.Finally.

Like he and I are long lost lovers now reunited. I don’t know where she got the idea that he and I are a match made in heaven. I’m pretty sure he came from somewhere smelling of brimstone.

“Wonderful,” I say, linking my arm with his when I’d rather not after what he did in front of his shop.

Rhett wasn’t even embarrassed at what he’d said to my boss. Thankfully Kenny has a sense of humor. He’d laughed and then congratulated us.

When Valerie turns away to help another customer, I pull away to look at a collection of roses. I love every kind of flower with pink being my favorite color.

I start to say these are what we should get when I notice Rhett looking at a grouping of gardenias.

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