Page 18 of All Bets Are Off

Guilt flooded her features. “They will do that.”

“I know it’s not ideal, but in a year, we’ll just tell them that it didn’t work out and we’re better off as friends. It will be an easy divorce. We’ll both have gotten something out of the deal. Can you really argue that this isn’t the best thing for both of us?”

“Oh, it’s as if you don’t know me at all,” Olivia complained. “I can argue anything.”

I smirked, enjoying the way her freckle-bridged nose wrinkled. “We can get married today. No muss. No fuss. Then we’ll just tell people we eloped. I have a dentist on standby. As soon as we’re married, I can get your insurance pushed through within the hour.”

“You have a dentist on standby?”

“Yeah. Your brother thinks you’re in pain. It seemed prudent to get your mouth taken care of before we have to spend time with my parents.”

“So, our honeymoon will be spent at the dentist,” she mused.

I laughed at the picture she was conjuring. “You’ll be high on life.”

Her smile disappeared. “You don’t think this is dishonest and something we’re going to regret?”

“I think it’s dishonest, but for all the right reasons. You need this. So do I. I really don’t think we’ll regret helping each other out.”

She tugged on her bottom lip. “I can’t decide if I would’ve been better off if a serial killer showed up.”

I smirked. “Take a chance, Livvie. Life will be better for both of us if you do.”

She must have agreed, because before I realized it, she was nodding and cradling her jaw. “Let’s do it.”

“Awesome.” I took another sip of my daiquiri, which was disgusting. “Any preference on where you want to get married?”

The spark in her eye told me she did indeed have a preference. “You’re going to hate it,” she started.

“I really don’t care.”

“No, you’re going to hate it.”

“Try me.”

“Okay, but you asked for it.”

I DID INDEED HATE IT. IN FACT, I LOATHED IT.

“Not here.” I shook my head as I took in the Little Vegas Chapel, one of the most iconic—and tacky—chapels in the city.

“Come on.” Olivia’s gaze was pleading. “It will be fun.”

“Why can’t we just go to City Hall?”

“We’re in Vegas. It’s sacrilegious to go to City Hall.”

“But…” All I could do was look around at the ridiculous setup. The way Olivia’s eyes lit with delight gave me pause, though. “Tell me the truth,” I prodded. “Why here?”

“Do you really need a reason?”

“I really do.”

On a sigh, she nodded. “Well, the truth is, when I was a teenager, I used to dream about getting married in this place.”

I waited. She clearly wasn’t done.

“Isn’t that enough?” she demanded after several seconds of silence.

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