Page 255 of Vegas Heat

“You’re quiet,” Troy says to me.

“Just focused on the cards,” I grunt, but the truth is that I’m focused on his daughter.

The cards are up and down, and I walk away essentially even when it’s time to head up to Troy’s suite to get dressed. I pull on my tuxedo, and I glance in the mirror. I wear a bow tie, and I don’t know if I’ve ever worn a bow tie. I feel like a waiter at a fancy restaurant or something.

I wait in the lounge area of the suite for Troy, and I feel nerves prattling at my chest.

I guess I’m just worried he’s going to find out before we get the chance to tell him.

I’ve been worried about that all along, but tonight will be different. I’ll be forced to escort her down the aisle. Forced to sit beside her at dinner, forced to dance the traditional wedding party dance with her. And all the while, I’ll have to put on the act like she’s nothing more than my best friend’s daughter when the truth is that I’ve never known a love like this.

We head down to the chapel, and Troy stops just outside it. He grabs my arm. “I’m not supposed to go in. Can you check if they’re in there and let them know I’m ready for the first look?”

I nod, and I head into the chapel.

It’s gaudy in here—too many flowers, and they all mingle together to create a rather strong fragrance. The wall behind the altar is entirely glass with a door in the middle leading to an outdoor area set up for photos, but I don’t notice any of that.

Instead, my eyes move to the absolute angel standing in the room all by herself. She faces the altar, and she’s off to the side of the room toward the front. She turns when she hears me walk in.

I freeze for a beat, my heart racing and my chest pulsing as I stare at her. She wears a simple black dress and black heels, and her hair is pulled partially back to allow her beautiful face to be the real showstopper.

I glance back at the door as it clicks shut behind me, sealing us into privacy in the chapel.

“You’re not supposed to be more beautiful than the bride on her wedding day,” I say softly as I walk slowly down the aisle toward her.

Her eyes soften, and she smiles. It’s demure and modest, and she shakes her head a little. “And you’re not supposed to be banging the groom’s daughter, but here we are.”

I chuckle as I move closer and closer, and I pull her into my arms once she’s within my reach. She glances nervously over my shoulder as she stiffens.

“He’s waiting out there for the first look pictures, and I’ve needed this all day.” I drop my lips to hers, and she laces her arms around my waist for a beat.

She pulls back. “We shouldn’t.”

“Oh, yes. We should.” The overwhelming urge to feel her body against mine pulses through me, so I back her up until she bumps into the wall, and I kiss her again.

But this time, I give her everything I’m feeling as I try to pack it all into the short window of time we have left. This time tomorrow, I’ll be on the road toward Arizona. We’ll have said our private goodbyes, and I don’t know what gets us from hereto there. I don’t know what awaits tonight as anticipation plows through me or whether we’ll get the chance to tell her father.

None of that matters in here, not when I’m holding her in my arms.

In here, we’re fine.

In here, we’reus.

It’s just us, and Troy’s waiting out in the hallway until I return to give him the all-clear for his first look at his bride.

That’s what Ithoughtwas true, anyway.

I don’t see it happen since I’m still pinning Gabby to the wall with my hips, but I hear the door burst open with violence as it careens into the backstop with a loud thud.

I hear Joanie’s voice before I realize what’s happening. “Troy, stop!”

I jump apart from Gabby, but it’s too late. Troy storms in. His nostrils are flared, his face is red, and the flint in his gaze is harsh as the truth seems to crash into him.

“What the fuck is going on here?” he demands.

“Troy, your heart,” Joanie pleads, her tone full of desperation as if this one event will send him back into the ER. She grabs onto his arm to stop him, but he shakes her off.

“My heart is fine. What the hell is going on?”

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