Page 26 of Mr. Big Mistake
“Oh.”
“But, there are plenty of chapels around here I could’ve paid to do some sort of a fake ceremony. Something to relax us and get us to laugh. Then, I was going to suggest we book a honeymoon suite for a long weekend. Have lots of comfort food, drink nice wine. Maybe enjoy the sun setting over the Vegas skyline. You know, make things romantic before we started exploring. And since we were in it for a long weekend, we could take it at your pace. If you didn’t want to get right down to things, we could take a night or two to warm up, so to speak.”
She sighed. “That… actually sounds kind of nice.”
I shrugged. “I thought so.”
Silence fell between us as my food officially went cold.
“Kelly, I’m not as cold-hearted as you--.”
“I don’t think you’re--.”
“Let me finish.”
She nodded. “Sorry.”
I drew in a deep breath. “I’m not as cold-hearted as everyone thinks. I just don’t enjoy being alone. It sucks, being alone. Waking up alone. Doing everything alone. Even more so, now that Zane has Karina. I know people see me as the party guy. As the one with no rules, or whatever. But, all I try to do is bring light and laughter to those around me. That’s all I want to do. That’s all I wish to do for a woman someday if she can ever look past my goofy demeanor and my checkbook.”
“I didn’t know, Brenden.”
I waved my hand in the air. “We all have our struggles and our demons. This is one of yours. But, just so you know, I’m still offering that plan.”
“You--you are?”
I nodded. “It’s still out there, just for you. It’ll be two friends making one another as comfortable as possible before I take your hand and usher you through something that’s beautiful, and magical, and sweaty, and bumbling, and filled with love.”
“Love?”
Her voice was so soft, and I wondered what it might feel like against the shell of my ear.
“The champagne in the honeymoon suite will also help.”
She snickered. “Really, Brenden?”
I grinned. “Hey, alcohol always helps any situation.”
“Or hinders, depending on what side of the fence you’re sitting on.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Her eyes fell to her lap. “Well, you better set it up perfectly because I’m not going to be stuck with you for an eternity.”
Did I hear her right?“Come again?”
Her gaze found my stare. “I said, you make sure to set this up correctly. I don’t want to end up married to you after this is all said and done.”
“Wait, are you saying…?”
She nodded. “I hope you can deliver, too. Because I heard some insane stories about Clint last night.”
I smiled brightly. “I promise you I could outdo all of them before the weekend is out.”
“I don’t know. It sounds like you might need a full week to do that.”
“You name the time frame, and I’ll make it happen.”
She nodded softly. “One week of your time, in a honeymoon suite, complete with the fake marriage ceremony. And champagne. The good kind, too.”
