Page 54 of Wed to the Devil

The confusion shows on my face. “Thanks, I guess? I can’t say I’m crazy about you calling me your fake wife.”

He rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

I squint. “I guess so…”

Dare pulls me closer and kisses me. I don’t kiss him back but I don’t pull away either. “Don’t be a buzzkill during our wedding week.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I’ve spent the last few days dreading the wedding ceremony. But--”

Dare’s eyebrows arch. “You’re dreading the ceremony? Why?”

My cheeks heat. I flick my hand, gesturing that it doesn’t really matter.

“It’s not the biggest deal. I just don’t feel like performing in front of a bunch of strangers. Your family already looks at me like I’m an exotic animal in a zoo. And not a spider monkey… like I’m one of those really terrifying-looking caterpillars with spikes. You know, the ones that scare away predators by looking like a nightmare? Being looked at like that is exhausting.”

Just thinking about it leeches away a little of my joy. I screw up my face.

Dare shoves a hand through his short, dark hair.

“What if I made it up to you?”

I give him a side eye.

“What does that mean?”

“You suck it up for a few more days. Take part in this ceremony, pose in a bunch of photos, shake a million hands. And then I will make it up to you on our honeymoon.”

I scrunch up my face. “You know that I’m going to smile during the ceremony. That’s part of our deal. You don’t have to do anything extra.”

“I know. But maybe it will make grinning and bearing it a little bit better.”

I purse my lips. “Maybe.”

He pins me up against the stall and kisses me deeply. It’s on the verge of being inappropriate because we are in the open and the children could see if they came looking for us.

But damn if I’m going to stop Dare. He’s got me right where he wants me, his body pressed against mine, his hot tongue working its magic. He growls just a little as he kisses me and I absolutely melt.

ChapterSeventeen

DARE

Using a hand to shade my eyes, I look out over the cliffs at my beach estate. The Cliffs estate seemed like the ideal place to have my assistant Jonathan organize the wedding festivities. But as I wait for Talia to present herself and walk down the aisle that’s laid out behind me, I feel the flutter of my pulse. My body seems to think that I am sprinting, though I’m doing nothing of the sort.

There is no point in denying it. I’m nervous.

I run a hand down the vest of my elegant three-piece tuxedo, glancing at the crowd of seated guests. The ceremony attendees are a who’s-who of wealth and glamor. There are several titans of industry seated in the audience, each a nebula with their wives and their assistants all around them. Filling in the rest of the audience are a mishmash of stars and starlets, business contacts, fashion designers, and countless other so-called important people.

All called here at the last minute to witness my lavish, extravagant wedding.

I see Remy seated in the first row. Next to him are my father, my uncle Felix, and two empty seats. Apparently they saved the spots for my brother Burn and my ex Daisy. I didn’t invite them, but I am not foolish enough to think that they won’t show up.

Remy will make sure that they do. He likes to see people squirm. And he has undoubtedly sensed that there is bad blood between Burn and I.

I am standing all the way at the very edge of the cliffs. The guests are seated in white folding chairs, the guest list so large that half the lawn from here to the house has been claimed for my audience. I run a finger underneath my bow tie, wishing that I had decided to wear a regular tie.

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