Page 28 of Cade

April quickly nodded her head and resisted the urge to push harder against the back of her seat and hide. It wasn’t fear. No, it was excitement, but uncertainty.

“You let me know when you’re not,” Cade said simply and backed away from her.

April sat, stunned, waiting for the man to come back, but he didn’t. She wanted him to kiss her, to touch her, to anything. She was screwed, and they weren’t even married yet.

They were on their way to Vegas to make that happen quickly.

Confused and not the smallest bit overwhelmed, she looked out the window and watched as Vegas came into view. It was beautiful from up here, watching the town magically appear in what had been nothing but desert.

“Buckle up, babe,” Cade told her.

April ignored the endearment, not quite sure it was actually that or more of a joke. Her heart lept at the word, but she pushed that thought aside as she buckled herself in.

Joking and teasing wasn’t the side of Cade she expected to see at any point, much less on their way to do this sham of a marriage. She wasn’t prepared to handle it, hadn’t even considered that Cade might not be cranky about this situation. He was always short with everyone according to anyone she talked to, even his sister, but not right now.

Rather than comment on it, April took it as a win and just let whatever was going to happen, happen. This chipper mood wouldn’t last, she knew, so what was the harm in enjoying it?

“Did you need to change or anything?” Cade asked as the plan landed.

April looked down at her current outfit. Probably not something she wanted to get married in, as there would no doubt be some pictures of today. Jeans and a baggy shirt weren’t wedding wear.

She nodded. “If you don’t mind? I can change in the bathroom.”

Cade laughed. “If you manage that in this small bathroom, I’ll be impressed. You can take that door all the way to the back. It’s a bedroom you can use.”

April took her one suitcase and made her way to the door. She made quick work of changing into a white summer dress she’d packed. It was the most wedding-like dress she owned while also keeping things casual, which was what Cade wanted.

“All ready?” Cade knocked on the door.

“Coming,” April called back.

A small mirror was just enough to fix her hair and put on some simple eye makeup. Not one to wear a lot, anyway. She didn’t see the need to do a ton today, just a simple bit on her eyes, and she was ready.

Cade was on the other side of the door still when she pulled it open. He grabbed her hand, not commenting on the dress, and practically dragged her from the plane.

“My bag,” April said.

“It will be in the room later,” he assured her.

With no choice but to follow, April let it go. He opened the door to a car for her, waving off the driver who was there to do just that. She slid in and they were off without another word.

They hadn’t discussed where the wedding would happen and she regretted that, as she didn’t know what to expect.

“Where are we going?” April asked.

“To the chapel,” Cade answered.

She rolled her eyes. “What kind of chapel?”

“A wedding one.”

“Fine.” April folded her arms and sat back in the seat. If he didn’t want to talk, then she wouldn’t make him.

Ten awkwardly silent minutes later, the car came to a stop. “We’re here,” Cade said before opening the door and getting out of the car.

April slid across the seat, taking a deep breath to calm the nerves that were rising up before she put her hand in Cade’s and stood.

She was really doing this, her brain repeated. She was going to marry Cade, and why? That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? Was she marrying him because she was an idiot who still wasn’t over young love? Probably. Was she just someone who was too nice and willing to do whatever he wanted to help? Also likely.

---