Forced to the altar. Julianne paced in her room. It seemed so…archaic when she thought of it that way. Ridiculous. Impossible. What would happen if she said, “I don’t?”
Mr. Moody would come get her for the ceremony any minute now. Her nerves were stretched thin, even though she’d resigned herself to the marriage, had accepted her fate, had come to an understanding with Zach that the marriage would happen.
But there was also an uncontrolled something or other inside her that seemed to be rebelliously excited and curious about marrying Zach. She told herself it was reaction to his kiss, to the magnetic pull she’d felt for him from the beginning, and the sheer mystery of who he was.
But that wasn’t all.
She wanted to know what he did that made him a criminal. And how Jamey, a private investigator, would be friends with someone who knowingly and consistently broke the law. It was a puzzle she wanted, needed, to solve.
Julianne heard footsteps coming up her stairs. She froze momentarily, then looked in the mirror. Her hair had cooperated, the curls relaxed and shiny. Her nails were painted Flamingo Pink, although she wore a softer shade on her lips. Unfamiliar emotions were reflected in her face, her skin pale and her eyes huge with the unknown. Her pulse thundered.
The footsteps gained in volume. Mr. Moody reached the top step, the landing, then came his knock. Her stomach lurched. This was not at all how she’d pictured herself getting married. She’d wanted time on her own first. Lots of it, with no one to answer to. She’d gotten none in her entire life, except a small taste when she lived in San Francisco, away from her brother but still under his control.
“Miss?” Mr. Moody called out after another quick knock.
“I’ll be right there.”
She pressed a hand to her stomach and blew out a breath. Whoever said such things would calm you was out of their mind. She felt as scared and worried and flustered as before.
But she could rise above it.
Shoulders back she pulled open the door. Mr. Moody stood there looking formal and solemn in a black suit, white shirt and black tie. He shoved a bouquet at her.
“From Mr. Zach,” he said.
Every cell in her body sighed. She buried her face in the mostly roses bouquet. The fragrance drifted through her, imprinting itself in her mental scrapbook of memories.
Mr. Moody crooked an arm in invitation. Awkwardly she took it. Neither of them spoke. Her three-inch heels seemed like stilts. She was grateful she could hang on to him during the descent of the staircase as her knees wobbled.
I can do this. I can do this. The words repeated and recycled, giving her strength.
They reached the bottom. He patted her hand and smiled at her—a small one, but a smile nonetheless. “My wife and I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
“Thank you,” she said, surprised and wary. Hadn’t Zach told them it was a marriage in name only?
They walked through the kitchen and dining room then approached the living room. She spotted Zach standing next to a man with graying hair, the judge who would perform the ceremony, Julianne decided. A few people were scattered around the room—Misery sat at the piano, Reb on the sofa, along with two people she didn’t know. Several more seats were taken up by strangers.
Mrs. Moody approached Julianne. “I’ll be moving your things into the master suite right after the ceremony. You don’t worry about a thing.”
Julianne’s throat closed. She would be sleeping with Zach? No way. Absolutely no way. She couldn’t have that temptation—or the pain of him rejecting her. Which was worse? She didn’t know. Didn’t want to find out.
Lil came from out of nowhere. She wore a sapphire-blue dress and carried a small rose bouquet similar to Julianne’s. Julianne couldn’t utter a sound.
“I’m honored you invited me to be your maid of honor,” Lil said quietly. “Surprised, but honored. You know, you could’ve asked me yourself instead of having Zach do it. Maybe I haven’t known you long but I think you know I like you.” She glanced around the room. “You don’t have any family attending? One day’s notice probably wasn’t enough, I guess.”
Family. Julianne stared at Zach standing fifteen feet away, his face expressionless. What have you done? she wanted to scream.
She looked at everyone else, one by one. Smiles, expectation and curiosity shimmered from all of them, whether or not the face was familiar.
Then with panic shoving her with insistent hands, she turned and ran toward the side door, intent on finding fresh air to breathe before she passed out.
Zach didn’t get caught off guard often, but seeing Julianne run rooted him in place. He’d been admiring her, from her golden curls to her simple white, knee-length dress, to her spiky high heels. He’d seen her look around the room, noting the others in attendance. She’d visibly shrunk back from the scene, then when Lil approached her, Julianne took actual steps back, her eyes widening. Then she’d hightailed it out of the room.
Zach didn’t run but he didn’t walk, either.
“Maybe I should talk to her,” Lil said as he passed by. “Jitters, probably.”
“I’ll do it,” he said, trying not to sound too brusque or dismissing. He didn’t know what Julianne would say to Lil, how much she would reveal.
“The groom’s not supposed to—”
Zach ignored Lil. When he was out of the guests’ sight he picked up speed, taking the steps to the tower room two at a time. The room was empty. He looked out the window and spotted her hurrying toward the trail to the bluff, but making slow progress in her heels.
He caught up with her before she’d gone far at all.
“Go away,” she said without turning. “Leave me alone.”
“I can’t.” He came up beside her, keeping pace. “What’s wrong?”
“You have to ask that?”
“If I want to know the answer.”
She skidded to a stop and plunked her fists on her hips, her bouquet still tucked in one hand, the ribbons trailing down her dress. “You could’ve warned me.”
Damn he wanted to kiss her, to feel that fierce passion against his mouth. “About what?”
“About the people you invited to what I thought was a marriage of appearances and alibis. About Lil being my maid of honor! It wasn’t supposed to be a wedding, Zach.”
“What was it supposed to be?”
“A ceremony. Legal and binding to the world, but still fake.”
“And so it is.”
Her mouth drew into a hard line. “I don’t get it.”
“We can’t risk being accused of marrying for ‘appearances and alibis,’ as you called it. It has to seem like a real marriage, a loving relationship. We needed witnesses to our happiness.”
“You idiot,” she growled, low and frustrated.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me. Why didn’t you just say so? Why blindside me with it?”
“Because I figured you would balk.”
“And knocking the wind out of me was preferable? Don’t you know anything about women?”
Obviously not. And less about her, as well.
“And what’s this about me moving into your suite?” she went on, getting in his face. “You didn’t think you should talk that over with me, either?”
“I didn’t…think.”
That, at least, stopped her from yelling.
“I figured you had a computer for a brain,” she muttered, backing down.
“Far from it.”
“Tell me what you do, Zach. Help me understand who you are.”
“I’m doing a good thing. I can’t tell you more. I’m helping. But now we need to get back to the wedding.”
She stared at him for several long, searching seconds. When she finally spoke it was from behind a barrier of his own making, a wall of iron, invisible but just as hard to break through as the real thing.
“Yes, sir,” she said, ice coating the words.
By sheer force of will he didn’t sigh. “I hope you’ll put on a happy face for our guests.”
“Your guests.”
“You’re being childish, Julianne.” He regretted the words instantly as hurt flickered in her eyes. Yes, she’d defied him, which had led to this fake marriage in the first place, but he hadn’t been considerate, either. And he should be. “I’m sor—”
“You’ve treated me like a child,” she said, cool and distant. “But I’ll walk in there with you and stand beside you and pledge my love in the biggest lie of my life. Then you can ignore me, and I’ll ignore you until such time as it’s possible to annul the marriage and I can leave.”
He didn’t want that. He didn’t want them to ignore each other, to be strangers. He liked her. When she chose to, she could make him laugh. He didn’t want her to feel like a prisoner, even if she was one. “Thank you,” he said.
“No problem.”
Flippant words and a condescending tone. He obviously had work ahead of him to make amends.
They returned to the castle, put on the requisite happy faces and made promises they wouldn’t keep, making a mockery of the vows in the process. Zach had broken so many laws, he’d lost count, but reciting those vows seemed more criminal than anything he’d done. Sealing it with a wedding ring did nothing to ease his guilt.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the judge intoned. “You may kiss your bride.”
They faced each other. She no longer looked belligerent. Instead, she raised her brows as if daring him.
“Come on, kiss her!” Misery shouted.
Her smile became a challenge. He’d wipe that smile off her face—and give the locals a story to spread. No bride would be kissed as thoroughly. That he was indulging his own desires was merely coincidental.
He cupped her head with his hands and moved in. His lips brushed hers, lingered, then settled. He slipped his arms around her, felt hers wrap around him hesitantly, then like a vise. Catcalls filled the room as the kiss heated and deepened, then he heard nothing at all, except a soft sigh when he lifted his head to change the angle of the kiss.
One sigh, hushed but full of need. It was enough to stop him, to remind him of the precariousness of their relationship and the people watching them. He did not want to embarrass Julianne—or lose the respect of the residents of the Prom, each of whom held a special place in his life.
Holding her shoulders, he stepped back. She recovered quickly and well, pretending to be the blushing bride, when she was probably furious.
Well-wishers gathered around them. Mrs. Moody had prepared a feast. Laughter and conversation filled the room, a rare sound, Zach realized, and a good one. He watched his…“wife” as she joked with Lil and Misery while nibbling from a plate piled with delicacies—shrimp, caviar, ahi and slivers of tender beef. She popped a stuffed olive in her mouth. Her mouth too full to talk, she listened, her eyes smiling, as Lil told a story.
After a while Julianne’s gaze landed on Zach and seemed to beg him, but for what? He went to her, slid his arm around her waist, pressed his lips to her hair, as fragrant as a spring garden. She leaned against him.
“Tired?” he whispered.
She nodded. It was only five o’clock, too soon to retire, and the guests didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. He glanced at Lil.
She winked. “Okay, everybody,” she said over the crowd noise. “I think we should take this show on the road. The newlyweds would like some time together, so grab whatever open bottles are left and let’s head to my place.”
“Let me package up some food,” Mrs. Moody said.
A flurry of activity ensued—food packed, goodbyes said, some final jabs at Zach’s loss of bachelorhood issued. Finally, quiet.
“Your things have been moved,” Mrs. Moody told Julianne, then turned to Zach. “Dinner is in the refrigerator, along with heating instructions. We’ll see you tomorrow around noon.”
Zach felt Julianne stiffen beside him but she said nothing.
“Thank you. Thank you for everything you did to make this happen today,” Zach said to the Moodys. He didn’t know what he would do without them, without their forgiveness and their unconditional love.
Mr. Moody shook his hand, then Julianne’s. Mrs. Moody kissed Zach’s cheek, then hugged Julianne, who couldn’t hide her surprise at the gesture.
The house rang with silence.
“Where are they going?” Julianne asked.
“To Lil’s, overnight. To give us privacy.”
She stepped out of her high heels, wiggled her toes and groaned. “Then I’ll sleep in my own room. Good night.”
What the hell? He caught up with her after only a few steps, swooped her into his arms and carried her to the sofa. She didn’t fight him physically, but she gave him an earful. He plunked her down, then held her there when she tried to spring up.
“It’s time we get a few things straight,” he said. “Mrs. Keller.”