Page 5 of An Inconvenient Marriage
I did as I was told and she immediately smiled and nodded.
“That’s good. Now hold it for two counts. One. Two. And let go.”
“I’m scared,” I finally whispered after a few breaths. “I’m so scared, Evie.”
“I know, but I promise you, everything is going to work out.” She took my hand and walked me over to the bed where she’d set the garment bag. “In the meantime, I got you a little something.”
My gaze flicked between her and the garment bag before settling on her again. “What is it?”
“Trent planned this entire wedding from the venue to that dress you’re supposed to wear today. And yes, this isn’t a real wedding, but dammit, it’s time we give you some of the control.”
She bent over and unzipped the bag. A small gasp escaped me, and my hands flew to my mouth. Beautiful layers of tulle and intricate beading stared back at me. It wasn’t big and puffy, it was simplistic and yet elegant.
And the exact opposite of the dress I was supposed to get married in.
“You want me to wear this instead of my wedding dress?”
“No, sweetie, I want whatever you wear to be your choice.”
A choice… now that was something I hadn’t had in a long, long time.
3
Zach
Thesilktiedaroundmy neck felt more like a noose than the expensive tie it was. And it had me seriously regretting this impulsive decision, especially since it would seem as if my bride had stood me up.
I flicked my wrist and gritted my teeth. ThelovelyNatalie’s tardiness was touching the hour mark. What a damn joke. Maybe I should trade my tailor-made suit for a damn clown getup because, clearly, I was being made a fool of.
Blood boiling with irritation, I glanced around the church and regretted ever agreeing to allow Trent to arrange everything for today.
“You’re a busy man,”he’d said.“Let me take care of everything. I’ll just send you a time and place—and the bill—and all you have to do is show up.”
I’d had about as much of the man’s voice as I could take and desperately wanted him out of my ear, so I’d agreed. Besides, planning a damn wedding hadn’t been at the top of my to-do list.
In fact, if I’d had my way, we’d have done this at the courthouse, quick and painless.
This had been neither quick nor fucking painless.
I’d just add it to the list of many things Stevens was going to pay for.
With nothing better to do than look like an idiot, I took another look around and yet again cursed myself for not insisting we do this at the damn courthouse.
Because now I had hundreds of people I didn’t know shit about sitting there staring and smiling at me with amazement in their eyes. Not that I could blame them. Not really. I’d once said in an interview the day I got married would be the day hell froze over.
But this wasn’t a real wedding.
Pity I couldn’t tell them that.
Keeping my face neutral, I took in the rows and rows of people. I did a quick double take when I spotted not only the mayor and his wife, but also the district attorney and her husband. Shit. Trent certainly made sure all the important people were there to witness this damn circus.
Bastard.
I doubted he even knew half of the people sitting in the pews. Hell, I knew I had no clue who most of them were. The only person I recognized sitting in the front row of the bride’s side was the big burly man.
Trent’s head of security. The guy who got his hands dirty so Trent could keep his clean. Or at least as clean as they could be.
And then there was Sophie, my assistant. Sitting in the front row of my side with a look of utter confusion on her blank face. Not only about my sudden nuptials but also because when she’d wanted to inform my brother of the ceremony, I’d told her not to.
