“More like she didn’t approve.” Megan clenched her hands into tight fists. She’d never been able to earn her mother’s approval.
Her father patted her on the back. “She tries.”
Megan glanced at the camera and held in a smirk. Now was not the time or place to have this conversation, so she let it go.
Her father smiled. “Wendy’s here.”
A surge of warmth spread through her for her sister. “I’m so glad she came.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Was bouncing on her seat the entire time.” He grinned. “Between you and me, I think she’s hoping to steal Adam away from you.”
A moment later they were ushered down a hallway, through another part of the resort, and then outside. She gasped. Hundreds of white flowers lined the aisle and hung from a trellis on a small stage where Adam and the minister stood. A few rows of chairs wrapped in blue and white fabric stood on either side of the aisle, and she recognized a few faces. Wendy turned and waved at her, looking like she was about to fall out of her seat with excitement. She saw a couple of her childhood friends and a college roommate. Adam’s father sat in the front row next to a couple of care takers from the facility, a beaming smile on his face. As soon as they emerged from the building, a violinist began playing the wedding march.
Her father held out his arm, and she grasped it like a life line. This was it. She really was marrying Adam. As she neared him, she could see the dimples on his face, his smile seeming genuine. His clear, blue eyes held a hint of mirth as he took her hand.
The music stopped, and the minister began the ceremony. The words floated around her, and she stared off at the crashing waves of the sea, trying not to throw up. Adam said his vows, and then it was her turn. Panic gripped her, but Adam’s steady gaze helped calm her down. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and it helped her focus. She said her lines, and after the ‘I do’s they exchanged rings.
And then came the kiss.
22
There were a few momentsin Megan’s life that neared perfection. Walking across the stage to get her diploma. Her first job interview when she knew she nailed it. The phone call when she was hired at KLKX. But none of them topped her first kiss as Mrs. Adam Warner.
As soon as the minister proclaimed, “You may kiss the bride,” Adam’s warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her near. The smell of his musky cologne sent her heart into overdrive. His soft lips skimmed hers, teasing, sending chills over her, stirring desire from deep within. She responded without thinking, deepening the kiss, pulling him closer. He must have taken that as encouragement because his fingers entwined in her hair and suddenly the world tilted on its axis. Sparks shot through her, and Adam softly moaned. When they broke apart she wondered if the kiss was going to be allowed on national television.
The audience clapped and they were ushered off for another photo shoot. After a zillion photos of the two of them, they did all the other normal wedding things: the cake—which she successfully smeared all over Adam’s face, the dinner and dancing, and the tossing of the bouquet. All the while, Megan waited for the announcement that would make her look like a fool.
Except the announcement never came.
After the guests left, the cameras turned off, and Megan and Adam went to the Bridal suite, it finally hit her. They hadn’t done it. The big reveal hadn’t happened.
Confused, she locked herself in the bathroom and slipped off her dress. Maybe Leon had changed his mind. A weight lifted from her shoulders.
The show was over. They’d fulfilled their contract. She and Adam were free to ride out the publicity wave and then get a quiet annulment after everyone forgot about them.
It wouldn’t be too bad. Adam had already volunteered to sleep on the sofa in their honeymoon suite. And he had assured her he had a nice guest bedroom in his home. They’d just wait this out. She could do that. Right?
She stared at herself in the mirror. The frumpy sweats and T-shirt she’d brought did nothing for her figure. That was on purpose. She didn’t want to give Adam the wrong idea. She brushed her teeth, then exited the bathroom.
Adam was sitting on the couch, wearing pajamas and a pair of leather slippers. She about swallowed her tongue. He patted the sofa in a silent invitation to join him.
She didn’t realize how tired she was until she sat down. The thing with Doctor Lemon must have been weighing heavily on her, because she suddenly felt light and quite comfortable sitting next to Adam. “I think today went well.”
He grinned. “Just well?”
“As well as it could have. I didn’t trip over my dress and show everyone on national television my underwear.”
Adam raised his eyebrow, and a devilish look played across his face. “Why, what kind of underwear are you wearing?”
She whacked his arm. “You’ll never find out.”
He laughed, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You looked tense today.”
“I was. I really thought Doctor Lemon was going to—” She cut herself off, realizing what she was about to say.
“Was going to what?” Adam stared at her, a curious look on his face.
No way was she going to tell him she knew Doctor Lemon was a fake. “You know how she always likes to embarrass me. I wasn’t sure what she’d do on our wedding day. Thank goodness all she did was one last interview.”
