He turns away. “Yes. I seriously did. It would’ve been easier for us both if you had just slept in my bed.” He glances back. “Or let me sleep in yours.”
I don’t even know what to say to that. The thought of his big, beautiful body sleeping beside mine sends a strange shiver down my spine, half excited, half terrified. “The problem is, I’m not sure what you’d do to me if I got anywhere near your bed.”
His lips part ever so slightly. Is that a smug little grin? “We both know the answer to that one, princess.” He walks out of the guest room then.
“Wait!” I storm after him. “Hold on a second. This whole marriage thing. Are you serious about going to the courthouse today?”
He checks his watch. “The appointment’s in two hours.”
“Aren’t there supposed to be wait times? How’d you get a judge this fast?”
“Money.”
Right. It’s alwaysmoney. “I don’t have clothes. I don’t have a dress.”
“You don’t need anything.”
“Luca, I’m not going anywhere in this—” I gesture down at myself. “I look like a child wearing her dad’s gym clothes.”
He turns, and his eyes roam down my body. I’m very aware of my bare legs. “You look likemywife wearingmyclothes, actually.”
“Cool, that’s what we’ll tell the judge. He’ll think that’s completely normal.”
“I don’t care what he thinks.”
“Luca—”
“Call your sister.” He waves a hand dismissively. “She’ll bring you what you need.”
Right. That’s not a bad idea. “And I need breakfast,” I mutter, staring at the floor. “Unless you want your new bride to pass out from low blood sugar at the altar.”
“There won’t be an altar. We’re signing paperwork?—”
“Luca!”
He’s grinning now, the smug bastard. “How’s eggs and bacon sound?”
“And coffee.” I pause and rub my sore face. “Lots and lots of coffee.”
Elisa hangsoff my arm as we follow Luca and three of his men down a hall through the back of the courthouse. Raf is with them, talking quietly to the group. I wonder if they’re discussing business. Or maybe how much my hand in marriage costs.He better get a lot for me. We pass by other people heading to and from appointments, some smartly dressed and clearly lawyers, while others are in street clothes. The building is crowded for a Friday afternoon, but it’s Philadelphia. Crime likes to keep busy in this town.
“Are you nervous?” Elisa whispers softly. “I’d be nervous. I mean, Iamnervous, and I’m not even the one getting married.”
“I’m fine,” I grumble, unwilling to admit that, yes, I’m straight-up terrified.
“And you’re sure you’re okay?” Elisa frowns at the bruises on my neck.
“They’re fine.” I touch my face. The swelling isn’t as bad as I expected. “Luca made me see a doctor.” The man had shown up before I went to sleep, prodded at me, and pronounced meprobably not going to die.
“You look cute at least. I really came through, didn’t I?”
I glance down at myself. A white sundress, low-cut, way too short, but cute, and at least it fits me. It’s not exactly a wedding dress, but it’s pretty close. Elisa had to scrounge this up from the back of her closet since I don’t own anything remotely this cute.
Grease doesn’t exactly wash out of white.
“It’s fine.”
“Did you notice the way Luca was looking at you?” Elisa raises her eyebrows. “Seriously, the guy couldn’t take his eyes off you. It was kind of cute.”
