There,I’dsaid it.Nogoing back now.
Just as he was about to respond, there was a knock at the door.Ilooked down at my watch and realized it was likelySarareturning to go dress shopping.Thiswas good.Ineeded a break.Andmaybe some alcohol for the first time in years.
* * *
We were now legally married.Again.
Mr. andMrs.ArcherPapadopoulos.
Sara had gone with me to pick out a dress.Itfelt so weird picking out a wedding dress that was all for show.Ilied whenItoldArcherIhad never really thought about my wedding day.Imay not have thought about it a lot, butIdid know some details.Iwanted a big white dress with a veil that would hide my face, just in caseIwas crying tears of joy walking down the aisle.
Given there was a hit out on me,Idecided to pick the dressIwanted—just in caseInever got a real wedding.
“Your knight in shining armor has arrived,”Archersaid as he walked toward me, a bouquet in his hands.
He looked great in his dark suit and tie.Hewas even more dressed up than he was atJackandRuthie’swedding.He’dalso never looked better.Itsucked.
“I don’t need a knight in shining armor.Ineed a partner who knows how to fight dirty and love me unconditionally.”
WhereSarawas dressed up in a cute pink maxi dress,Vincelooked like the ideal tourist in hisHawaiianshirt and board shorts.Icouldn’t believe that was really what he’d worn.
Though the biggest surprise out ofVincecame when he handedArcherthe wedding rings, andIrealized he had my original ringArcherhad given me—the simple silver band with alternating small diamonds and rubies.TheoneIgave to my attorney whenIsigned the divorce papers, sinceInever wanted to see it again.
Obviously, my attorney gave it toArcher, and he held onto it, along with his own.
I started to ask myself why, butIfoundIhad a pretty good idea.
He hadn’t given up on us.Hehad hoped for a second chance, like he’d said.
My emotions were running high, butIneeded to focus.Thismission depended on me being madly in love withArcher, not pissed off and ready to murder him in his sleep.
We walked out of the chapel, hand in hand, smiling as though we hadn’t a care in the world.
This was not the same chapel we had gotten married in the first time.Thisone was specifically chosen because of its proximity to several members of thePaganoFamilysyndicate.Thefamily members themselves, as well as their lackeys, were known to frequent the restaurant and bar across the street.Thehope was that someone from their group would see us and call it in to those who mattered.
We stood on the sidewalk, pretending to be waiting for a taxi, whenArcherpulled me in for a hug and whispered in my ear. “Gametime.”
What?
Just then,Vince’svoice chimed into my ear comms. “Targethas spotted you.Heis along the far side of the restaurant wall, taking a smoke break.He’spulling out his phone to take a pic of you two, so give him a show.”
He’d no sooner finished his words thanArcherpulled me in closer and kissed me.Knowingthis was our chance,Ikissed him back.Igave in to it and let the kiss consume me.Imoved my hands to his hair and ran my nails along his scalp, which garnered an appreciative moan.
“WhenIsaid give him a show,Ididn’t mean anX-rated one,”Vince’svoice broke in, laced with humor. “Unlatchyour mouths for a minute so he can snap a photo of your faces.”
Once our faces had disconnected, we pulled back a bit from each other, andIfound myself feeling sad at the new distance between us.
“You’re good at pretending when you put your mind to it,”Archersaid quietly to me, smiling. “You’revery convincing.”
Little did he know,Ididn’t have to pretend.
“Okay, he’s taking the bait,”Vincesaid. “Getin a cab, and hopefully he follows.”
Moments later,Archerhailed a taxi coming down the street—one that was waiting for us down the block and being driven by anFBIagent.Wehopped in and began to make our way to the hotel.
We had barely started down the street whenAxel’svoice startled me. “Burngoes the dynamite!He’sfollowing you!”
I chuckled a little atAxel’smisuse of the phrase asArcherkindly corrected him.
