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Finally, he stopped and turned. "I'm driving you home," he declared rudely.
For one surreal moment during the ceremony, I believed he might have been sincere. The way his face softened and the tenor of his voice changed. He'd looked me right in the eye and promised to protect me and be honest with me. It was disarming and oddly comforting at a time when I'd needed it most. Now, standing outside the courthouse, he'd reverted back to his default bossy personality.
My heart raced as I attempted to catch my breath and gather my thoughts. If he drove me home, I'd have to be alone with him in a car. "No. I'm fine taking the train."
I'd agreed to his crazy idea to lie to the court because I thought that the ceremony would be short, and I could leave right after getting the license signed. I'd be off the hook with Kenny, and we'd go our separate ways.
"I said I'm driving you home." His gaze was locked on the street as he ordered me around. So all of that inside thebuilding was for the benefit of the justice of the peace? None of it was real? Of course it wasn't. I was such a fool to even think that.
"I really don't want to be alone in a car with you."
That got his attention. He propped his hands on his hips and stared down at me. "Why's that?"
I didn't answer him, but the truth was I didn't know if I could trust him. Gavin had said he was a commando. What did that even mean?
What if he was a cop? I couldn't risk getting caught. The stakes were too high. If Magnum found out I was involved with a local gang, he'd start asking questions and expose everything. Kenny had to believe that I was legitimately married to Gavin. Then he would leave me alone and stop hounding me for money.
His brows drew together at my silence. "You're wearing a wedding dress, and you're still soaked. I'm taking you home."
"You're allowed to wear a wet dress on the train." I accidentally dropped the flowers and the papers. I managed to grab the string of my purse and work it back over my shoulder.
He sighed and picked the items up for me, holding them in his hands instead of giving them back. "But there is no reason for you to take the train when my vehicle is here." His voice was condescending and frustrated.
"I want to be alone right now. It wasn't a great day." I pulled my shawl tighter around me to shield my shoulders from the wind.
"Then I'll drop you off and you'll be alone, but I'm driving you home."
The firm set of his brow told me he wasn't going to give in, and honestly, I wasn't in any shape to ride the train. "Fine." I stomped toward the parking lot, but he walked in the direction of the street. "Hey!"
"This way," he called over his shoulder.
I followed behind him to a black Jeep Wrangler parked at a meter in front of the courthouse. He tossed my things in and then waited for me to climb into the passenger seat before he walked around to the driver's side. The inside was as rough and rugged as Magnum. My shoes crunched against the dirt on the floor. The back seat was loaded with bags.
"What's your address?" he asked.
I called it out impatiently, and he scowled as he punched it into his navigation system.
He didn't say anything on the drive home, and his frown didn't loosen. I held it together for the ride, but as soon as I was behind my door, I was going to let loose a torrent of tears. This whole day had turned into a worse disaster than it already was. Where was Gavin? Did he just get cold feet or did Kenny get to him?
"This is the bakery where you work?" He squinted at the Song Bakery logo imprinted on the glass with its music note and theclosedsign below it.
"Yes."
"You going in to work tonight?" He turned his very intense gaze on me again.
I resisted the urge to shrink back at his barking tone. He was trying to intimidate me, and I had to stand my ground just a little longer. "No," I said confidently.
"Then what are we doing here?" He scanned the outside of the bakery.
"I live here," I admitted.
"Where? In the kitchen?" It wasn't a high-end neighborhood, but I'd spent a lot of time here while I was growing up. I wasn't afraid of it. His eyes locked on something he saw in the rearview mirror.
"The storage room has been converted to a bedroom."
He glared at me. "Gavin set up a honeymoon for you guys?"
His pointed question surprised me. "Yes. Why?"
