Page 41 of Irresistibly Wicked

By the time she reached Zander’s place, she felt more in control.

She headed inside, greeted by the heavenly smell of bacon and the sound of Zander playing guitar. She spotted him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as he played, and her traitorous body threw a little party at the sight of his naked chest, jeans hanging low on his hips, feet bare. He looked up, catching her staring, and a smile lit up his handsome face. Arrogant bastard.

“Welcome home, Angel,” he said as she headed into the kitchen, and leaned his guitar against the wall.

“Did you buy a new guitar? I saw a shattered one in your car when you had the accident.”

“No. I have a few of them. How was work?”

Why couldn’t he be less attractive and more of an asshole? Was this some kind of test or punishment? “It was okay. Busy. How was your morning?”

“Pretty chill. You’re just in time for breakfast.” He turned off the stove and began piling bacon and eggs onto plates.

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to make enough for me. I’m not much of a breakfast eater, remember?”

“The way you fought me on eating breakfast the other day and then licked your plate clean? I know better.” He set two plates on the counter. “What do you drink after your shifts? I assume you’re tired and probably don’t want coffee, so you can rest for a while before we go out.”

“Water’s fine, thanks, but…we’re going out?”

“Yeah, after you get some sleep.” He filled a glass with ice water. “I’m taking you shopping for a wedding dress.”

What? “Zander, this isn’t real. It’s not a forever marriage, and I don’t even wear dresses.”

He came around the counter. “I don’t care if it’s forever or not. I’m taking you shopping for an outfit for our wedding.”

“Why is that so important?”

“Because neither of us wants to ever get married for real, so if we’re doing this, I want to do right by you. Every bride deserves to wear something special for their wedding.”

That was quite possibly the sweetest thing she’d ever heard. “You’re lending me money and marrying me. That’s enough—”

He sank down on one knee.

She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” He held up a gorgeous diamond ring.

Her jaw dropped, disbelief and shock spreading like pins and needles inside her. “Where did you get that?”

“I bought it while you were at work yesterday.”

“Please tell me those aren’t real diamonds.”

“What kind of cheap bastard do you think I am? I wouldn’t buy my queen fake shit. Now, can you please stop talking long enough for me to do this?”

“No. Get up! I’m not taking that ring. What is wrong with you?”

He rose to his full height. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I live by a code, and I don’t care if our marriage is temporary. You’re still going to be my queen, and that means something to me.” He cocked a grin. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold, you know.”

“Your reputation is not going to suffer if you don’t give me a freaking ring.”

“This has to look real, remember? A ring and a dress are basic necessities for a bride. If you don’t like dresses, well, I’ve seen your legs, and that’s a damn shame, but we’ll find you something else to wear.”

“We’re getting married in a courthouse next Friday. Nobody is going to see us.”

“I’ll see you. This is my only wedding, too, and I assume we’ll have to take pictures for the attorney. It has to look like you’re wildly in love and can’t live without me, so let’s do it right. Look at this ring. It’s perfect for you.” He held it up again, as if the first time didn’t send her emotions into enough of a flurry, and said, “Four diamonds, and see how they’re inset flush with the sides of the band? They won’t rip your latex gloves at work like a fancier setting would.”

Her heart squeezed at his thoughtfulness. “Zander…?” She took a step back, overwhelmed. “I can’t take it. It’s too much.”