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Her heart leapt into her throat. It was fake—all of it was fake. But this moment sang with a realness that even Catelyn couldn’t deny. Not at the very core of her.
“I do,” answered Rami. He sounded utterly confident.
It was fake—unless it wasn’t. He’d wanted her from the moment he saw her. They’d agreed to terms. They’d agreed to a year. But if he’d wanted her that much…
She had no more time to think about it. The officiant turned to her. “Catelyn, do you intend to take this man as your husband, to love, cherish, and protect from this day forward?”
Tears sprang to Catelyn’s eyes in spite of herself. “I do.”
She could accept that it was nothing more than a business arrangement. She could. If that’s truly what it was. But as the officiant led them in their vows, Catelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that there could be more to this. It was a long shot. But there could be more.
Catelyn barely heard the words Rami spoke. She barely heard the words from her own mouth. But she did hear when the officiant said, “You may kiss the bride!”
She stepped into Rami’s arms as easily as if it were real, giving herself over to the fantasy. But his kiss—it wasn’t the chaste peck of a staid royal ceremony. His mouth possessed hers, and she felt herself yielding, and oh—it was good. Strong and gentle, and she felt his breath as he moved to explore her mouth with his tongue—
Laura started clapping, and Daisy followed suit, the two of them cheering. That was close. Catelyn stepped back, Rami’s hand in hers, and they led the way back down the center of the room.
It was official.
The clock was ticking.
7
“To the newlyweds,” Laura said, leading them all in yet another round of toasts. The bridal party—all four of them—had gone to a restaurant a few blocks from the Inn. It was attached to a very small and very upscale hotel.
When Daisy had filled the couple in on the reception plans, Rami had nudged his new wife with his elbow, whispering, "Sure, we’re just driving up and getting married."
Catelyn elbowed him back. “A separate hotel? I trust you guys with my wedding, but—” Her friends chuckled at the joke, their voices rising as they walked through the lobby and out to waiting car.
“The restaurant had an open reservation,” she said. “And it’s more our speed.” She’d raised her eyebrows at Catelyn, and she’d immediately understood—the restaurant was upscale. It was the kind of place that Elite Occasions would book for other brides. They’d thought of everything.
Catelyn looked back at Rami and could swear she’d caught him giving Daisy a wink.
“Oh, so you’re in on this? How?” she’d demanded of her brand-new husband. “We planned everything—”
“I take it you don’t like surprises?”
“When it comes to weddings, the fewer surprises, the better.”
“Imagine my shock when I found out I’d been married without my knowledge.”
The group laughed again. They’d quieted as they rode together to the restaurant and settled in at the table.
Now, it was…more awkward, once the adrenaline of planning the ceremony had faded, but Laura had called for a bottle of champagne and Daisy a round of cocktails, and now Catelyn was feeling good.
“Okay, okay,” she said. “Everybody, quiet down. I have to make a phone call.”
“Right now?” Laura narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t it a little loud for that?”
Catelyn scanned the restaurant. With the cocktail thrumming through her veins, it seemed like the perfect time. And anyway, she couldn’t let those photos exist in the world without telling her parents the…current truth.
She pulled out her phone and dialed her mom’s number. Her parents had left two weeks before on a yearlong cruise around the world. Where were they right now, even? It didn’t surprise her that her mother’s phone went to voicemail.
“Mom,” she said after the beep. “I know you’re going to be pissed off, but I wanted to tell you and Dad that I got married today. His name is Rami. You met him at Lydia’s cocktail party—the extremely handsome one. I’ll explain all of it later. And I’m very happy. Okay. Love you. Bye.” She ended the call and slapped the phone down on the table.
“Look at you,” said Daisy. “Grinning like an idiot.”
“I meant it when I said I was happy.” She blew a kiss to Daisy across the table. Catelyn was surprised to find that it was…true. She was happy and feeling more relaxed than she had in days. What miracles a couple of cocktails and some champagne could work on a girl.
