When Lightning Strikes (Whiskey Creek #1)(36)
Author: Brenda Novak

She couldn’t argue with that. “What about the officiant? Is he here, too?”

“Officiant?”

“That’s what they’re called. At least, that’s what I read on the internet.”

“Oh, you mean the minister. He’s not here yet, but he’s on his way.” He lifted the hand with the fingernails she hadn’t painted. “Shouldn’t you get on with this?”

“I was about to.” She brushed on the pink lacquer while he talked, but when she finished, he looked at her closely.

“Oh, boy, you’re not going to pass out, are you?”

“No, why?”

“You look pale.”

“Pale is my usual color,” she said, but her shaky laugh confirmed that she was more than a little out of her element. What they were doing invited bad karma. She and Simon would be making promises to love, honor and cherish each other for as long as they lived, with no intention of fulfilling those promises. She wasn’t superstitious, but she couldn’t help wondering if she was jinxing her future.

“I saw the rings,” he said. His tone indicated he wasn’t impressed.

“What do they look like?”

“You don’t know? They’re gold bands. What a cheap ass**le. Why didn’t he get you something expensive and gorgeous?”

“I didn’t want that.” She fanned herself to dry the polish. “I’m trying to keep what’s happening somewhat real. Otherwise, it’ll all feel too…outlandish.”

“I have news for you, Ms. DeMarco. You’re marrying one of the most famous movie stars in America. There’s no way to avoid outlandish. I would’ve asked for the biggest diamond I could find.”

“Why make him go to the expense? It wouldn’t mean anything. And I’d just have to give it back.”

He looked at her as if she was crazy. “Who said?”

Another knock interrupted. “Ms. DeMarco?”

“Yes?”

“They’re ready for you in the library.”

Simon had sent a maid up to get her. Squaring her shoulders, she offered Josh another tentative smile. “Shall we?”

“Allow me,” he said and, with a gentlemanly flourish, escorted her downstairs.

As promised, Simon was in a suit. Freshly shaved, with his hair combed back, he looked every bit as good as Josh had said. Ian stood next to him, also in a suit but clearly no longer as enthusiastic about the idea of their marriage as he once was. The only other person in the room was a distinguished-looking man with silver hair who introduced himself as Reverend Bob Grady, a minister with the United Disciples of Christ Church.

Gail wasn’t remotely familiar with the beliefs of that church, was pretty sure she’d never even heard of it, but she figured that didn’t matter.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

“I was just discussing with Simon the type of ceremony the two of you would like,” he told her. “Some people write their own vows, but he said you’d both prefer a simple recitation of the traditional promises. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s fine.” Her heart was beating so hard, she dared not look at Simon, but she could feel his gaze on her. Was he feeling hopeful? Relieved that the time had come and they’d be able to get this part over with? Hesitant to go through with what they’d planned? She didn’t know and she didn’t  want to know for fear it would undermine her own resolve.

The minister bent his head. “Then that’s what we’ll do. If you two will join hands—as best you can,” he said in deference to Simon’s injury, “and face each other in front of me, we’ll get started.”

Simon stepped up and did as he was asked. At that point, Gail  had to look at him. He seemed pensive. Maybe he was as nervous as she was. And she could guess why. He’d sworn never to marry again. Even if this wasn’t a regular marriage, wasn’t real in the same sense, it sure felt real.

She almost pulled away to verify that they all believed they were doing the right thing, but Simon tightened his grip to hold her in place and she decided it was his commitment that mattered.

Sweat ran down her back as Reverend Grady began—and her fear of bad karma grew worse, especially when he reached “in sickness and in health” and then “till death do us part.”

Still, she managed to repeat her vows. Simon did the same without sounding too panicked. As a matter of fact, he seemed…resolute.

They exchanged rings and the minister said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Simon, you may kiss the bride.”

Gail knew Simon was in acting mode. He was used to such intimate contact, didn’t think anything of it. But the warmth of his lips against hers made her knees weak. Hoping to play her part as well as he was playing his, she slipped her arms around his neck—until Simon’s tongue entered her mouth. Then she drew back.

If she’d shocked the minister by stopping the kiss, he didn’t show it. Smiling his approval, he gave her elbow a squeeze and, when Simon turned away to speak to Ian, lowered his voice. “I hope you can bring him peace.”

“I do, too,” she murmured.

They posed for several pictures. Then Josh swept her into a hug. “Congratulations. You’ll be fine, you know that?”

“Of course I do. We both understand—” she dropped her voice to a whisper so the reverend wouldn’t overhear “—what’s riding on this.” She forced a bright smile as she stepped away from him but felt dangerously close to tears.

“Thank God for every new day you have together,” the minister said. “May you have a long and fruitful union.”

When Gail heard Simon thank him, she was once again embarrassed and uncomfortable with the lies they were telling. But it wasn’t until Simon went to show Josh, Ian and Reverend Grady out that she allowed herself to sink into one of the leather chairs along the wall and drop her head in her hands.

“They’re gone,” Simon said when he came back.

She looked up. “I can’t believe we did it, that we went through with it.”

He leaned against the door. “You were thinking of bailing on me?”

“No, not really. But…” She finished in a whisper so that no one else in the house could hear. “I felt like an idiot taking those vows. Didn’t you?”

He stared at her for what seemed like an interminable time. “I don’t know how I missed it.”