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The problem was, she wanted him to kiss her and not just a quick peck like he kept doing to shut her up. She didn't want him to know how much she wanted him to kiss her. So she waited for him to make the next move. Whatever he decided, she would go along with it. She clenched her hands and tried to mentally prepare herself for both outcomes: a rejection or a kiss.
At over six feet tall, Jared had to lean down to reach her lips. His cologne filled her nostrils and gave her a weird, floaty feeling. She breathed in deep even as her eyelids drifted shut. His mouth barely brushed the corner of hers, and it was over. Just like that, her girlish dreams thoroughly deflated until nothing was left. She had been a fool to marry him.
When he found out about her deception, she was dead.
Or at least homeless.
Chapter Five
Instead of flying back to Montana, Jared insisted they stay the night in Vegas. Beth didn't want to spend a second with him longer than necessary, but she was exhausted in every possible way: mentally, emotionally, and physically. A soft pillow beneath her head sounded heavenly. At least Jared had someone to keep him company while she slept. She was grateful for his PA's presence... until Alice started apologizing in the elevator on the way up.
Standing between them, Alice spoke to Beth and ignored Jared completely. “When I booked the honeymoon suite, I had no idea you were being forced into this, dear. If I had known, I would have gotten you a room of your own.”
“Don't worry about it,” Beth said with a tight smile. “I'll be fine.”
Alice continued to drone on and on about her misreading the situation while they walked to the door of the honeymoon suite. Holding the key card, she hesitated in using it. With a grimace, she told Beth, “Another couple had the room booked for tonight, but I paid them to move to another hotel. I wouldn't have done that if I'd known.”
Jared grumbled, “Open the door and get me some aspirin. STAT.”
Alice fumbled with the door key.
Jared grumbled beneath his breath. He took the card from her and swiped it in the provided slot. Leading the way, he went in ahead of them. So much for chivalry. He took one quick look around and glared at the elderly woman.
“Seriously?” Jared's jaw tightened. “You thought this was appropriate?”
Curious, Beth stepped inside and looked around. At first, she didn't see the problem. There was a large living area with several places to sit, a little kitchen, and a wall of windows overlooking the beautiful city. Then she glanced through the pair of open doors to the bedroom. She gaped at the heart-shaped bed dressed in red satin with a mirrored ceiling directly above it. There was a hot tub that looked like a giant champagne glass in the corner. Talk about gaudy.
She fumed in silence even though she wanted to bury her face in a pillow and scream until the world made sense again. I'm Jared's Wilder’s freaking wife! How did things go so wrong so quickly?
She was supposed to be married to Simon. True, he wasn't her ideal man, but the sex would have been... pleasant. Her mind turned to Jared, briefly wondering what it would be like to make love with him... until she shut that line of thinking down. Hard. No good could come from fantasizing about him.
She was supposed to be married to her best friend. Instead, she was married to someone who wasn't even attracted to her. On second thought, that was probably a good thing. She had a feeling one night in Jared's bed would take her to the greatest heights and then drop her into a dark abyss she could never escape.
Her gaze dropped to his strong, masculine hands. How would they feel gliding across her skin? She swallowed. Then she shoved those thoughts aside. Again. What was wrong with her?
“Once again, I apologize, dear.” Alice patted her arm. “When I set this up, I had no idea Jared had kidnapped you.”
“I did not kidnap her,” Jared said through gritted teeth.
Alice ignored him. “You can take my room. It's a single, just the one small bed, but I can sleep here. It won't be the first time I've shared accommodations with this knucklehead.”
“I do not have designs on her body,” Jared announced. “If you don't believe me, ask her. She offered herself to me once, and I declined.”
Beth's cheeks caught fire. “I was sixteen, and I did not offer you my body, wise guy. Only my lips.”
“You know damn well I am not after your body. Tell her.”
“He's not after my body,” Beth said in a flat voice. “I could strip naked and cover myself with whipped cream and he wouldn't be interested. Trust me.”
Alice's intrigued gaze bounced back and forth between them. “Oh, my.”
“Aspirin,” Jared demanded. “And if you don't mind, I need a private chat with the missus.”
Alice fished a bottle out of her purse. She dumped a couple of pills into her open hand, but he snatched the bottle from her. He escorted her out to the hallway and gave her a clipped “Goodnight” before shutting the door in her startled face.
Beth folded her arms. “You have a lot of nerve kidnap—”
“Hold that thought.”
