We turn left, and I stop, air catching in my throat at the sight of a tall, beefy man with an earpiece and sharp cheeks. He’s scanning the crowd with narrowed eyes, so I turn my head to the side, making sure my hair curtains my face.
“What’s wrong?” Ares says.
“One of my aunt’s guards.” It’s the one I dubbed Creepier.
Without thinking, I pull Ares into the closest establishment, praying Creepier didn’t spot me.
“Hello! Here for your marriage certificate?”
An Asian lady smiles sweetly at us from behind a counter, her short, bleached hair falling around an oval face with soft, rosy cheeks.
“Did you already apply online?”
Oh shit.This is the place Doris wanted Rupert to drag me to! I’m sure they did, in fact, already apply online, but there’s no way I’m telling this kind lady that. I’d rather twerk naked in front of a church on Sunday while belting a Cardi B tune.
I glance at Ares, then at the door. Creepier is probably still outside looking for me. Creepy could be coming. Worse yet, Rupert could be rushing here right now to get the marriage license.
But can I ask Ares to go along? He might not want to—
“No,” he says to the woman.
“I guess you didn’t know about the program. It makes it so much quicker. But it’s okay. I can still help you. Oh my goodness, what am I doing? I’m Pippa!” She extends her slim hand, long nails shining with fresh polish. “Let’s get started.”
Chapter Seven
Ares
Pippa seems like a nice woman. Asks questions, all enthusiastic and sweet, as though we’re her best friends reaching a major milestone in romance.
Lareina, too, is agreeable. And inexplicably sexy. Her voice is velvety, which feels good to my ears when she speaks, but I also sense a bit of steel underneath, which makes me respect her. Spinelessness is pathetic. Thinking back on the way she climbed over those gargoyles to reach my balcony, I’d say her balls are bigger than a lot of men I know.
She casts me sidelong glances from time to time, as though to gauge my reactions. Am I supposed to do something when she gives her name or birthday? We’re almost the same age, although she looks much younger. And more finely made, with a delicate arch to her eyebrows, the sweet, straight slope of her nose, a soft, full mouth and the supple lines of her long limbs. Her fingers are pale and slim as she lays them on the counter and fidgets a little.
Before I can think, I have my hand wrapped around them in a comforting gesture. She looks at me, her eyes wide. Hasn’t anybody ever tried to make her feel better? Or warm her surprisingly cool hands?
She must’ve had a lot of shitty boyfriends. A ball of acid forms in my stomach at the possibility that she might’ve beenforced to date that step-cousin of hers, who obviously has to be a dick.
“So that’ll be—” Pippa’s request for money, very polite and professional, jerks me out of my random reveries. Her eyes are shining, silently wishing me and Lareina a world of joy as long as we can pay the fee. The situation seems a bit absurd. What happens if you’re too poor to afford a marriage license?
I almost wish I could declare myself too poor to pay the fee, except Aunt Jeremiah would immediately spot me the cash. She can be such a bitch. The Fogeys act like they’re concerned, but they only worry about me the way they want. If they really cared, they wouldn’t insist I get married to get promoted. Or worse, demand that I give up looking for Queen.
The lights are too bright, and Pippa’s smile is too white. Her face seems to melt a little, like one of Dali’s clocks. I touch my temples to anchor myself—before my head flies away like a balloon or drops off my neck to the floor. Either possibility seems likely.
Lareina reaches into her bodice for cash. I put out a hand for her to stop, and reach for my black AmEx.But wait.Harvey is a sneaky asshole; he might be monitoring my credit cards—illegally, of course. Just because he wants to hire a lawyer doesn’t mean he’s law abiding. I pull out a wad of cash and slide it to the clerk. Can’t let a woman pay, especially someone who’s helping me. Also…that kiss was amazing.
“You thought it was amazing too?” Lareina says, her cheeks pinkening.
I start.Did I say that out loud?Her eyes sparkle as she waits for a response, and I say, “Didn’t you?” The hot excitement from the moment is still buzzing in my blood.
Lareina’s face turns redder.Cute. I grin.Adorable, in fact.
Perhaps you can marry her and get promoted!my mind says.
No. I need respect and indifference in my marriage with a wife who embodies the tranquility and social acuity that The Fogeys are looking for. Lareina doesn’t fit the mold. A woman headstrong enough—and crazy enough—to climb across the outside of a hotel to reach the next balcony is bound to be wild and disruptive, even if she is a great kisser.
And even if I do want to kiss her again.
Pippa grabs the money with a prehensile gusto that reminds me of an eagle’s talons. Or a velociraptor’s.
