Page 57 of Bound To Be Mine

I slapped Briggs chest. “See. You bought the carriage. You didn’t steal it.”

“Mandy,” he hissed and gave me a look that said shut the hell up.

“Get in, get in.” Gary waved us toward the carriage, then immediately held up a finger. “Actually, let me be very clear about something before we do this. I’m driving. Both hands on the reins. The whole time. Are we agreed?”

Briggs held up both hands in surrender. “Agreed. Are the horses okay?”

He laughed. “Maybell is used to Vegas party animals. Susie was less pleased, but they got extra grain to make up for it.”

“I’m really sorry,” Briggs said again.

“You ever ridden before?” Gary asked.

“I’ve been on a horse.”

“It showed. The girls liked you.” Gary patted the chestnut’s neck.

Briggs helped me up into the carriage. The interior was deep red velvet. It was relatively comfortable. Gary settled in up front, clicked his tongue at the horses, and we rolled forward at a pace that could generously be described as leisurely.

“Okay,” Gary said, half-turning so we could hear him. “You want the story of how you two ended up in my carriage.”

“Please,” I said.

“You didn’t come looking for a ride.”

“We didn’t?” I asked with surprise.

Shit, maybe we were intent on a felony.

“No, no. You walked up and you were both pretty well along at this point, I’ll be honest with you. The gentleman here asked if you could just get in for a picture.” Gary glanced back at Briggs. “You said your wife wanted a picture in a carriage for her wedding night.”

I looked at Briggs. He looked just as surprised as I was. He’d called me his wife. I didn’t remember it, but I just knew it was sweet.

“So I said sure, go ahead, get in,” Gary continued. “I figured you’d be in and out in two minutes. But then Maybell just started walking.” He laughed. “She does that sometimes. Creature of habit. She hears people get in, she walks. So off she goes.”

“And you let her?” Briggs asked.

“Well, at two miles an hour, nobody was in any danger. And you two were having the time of your lives. Laughing, pointing at things. So I walked alongside.” Gary said it like it was nothing.

“You walked alongside your own carriage,” Briggs repeated.

“Right behind. The whole way down the block.”

“Gary,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Best shift I’ve had in years. I’ll be telling that story until I die. The standing up, though, that was all you. I didn’t encourage that. You mentioned chariots or something.”

“God,” Briggs muttered.

I pressed my lips together very hard.

“Your wife thought it was hilarious,” Gary offered helpfully.

“My wife appears to find most things hilarious, even if they are extra stupid.”

“I have a good sense of humor,” I agreed. “It’s one of my best qualities.”

“Well, you paid me after the little joyride,” Gary said. “I tried to tell you no, but when I gave you the credit card thingie, you put in five grand. Said it was my tip.”