Page 76

“I want a real wedding,” she says.

“The first one was real.”

“The first one took eleven minutes.”

“Efficient.”

“You married me for land.”

“You married me for money.”

“Exactly. It was terribly romantic.”

I reach for her but she steps back. “No.”

“Come here.”

“We’re having a wedding.”

“We had one.”

“Dane.”

“Lila.”

She narrows her eyes.

I wait.

Six months of actual marriage has taught me a lot.

One, my wife always gets what she wants.

Two, pretending she doesn’t is sometimes fun.

Three, she’s currently hiding a smile.

“You're gonna want to see me in another wedding dress,” she says.

I consider that. “Fine.”

Her mouth drops open. “That’s all it takes?”

“Should’ve led with the dress.”

She throws a dish towel at me.

Three weeks later, I’m standing in front of the fireplace at Dawson Lodge while most of Devil’s Peak watches me suffer.

Lila planned a tiny ceremony. Then she invited Devil’s Peak and those two things don’t go together. There are people everywhere; Hank’s crying already, Ellie’s holding flowers, Wyatt is beside me wearing a suit and looking entirely too entertained.

“You look nervous,” Wyatt says.

“Shut up.”

“Big day.” He grins.

“Already married.”