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Chapter Twenty-Four
Roman wasn’t alone, which explained the need for privacy. Anthony was slumped on the very same lounge bed where she and Roman had forged their alliance that first night. He held his head in his hands. Roman leaned against the iron rail, arms folded. He looked as if he were standing guard, as if Anthony might do harm to himself or others. Just the sight of him reassured her.
Samantha rushed to him. ‘How bad is it?’
‘Pretty bad,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. We can turn things around.’
She couldn’t help but notice the worry lines creasing his brow. She reached up and smoothed them away. What a mistake it had been to cancel morning yoga. Everyone was on edge.
She turned to the one person who could provide answers. ‘Anthony, what’s going on? All I got from Maya is that all hell broke loose.’
Anthony’s explanation was succinct. ‘My mother has no filter; she’s always been that way. This time, she put her foot in her mouth. Now Naomi’s crying. I can’t believe this is happening on our wedding day.’
Samantha looked from him to Roman. Fear curled around her heart. What could Mrs Scott have said to cause the Goddess of Thunder to break down and cry? Honestly, she didn’t want to know. She’d have to take the older woman down. That would be a shame after all the work she’d done on her inner peace.
‘I don’t know what to do,’ Anthony muttered.
‘Well, I do,’ Roman said. ‘Get your mother to apologize to Naomi and her mother.’
Anthony scoffed. ‘Naomi won’t accept a lame ass apology.’
‘I can attest to that,’ Samantha said. ‘She absolutely won’t. It has to feel real.’
‘She will if she wants to marry you by sunset,’ Roman said.
‘We’re already married!’ Anthony bellowed.
Samantha tore away from Roman’s embrace. ‘Wait! What?’
Anthony looked up at her and blinked. ‘We did the city hall thing. I thought you knew.’
‘I didn’t.’
Maybe it wasn’t as big a deal as she was making it out to be. Maybe it was a formality to comply with California law. She scrolled through every conversation she’d ever had with Naomi regarding the wedding, but it was Amelia’s words that popped into mind. She’d said Naomi was only interested in playing dress-up. Amelia knew this wedding was mere window dressing, and likely not very pleased about it.
She took Roman aside. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Baby, I found out twenty minutes ago. I tried texting you. You didn’t answer.’
‘Sorry about that. So much was going on.’
She gazed out at the view. The terrace overlooked a veranda where the hotel staff were setting up for the ceremony. They arranged white chairs into neat rows and tied flowers to the backs of each one. All this couldn’t go to waste.
He took her hand. ‘Look at me.’
She met his eyes and was hooked by the intensity there. ‘None of this is about us,’ he said. ‘Let’s focus on getting these two married.’
‘Remarried.’
‘Details,’ he said. ‘Are you with me?’
Samantha’s breath caught. Was now a good time to tell him how sexy he was when he took charge? Probably not.
‘All right,’ she said. ‘What did Anthony’s mother say that was so outrageous?’
Roman turned to Anthony. ‘Want to tell Sam what your mother said?’
‘Not really,’ Anthony replied. ‘I’d prefer she hear it from Naomi.’
