Packing Heat(85)

Finally, the elevator made it to the top floor. I checked my key, frowning, and walked forward.

There were only two doors. I tried the key on the second door, and it popped open immediately.

I walked inside. “Nash?”

The room looked like the living room of an incredibly rich family. A couch, some chairs, a table, plus its own little kitchen; it was incredible.

“In here,” I heard him say.

I walked toward the back and entered the bedroom. The whole place was huge, and the bedroom was no different. The bed was large and luxurious, and Nash was sitting in it with his shirt off, watching football on television.

“How’d it go?” he asked.

I held up my bags. “You’re a lot poorer now.”

He smirked. “Good.”

I stared at him for a second, my eyes roaming his body. “Don’t you ever wear a shirt?”

“Nah,” he said. “Not anymore I don’t.”

I frowned. “Whatever. I need to get changed, so you need to get out of here.”

He cocked his head. “Why should I leave? You’re going to be my wife.”

“Business associates, remember?” I asked. “Get out.”

He shrugged. “Fine. Just make it quick. I just made us a reservation for a little wedding chapel.”

“Okay.”

He got up out of bed and walked past me, not bothering with a shirt. I watched him leave, marveling at the muscles rippling in his back, before shutting the door behind him.

I sat down on the bed, breathing fast and hard, trying to get myself under control. I felt like I was spinning all of a sudden. Being alone with him in an expensive, luxurious hotel room was really making it all sink in.

I had to sit there and remind myself over and over why I was getting involved with him, why I was going to marry him and lie to the world.

My father might be dying, and they needed the money more than anyone else.

I stood up and walked into the large bathroom, turning on the shower. I might as well clean myself up before getting ready for my wedding.

As the hot water rained down and soaked my body, I couldn’t help but start thinking about Nash’s naked chest again, his muscles, his serious grin, his intense gaze. I couldn’t help but think about the way he looked at me, the way it sent thrills through my body.

Nash Bell. He was a mystery to me, and dangerous.

And I was going to marry him.



“Damn, girl,” Nash said, sitting up in his seat. “You look incredible.”

I blushed slightly. “Thanks. It’s not too much?”

He stood up and walked toward me. “Fuck no, it’s not too much,” he growled. “God damn, you’re getting me hard just looking at you.”

“Stop,” I said, smiling. “I figured I needed something white if we were going to get married.”

“This is perfect.” He stopped right in front of me, staring at my body.

“What are you wearing?”

He shrugged. “This.”

“No shirt?”

“I’ll grab something.”

“Okay then,” I said, looking away. “Let’s go.”

He stared at me for another second before walking back into the bedroom. He came back out in a black T-shirt. “Follow me.”

We went back down into the lobby, and he hailed a cab once we were outside. We climbed in and he gave the driver an address. He looked at me as we sped out into traffic.

“Ready?” he asked.

“I guess,” I said.

“This is the easy part.”

“Why’s that?”

He looked at me, leaning closer. I felt my heart begin to beat fast. “In there, it’s just you and me. We don’t have to lie.”

“It’ll be lying when I say, ‘I do,’” I said.

“Maybe.” He was so close to me, and I wasn’t sure why. “But maybe not.”

“Nash,” I said, but the cab pulled over.

“Let’s go,” he said, moving away. I watched him step out of the cab as I slowly regained my ability to breathe.

I followed him out of the car. He paid the driver and we walked together up the steps of a small white chapel.

Inside, he walked up to the receptionist. “We’re the Bell party, ready to get married.”

She smiled widely. “Mister Bell, welcome. We’re almost ready for you, if you want to wait just over there.” She gestured to a small waiting room.

We sat down in the chairs, getting comfortable. The place looked half like a doctor’s office and half like a church. There were prices and menus on the walls, but also testaments to the sanctity of marriage and bible verses. It didn’t look seedy though, like I’d thought it might. It was comfortable and clean, and the receptionist was pretty in a bland sort of way.