“Luckily, I’m retired, and I’m not one to let something silly like statutes stop me anyway. So, in the state of Florida I am a registered public notary. Just in case anyone’s wondering if this is for real, when we’re done, the happy couple will be Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell.” Captain Chuck bows to a smattering of applause.
Fuck.
Angie sags in my arms. Shit, did she faint? I grip hard, supporting her, and whisper to her as loud as I dare. “Angie!”
She steadies, then looks at me. Her eyes shimmer, like she’s about to cry. “We’re getting married.”
I laugh it off. “Relax, babe. It’ll never stick. We’ll pretend to be married, eat and drink ‘till we puke and get it annulled when we’re back on land if we have to. It’ll be fun.” She’s not convinced, but they can’t seriously hold us to this. This isn’t real. Me? I’m already looking forward to the champagne and cigars.
Chapter 21: Angie
Shouldn’t it take longer to get married? One moment, Gavin and I were standing there in shock, then a short speech, a few words and suddenly we’re at the vows.
“I do.” My voice is shaky and I barely get the words out. Gavin’s “I do” is more confident, and he’s grinning like an idiot. What if we’re really freaking married? Doesn’t he get that this is serious?
Married!
Apparently not, from the confident way he takes my hand and turns us to face the crowd. My face burns while they applaud. This is all fake. This is crazy. Ridiculous. But sometimes it’s like you’re stuck in a snowball barreling down a mountain, and everything spins faster and faster until you crash into a million pieces against the bottom.
That’s this trip.
I just got married to my stepbrother. In a freaking bikini. Crash.
The crowd gets up for a standing ovation. I want to shrink away, but instead I stand here with the biggest fake smile ever on my face, doing my best to look radiant or whatever it is brides are supposed to look like. In flip-flops.
My face is burning with embarrassment, and I’m sure I’m blushing all the way down. They could at least have given me time to put on a dress or a shawl or something. Why did I let the steward take my wrap?
Chuck’s voice cuts in behind us. “You may kiss the bride.”
Gavin laughs. “I’ve been waiting for this moment.” Wrapping his arms around me, he dips me deeply like I don’t weigh a thing, and plants his lips right on mine.
I forget about everything around me, about being married, about being nearly naked, about my embarrassment. About everything. Suddenly, it’s just Gavin and me.
Heat surges through us, connecting us in the moment. His bare skin burns where it touches mine. My blood roars in my ears, rushing hotly through me like an overflowing river and I barely hear the loud cheering of the crowd above it. Hooking my arms around his neck, I grip him by the hair and cling to him like a life preserver.
I’m too wound up. That must be it. My body’s on emotional overload right now, and it’s discharging in the kiss. Sense creeps slowly back into my mind, making me realize that I’m clinging like a lovesick bride to her brand new husband. Not for show, but because in that moment, he was the most real and sane thing in an ocean of insanity.
The cheering doesn’t stop until he pulls back, letting us both come up for air. His eyes crinkle in cocky amusement. “Man, if I knew all it would take was marrying you, I would’ve done it long ago.”
“Fuck you.” I say it in my sweetest tone and with a smile on my face.
His smile turns into a predatory grin and his eyes narrow. “Oh, you will. And I can’t fucking wait, babe.” He swings me back up to my feet, then continues loud enough for everyone to hear. “But first, we party!” Another cheer sounds from the crowd.
Captain Chuck appears behind us and puts a broad hand on each of our backs, guiding us towards a long table set up on the deck. His hand is rough and calloused, but that’s it. So why does Gavin’s touch make me feel all tingly and warm when I can’t even stand him?
I try not to think about it too much as servers show us our seats at the head of the table. The guy who took my stuff comes back, and I slip my wrap on like a makeshift dress. A little too late after he left me to get married in my swimsuit, but at least now I don’t feel as exposed, and the air’s getting cooler. Gavin sits down in just his board shorts, apparently happy enough with that. Strangest reception ever.
The Captain is seated to my left, and then Joyce and Mabel have places at Gavin’s right.
“I knew you folks had spoken before, so I figured you wanted some familiar faces at the table,” Chuck grinned.