sweet and thoughtful. He didn’t deserve tears.
She thanked him and they walked to the elevator. The ride down passed with a blur. Suddenly they were in a small chapel and she was reciting that she would love and cherish Dev as long as they both shall live. She hesitated slightly before her “I do” knowing she was making a vow she had every intention of breaking. Then she whispered the words and it was over.
She was aware of someone taking their picture, then polite conversation with the officiate, followed by a quick ride back up to the room.
“Are you all right?” Dev asked as he inserted the key, then pushed opened the door.
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t feel any different than she had a half hour ago. Except for the slender platinum band nestled against her engagement ring, there wasn’t any proof that anything had changed. Yet she was now married. How was that possible? Shouldn’t she feel profoundly transformed?
“Did you eat last night?” he asked.
She turned her attention from her rings to the man she’d married. “What?”
“Let me rephrase that. When was the last time you ate?”
Food, like sleep, hadn’t seemed possible. “Thursday.”
“That can’t be good.”
He took her hand and led her toward the large dining table. It was only then she noticed the covered dishes, along with a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket.
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t have eaten much,” he said. “So I ordered us an early dinner.”
He walked to the champagne and expertly popped the cork. After pouring some in two glasses, he handed her one. “I know you’re pregnant and only nineteen, but I thought you might want a sip on your wedding day.”
She stared at the bubbles rising in the narrow glass, then smiled at him. “Actually, I’m twenty. My birthday was last week.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I missed it.”
Some of her tension eased as she laughed. “I really didn’t expect you to notice, Dev. It’s not a big deal.”
Had they been a real couple, she would have been hurt, but under the circumstances…not so much.
He raised his glass. “To your birthday, a few days late. And to us.”
She touched her glass to his, then took a sip.
While the bubbles tickled her tongue, the liquid had no taste. She didn’t think it was the champagne’s fault, either. At that moment, she doubted she could have tasted anything. She put down her glass and tried to ignore the trembling in her body. She was so tired, she thought. Tired and confused and not sure what he expected of her.
Noelle swayed slightly on her feet. Dev grabbed her arm.
“Are you all right?” he asked, wondering what the hell he would do if she collapsed.
“I’m okay. I haven’t been sleeping.”
Exhaustion darkened her eyes. Her skin was so pale, it was practically white.
“You want to go lie down?” he asked.
“I won’t sleep.”
“You might surprise yourself.” He spun her toward her room and gave her a push. “Go on.”
She turned back to him. “What about the dinner? You went to so much trouble.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She bit her bottom lip as if not sure if she could do what she wanted instead of what she should. Then she raised herself on tiptoe, whispered, “Thank you,” and kissed him on the cheek.
Her lips lingered for half a second and in that moment he was stunned to find himself wanting to turn so that his mouth brushed hers. Only he wanted more than just a simple kiss. He wanted to claim her in a moment of passion that rocked them both.
The need shocked him into stepping back, although he was careful to keep his face expressionless. He gave her another little push and this time she walked into her bedroom and shut the door.
He stood alone in the center of the living room, with an open bottle of champagne and a romantic dinner for two. Ignoring both, he walked to the minibar and pulled out every container of Scotch.
Hell of a way to spend a wedding night, he thought as he opened the first bottle and swallowed the contents.
Chapter Five
Noelle twisted her new rings round and round on her finger. “I keep thinking I’ve reached the peak stomachchurning experience,” she said. “But then a new one crops up. Do you think we’re close to done?”
As she spoke, she glanced at Dev, who sat behind the wheel of the car and negotiated the streets that led to her parents’ house.
“Once we’re through with this, it should be easy,” he said.
“Except I have to tell them I’m pregnant.”
“Not for a few more weeks.”
“I know. I’ll try not to think about it.”
She was getting good at that—clearing her mind and living in the moment. After the wedding, she’d stretched out on the big bed, thinking she would never sleep. When next she’d surfaced, it had been after midnight and she’d still been in her white dress. She’d showered, washed off her makeup, then crawled into bed where she’d zonked out until nearly eight.
They’d shared a quiet breakfast in one of the cafes, then had flown home at noon. Now they were going by to tell her family the news and pick up several suitcases and return to his house.
Easy enough, as long as she didn’t actually think about doing any of it.
Before she’d figured out exactly what she was going to say to her parents, Dev pulled up in front of the house. Noelle got out, then smoothed the front of her cotton skirt and forced herself to smile as she led the way to the door.
“Hi, Mom,” she yelled as she entered.
Unlike the previous weekend, this time the house was quiet. All of her sisters were off with friends. But Noelle had called ahead and knew her parents were home.
“Hi, honey,” her mom said, stepping out of the kitchen. “Are you hungry? Did you want me to—” She spotted Dev. “Oh, hello. I didn’t know you were with Noelle today.” She smiled, then yelled. “Bob, Noelle and Dev are here.” She looked back at them. “Your father’s in his study. He preached from Romans today and you know how he gets.”
Noelle turned to Dev. “He goes over his sermons after he gives them and looks at ways he could have done things better.”
Her father walked down
