This was the most pitiful wedding day that had ever existed. What did you expect? You did this.
I removed the opal ring, which was really nothing more than a prop, and set it on the windowsill. I also removed the pin Charlotte had given me so I wouldn't forget to return it. Then I sat down on my bed, toying absently with the torn piece of material on my dress, finally giving in to the tears I'd felt burning behind my eyes all morning.
**********
Exhausted and emotionally drained after the events of the day, and because I hadn't slept well the previous night as I’d tossed and turned and re-evaluated my decision, I took a long nap. My dreams were filled first with a vast landscape of ice. I wandered aimlessly, crying out with the cold, shivering violently as I tried in vain to warm myself. Suddenly, I was in the midst of cascading fire, caught in a waterfall of lava, my body liquid, my skin raging with a heat that felt deliciously erotic. Flames consumed me, and yet somehow, I wasn't being burned. I woke up moaning, my breasts tingling, wet and throbbing between my legs. I collapsed back on my pillows. I'd never had a sexual dream quite that intense before. I guessed it went to show how long it'd been. My hands went to my aching breasts as I heard a car door slam outside. I sat up quickly, running to the window. Not my father—there was no way for him to have found out about my marriage. Right? Or did he have minions in every court system in the country? I would hardly doubt it if he did. No, no, I reassured myself. Despite his intrusion in my life, he had bigger fish to fry than me. Still, adrenaline flooded my system and my heart leapt with panic, cooling my heated blood at least a few degrees. I smoothed my hands over my torn and wrinkled dress, taking a deep, calming breath. He couldn't do anything to me anyway. I'd tell him I was married—that was that and to leave me alone.
I walked the few strides through the brush and when I came out on the driveway, I saw a blonde woman talking to Grayson in front of a small red sports car. They both turned, obviously having heard me, and so I didn't turn back as I had first intended upon spotting them. Instead, I walked to where they stood. As she watched me approach, the woman had a look on her face as if she'd just tasted something sour, and Grayson's eyes were narrowed.
I held out my hand when I got to them. "Hi, I'm Kira," I said.
The woman looked down at my hand as if I was offering her a dead fish, but finally grasped the tips of my fingers and shook it weakly. Okay.
"I'm Jade. I stopped by to see if I could cook dinner for Grayson tonight." She looked sweetly at him, batting her false eyelashes. A heavy aroma of artificial peaches hung on her, but I couldn't deny she was pretty. If you liked that type. Which Grayson obviously did. I glanced at him and found him looking me over with an expression that seemed intense and . . . angry? His mood swings would eventually give me whiplash.
I shifted on my feet, realizing how terrible I must look. I could feel that my face was still flushed from my dream, and knew my hair must be in wild disarray as it always was after I'd slept. My dress was ripped and wrinkled and disheveled and . . . I was the exact opposite of this coiffed beauty standing in front of me. I ran my tongue along my bottom lip nervously, feeling insecure and hating it.
I waited for him to tell this woman I was his wife.
Grayson looked away from me, to Jade. "Sure, that sounds good."
I felt my eyes widen and I let out a tiny gasp. He was going to take Jade up on her offer to cook him dinner after he’d turned me down for dinner on our wedding day? What if someone saw them? What if Jade had a big mouth and spread the word that she was dating Grayson? My heart pounded and my skin felt suddenly itchy.
My husband was going on a date on our wedding day. My husband was going on a date on our wedding day. I had the sudden, intense desire to double over with laughter.
Only you, Kira. Only you would be in a situation like this.
"Just give me two minutes to clean up," Grayson said to Jade.
"Sure thing, babe." She smiled sweetly at him. Babe. This woman had just called my fake husband babe. "You can shower at my place if you want." Her lips turned up in the farce of a smile, but her eyes shot daggers at me.
Grayson walked into the house, and Jade and I stood staring at each other. "So who are you exactly, Kira?" Jade asked snottily.
Why, I'm his wife, sweetie. I hope you have a lovely evening on your date. It took everything in me not to say that. I had agreed we should carry on as usual as long as we were discreet, although I hardly thought this qualified. Still, it was up to Grayson to handle this situation with Jade. I hadn't actually done any secretarial or accounting work for Grayson yet, but I suddenly remembered I had offered to. "I'm, um, his new secretary, slash accountant, slash . . . well." I'd let that well sum up the other stuff. Little did she know, it was a mighty big well.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "And you . . . live here?"
We both looked up to see Grayson trotting back down the stairs. He barely had enough time to wash his hands and splash some cold water on his face. Apparently he either didn't care that Jade would get him un-showered or he planned on taking her up on her offer. A flash of her in the kitchen cooking him dinner as he came up behind her in a small towel to kiss the back of her neck suddenly came to mind. And why, oh why did that vision bother me so much?
Idiot, Kira!
"Ready?" Grayson asked, looking at Jade.
"Hmm hmm," she said. "Kira here was just telling me she's your new secretary, slash accountant, slash . . ." We both stared at her, waiting for her to continue, and she stared at us evidently waiting for one of us to say something as well.