The Wedding Contract

Chapter 18





When I get to the shore, I shove Nick as hard as I can. “Why were you watching? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Nick laughs. “Everyone would have watched that.”

I don’t like the way he said the last word. “Excuse me?” We’re far enough from Deegan, but not close enough to the hotel for anyone to hear us. I shout at him, “No, they wouldn’t have. They would have kept on walking.”

Nick’s dimple appears as he smiles. Bastard. “You’re so cute when you’re mad, but you’re wrong, babe, and I’ll tell you why. Any person who heard the noises you were making would have stopped and stared because you were so loud it was impossible to ignore.”

“I was not!”

He shrugs his shoulders like it doesn’t matter. “Yes, you were and seeing a woman in the throes of passion and behaving so uninhibited, well, f*ck Sky—anyone would look and stare...” His eyes drift over me before he adds, “and want you for himself.”

A rush of anger bursts through me. I pull my arm back and swing, but the punch doesn’t connect. Nick catches my fist and then gets into my face. In that sultry voice of his, he breathes, “Why are you trying to punch me? I’m telling you the truth. I’d just found you and was shocked. Did you want me to leave and go shoot Sophie’s photos without you?”

He’s still holding my fist. “No.”

I try to yank my fist away but his grip tightens. Nick leans in closer and those dark lashes dip to my lips. “I wonder.” He doesn’t finish his thought, which drives me nuts.

As I continue to try to pull away, he manages to hold on without hurting me. “I don’t care what you wonder. Let me go and if you tell anyone you saw me with Deegan—”

Nick releases me and steps back, chortling before walking away. “Called it!” He raises his fist in the air and whoops like he won something.

I remain behind him, perplexed. “You called what?”

“I knew you were the slutty bridesmaid. Hey, when we do it, I’d prefer some place less slimy.” Nick hastens his pace, making it difficult for me to keep up with him even though I’m practically running. I lose sight of him somewhere between the hotel and the road.