A disgruntled Elvis cleared his throat. “We do have the ten minute quickie elopement ceremony with no religious references, although you did pay for the full religious version.”
“Fast is good.” He looked to Mia for confirmation, and she nodded. Since it wasn’t meant to be forever, it was probably best not to have a religious ceremony. Nico might not fear God, but she’d been raised Catholic and she didn’t want to take any chances.
Elvis flipped through his book and smoothed out a page. “Ladies and gentlemen, today we have gathered together to celebrate the marriage of Nico Toscani and Mia Cordano. Marriage is a sacred promise between two people who love, trust and honor each other, and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together. Two souls share—”
Nico coughed, cutting off the officiant’s words. With a slight frown, the officiant put down his book, picked up his guitar and strummed through a few bars of “It’s Now or Never.” Nico gave a soft grunt of displeasure, and Mia’s anxiety faded away beneath the amusement of watching Nico struggle with his self-control. If he couldn’t even make it through a simple civil ceremony, how would he ever make it through a proper Catholic ceremony that included an hour-long mass? She felt a pang of sadness when she thought about the real marriage that lay in his future with the woman who would one day be his wife.
“Marriage is more than a contract,” the officiant continued after putting down his guitar. “It is a commitment to take that joy deep, deeper than happiness, deep into the discovery of who you most truly are, deep into the essence of your being, deep into the soul—”
Another cough from Nico. “We get the deepness. Move on. This is supposed to be the shortened version.”
With a raised, fake, bushy eyebrow of disapproval, the officiant read. “It is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully, responsibly, and reverently. Marriage is forever. And it joins families as well as hearts.”
Mia’s stomach knotted at the serious words, reminding her that this marriage was a sham. It not meant to be forever, or even a joining of hearts. Nico had made that perfectly clear back in the hotel.
“Do you have the ring?”
Nico pulled a small red velvet bag from his pocket and took out an enormous diamond ring.
Elvis whistled low, losing the thin veneer of civility to show his Mafia roots. “Now that’s some rock. You sure you want the shortened version? For an extra five hundred, I can give you a private show of the King’s best works.” He picked up his guitar again and strummed “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck.”
Mia stared at the gaudy stone set up high on a thin gold band. “It’s … sparkly. And huge. Very huge. Are you sure no one is going to chop off my arm to get it? I mean … it’s not an ordinary diamond.”
Guilt flickered across Nico’s face. “No, it isn’t. And if anyone tries to touch you, his life won’t be worth living.”
“No threats during the ceremony, please.” Elvis segued into “Big Boss Man,” as if he issued that kind of warning every day. But then he was a mob associate, so maybe he did.
Nico scowled. “Get on with it.”
“The marriage ring seals the vows of marriage and represents a promise for eternal and everlasting love.” He handed Nico a card. “Read this and put the ring on her finger.”
Nico glanced at the card and then met Mia’s gaze. “I will love, comfort, honor and protect you; forsaking all others to be faithful to you until death do us part.”
Emotion welled up in Mia’s throat as he pushed the massive ring on her finger. Although she had never given much thought to marriage, hearing the beautiful words, knowing they weren’t real, made her ache inside with longing.
Elvis sang a few bars of “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” and Mia choked back a sob.
“You okay?” he asked, pausing mid bar.
“Yep. Fine. That was just so beautiful.” She stiffened her spine, reminded herself of why she was doing this and how much better it was that she was marrying Nico and not crazy Tony Crackers.
After Mia repeated the pledge, and they exchanged a few generic vows, Elvis beamed. “Until today, you were two separate individuals. Now you will be one. By the power enthroned in me, by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Mia leaned in, expecting a chaste peck on the cheek, a pretend kiss for a pretend marriage. But there was nothing pretend about Nico’s kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, sealed his mouth over hers and kissed her hard and deep. Mia melted against him as his tongue swept through her mouth, leaving no inch untouched. A claiming. In every sense of the word.
“Get a fucking room,” Luca yelled.
Nico broke off the kiss with a scowl. “A little respect. You’re talking to the new Mrs. Nico Toscani.”
Mrs. Toscani? She hadn’t agreed to change her name. Mia forced a smile. Her new life had just begun.