Bet On Love (3 page)

Shifting, I reached under the covers to remove the object which continued to poke at me. “Don’t tell me this is our bar tab.” I smoothed the wrinkles from the piece of ivory paper.

“We probably own stock in Jack Daniels.” Cole laughed, and I saw him look at his watch. “I gotta hit the shower.” He started to stand, but I grabbed his firm, tan bicep as I stared in shock at the paper before me. The reality of the situation I’d landed myself in cleared the lingering fuzz in my brain.

I was the new Mrs. Cole Martin.

“Wait.” I clutched the bed sheet tighter and sat up, my chest feeling as if an elephant were sitting on it. He gave me a curious stare but stayed perched on the edge of the bed. “We’re married,” I choked out.

“What?” His brows disappeared beneath his hairline.

“Married. You. Me. Right here.” I held the marriage license in a death grip and rattled it in front of his face.

“That’s not even funny. Let me see.” Cole snatched the receipt from my fingers, verifying our Hunkahunka Burnin’ Love Wedding at the Elvis Chapel. I held my breath, watching him scan the document. He paused for a moment then peeked up over the edge of the paper. His ocean blue eyes danced with mischief before he added in a fair attempt at an impersonation of The King, “
It was very nice.
”

“Are you for real? This is serious! What are we going to do?” I all but shrieked.

What on earth was I thinking? Apparently, neither one of us had been thinking. When was I going to learn and stop making snap decisions? It only seemed to work in business, not my personal life.

“Why do you keep looking at your watch?” My words held a touch of hysteria.

“Sorry, babe, but I have a plane to catch. We’ll have to clear this up later.” He jumped up and pulled on his pants as if we’d had a little misunderstanding and would talk about it after work. Slipping into his shirt, he left it unbuttoned and draped his jacket over his arm.

“You can’t leave.” I launched myself out of the bed, wads of sheeting wrapped around my body. I was not letting him go. “We need an annulment, right now, this morning.” Hell, it hadn’t been twenty-four hours yet. We were still within prime ‘oops’ range, weren’t we?

“Relax. I don’t want this lingering any longer than you do.” He must have caught the panic on my face, and I was grateful we were both on the same page. “But I seriously have to get back home. My flight leaves at two, and I still have to pack.”

“Then let’s hit up a courthouse on the way out of town. Surely things like this happen all the time. I mean, this is Vegas, right?” I found myself gathering my clothes and emptying drawers into my suitcase in a no-nonsense fashion. We could take care of this in the light of day, while we were both sober and in agreement, and be on our way like nothing ever happened.

“No time. Meet me in the lobby in an hour.”

“So we’ll fix this?” I pressed, looking hopeful.

“Yes. Come to Maryland, and I will call in a favor with Matt Drake. Remember him from school? He’s a judge now and owes me for taking his cousin to dinner last month.” Cole walked to the door and turned around, pointing a finger at my blank stare. “Don’t ask. Lobby, babe, one hour, be there.”

I followed his handsome form into the hallway, dragging the bed sheets with me. I never realized one could be panicked, infuriated, and slightly turned on at the same time. But I was, and that frustrated me as well. I stomped my feet hard enough to make a preschooler proud, and yelled to his intriguing, retreating backside, “I’m
not
your babe!”

Turning on my heel and tripping over the bundle of linens, I stormed back into my room and slammed the door. I had one hour before heading to Maryland. A new chapter in my life was about to begin, with a soon to be ex-husband, no less.

***

Twelve hours, two flights and one delay later, we were awakened by what sounded like a thousand clanging soda cans outside. This time when I rolled over, Cole was not beside me but over by his bedroom window, peering through the blinds like a sharp-shooter ready to take out his mark.

Never being good at doing what I was told, I rushed to his side to see for myself. Cars lined both sides of the street and people paraded up the sidewalk, carrying what looked to be platters of food. My stomach voiced its hunger.

“Who are they? Are they coming here?” I looked wide-eyed at Cole.

“Oh, they’re coming here all right. And in case you don’t recognize her, that crazy lady in the bright pink hat is my mother.” He marched to the recliner in the corner where he’d slept and pulled a t-shirt over his head. “Just stay here.” Again, he gave me a hand signal like I was a dog, or something, and walked out the door.

“Yeah, right, like I’m going to sit up here when there’s most definitely going to be a scene downstairs,” I spoke to the backside of the door. After giving him a twenty-second head start, I snuck out after him and perched out of sight at the top of the stairs to listen.

“Mom, what are you doing here? And what’s all this?”

“Well, Cole, when Joe called from Vegas telling us you’d gotten married, we were a bit shocked but knew we needed to give your bride a proper homecoming.”

“Joe called you? Why would he do that?”

“It seems that he and Maggie were your witnesses. And don’t get mad at him. He thought it was the right thing to do, informing your mother that is. Unlike my own son, I might add.” She sniffed.

“I’m sure he did. Mom, you didn’t need to go through all this trouble. It’s not what you think.”

“He’s one of your best friends. Don’t get mad at him for looking out for you. We just want you to be happy, dear. This was no trouble at all. I rallied the troops and even picked up Gram. Heather is going to drop Abbey off, too. I called her this morning.”

Good Lord.
I cringed. During points of their conversation, I’d gone back to the bedroom and changed out of my LA Lakers pj’s before tip-toeing down the stairs. Standing quietly outside the kitchen door, there must have been fifteen people milling around opening various containers of baked goods. I smelled bacon and eggs, while fresh coffee hissed and sputtered from the pot on the counter. Or was that the sweat popping out on Cole’s forehead? The poor man needed some help. We would break the news to them together. After all, they did go through a lot of trouble for us.

“I didn’t--” Cole started to speak, but I made my appearance in the nick of time.

“Good morning, everyone,” I said in my sweetest voice. All heads turned, and I prayed no one noticed the wrinkles in my linen slacks. My father always told me first impressions were everything. Judging by their stares and wide smiles, they were pleased.

“Cole, why didn’t you tell us it was Shelby!” his mother exclaimed as she took my hands and pulled me in for a hug.

“Yeah, Cole, you dumbass, it would have been nice to know,” his brother, Robert, said as he approached and hugged me, too. Only five years older than Cole, Rob had been blessed with the pre-mature grey genes, making him look very distinguished. “Been a long time, but somehow this doesn’t surprise me. Oh, and this is my daughter, Maria.” Rob smoothed the long, blond hair of the young girl standing next to him. “My wife, Kelly is around here somewhere.”

“So was it love at first sight?” Maria asked, looking up at me with magic and hope-filled eyes. After a millisecond of panic, I decided I was not going to be the one to dash this sweet girl’s dreams of love.

“Sure, I guess.” I smiled weakly, and tossed a look of strained adoration to Cole for good measure. He seemed shocked, but quickly recovered. Giving me a conspiring look, he moved to stand by my side with his arm around my waist.

“I told Grandma Ellen that’s what it was.” Maria twirled a lock of golden hair and smiled a huge braces-smile at Cole’s mother. “She said you guys were just being young and stupid.”

“Maria!” Rob put a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Where’s your mom? Why don’t you see if Gram wants more juice?”

“Well, it’s true,” Maria countered and reluctantly went to check on the petite white-haired lady at the kitchen table, who I assumed, was Cole’s grandmother.

“Sorry about that,” his brother said with an embarrassed smile. “Kids will be kids.”

“And you know our mom.” Cole stole a glance at the woman warming eggs on the stove. She waved her fingers in our direction, and I swore I heard him groan.

“She’s sweet,” I whispered. “And she only means well. I’ll go see if she needs help.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Cole warned and cupped my elbow, halting my steps. “She’s going to be flustered enough when we annul this mess.”

“I know. I feel so bad. Your family was always so nice.” I chewed my bottom lip, remembering the barbeques and bonfires I’d attended at his parents’ house outside of town when we were growing up. “So when can we see the judge?” I looked around the beige colored kitchen to make sure no one heard. Just because old feelings were making their presence known was no reason to stay married to a man I hadn’t even spoken to in over a decade.

“Sorry to say it may have to wait until tomorrow. I have a very important meeting at the hospital on the heating and cooling systems for the new children’s wing. I’ll call the courthouse and set up an appointment with Matt when I get back to my office.”

“Wait a minute, you’re a doctor?” I asked while pots and pans clanged around us.

Why didn’t I know this about him? I guess we were too busy taking Vegas by storm instead of having a real conversation. Not that it would matter what he did for a living anyway. We were on opposite ends of the world as far as I was concerned.

“Researcher, actually, but I’m also the hospital’s representative for the engineering firm doing the renovations. I have specific parameters for my lab that I need to make sure they are clear on.” Cole dipped down as a beautiful redhead lifted a tray of pastries over his head and kissed his cheek in passing. “Hey, Kel, love ya.”

“You, too, now eat up unless you’re still on Vegas time,” she said and kept walking.

“What kind of research do you do?” I focused back on Cole while picturing a scene from X-Men or The Incredible Hulk. Genetics would be right up Mr. Brainiac’s alley.

“Diabetes.” He grabbed a bagel from another passing tray. “I’m looking into ways to enhance the delivery of insulin, especially in children.”

“For real?” I couldn’t hide my astonishment.

“And that surprises you?” Cole displayed his palms as if I should be in awe of his greatness.

“Oh please. What about
my
appointments?” I suddenly remembered I was due back at my own office in a couple days. “My job is just as important.” Okay, so maybe not if he actually found a cure or some other medical miracle. But in my own little pocket of the world, I was significant too.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t.” Cole waved to a young man walking through the back door, and then turned to me with a look reminiscent of frustration. “Don’t worry. You’ll be on your way home in no time.”

“I hope so.” I placed my left hand on his chest. “I don’t want everyone to get the wrong idea.”

“Gee, considering you’re here in my house, we have a marriage certificate and you’re sporting a pretty hefty rock on your finger...I’d say they already have the wrong idea.”

“Whaaat?” I looked down at my hand. Gone was the pear-shaped diamond engagement ring from Grant. It had been replaced by a very large princess cut diamond, surrounded by three marquis stones on either side, sitting against a brilliant eternity band. “What did I do?” I moved my glittering hand to my lips. In a panic, I yanked Cole’s left hand to find a very simple, white gold band with a single line of four embedded diamonds. “What did
you
do?”

“Looks like someone loves their bling,” he teased.

“What did
we
do?” I felt myself swoon, and Cole steadied me with a strong arm.

“Easy there, GT. My guess is I mortgaged the house, or signed away our first-born children.”

“Oh, shut up.” I sobered almost instantly at the mention of ‘our’ children. “Don’t even think that way. Once we file the annulment, I’ll sell this sucker and give you back your money.” I’d thought the ring Grant gave me was valuable, but it certainly couldn’t compare to the bridal set on my finger. “We are so stupid.”

“Are we?” Cole flashed a look which I couldn’t read and that confused me.

“How could we not be? Cole, we haven’t seen each other in decades. This isn’t a game. Everyone’s lives will be affected, not just yours and mine.”

“Daddy! Oh, my gosh, you’re back!” As if on cue, Cole’s daughter flew through the room and into his arms.

“Hey munchkin, how are you? I sure missed you!” He wrapped her in a bear hug until she gasped for air.

“Dad! I’m not a little kid anymore. Stop calling me that.” Her cheeks tinted pink when she noticed me standing to the side. “Is this her? Mom said you got re-married. Why didn’t you tell us you had a girlfriend?”

“Well, you see, it’s a bit complicated.” He shifted his weight to his other foot. “What else did your mom say?”

“Not much really. I thought I caught her crying after she hung up from talking with Grandma Ellen. She was kind of quiet in the car.”

“Great, I’m officially a home wrecker,” I muttered softly, not thinking Cole would hear.

“Remember, there was no home to wreck. It’s okay,” he whispered back, and it was my turn to blush. “Abbey, this is Shelby. Shelby, meet my daughter, Abbey.”

“Nice to meet you, Abbey.” I extended my hand and, thankfully, she took it.