Confessions of the World's Oldest Shotgun Bride (17 page)

“Gambling on a sure thing,” Steve answered. “My girlfriend and I are tying the knot.”

“Congrats.”

“Thanks. How about you? Hitting the casinos?”

“Nope. I live in Vegas. I know better.” He stuck out his hand. “Joey Martini, by the way.”

“Steve Tyler.”

“Not
the
Steve Tyler, or you wouldn’t be here in coach with us working stiffs. Rock stars fly first class.”

“Usually I’m in the cockpit. I fly for the Air Force. What about you?”

The man’s smile disappeared. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Steve took in his solid build. “Muscle for the mob?” he asked, only half joking. “Not that it’s any of my business.”

Martini let out a snort. “Get real. The wise guys lost Vegas decades ago. I’m an... entertainer.”

“An entertainer who doesn’t want to talk about his job? Let’s see... a stripper?” Steve tried not to smirk.

Martini’s face reddened. “Not that either. If you must know, I’m an Elvis impersonator.”

Steve did a double take. “For real? I gotta say, I don’t see the resemblance.”

“In the right jumpsuit, your grandmother could pass for Elvis.” Martini folded his arms across his chest. “Professional singing gigs aren’t easy to come by. Playing the King pays the rent, and I’m close enough to L.A. to go in for auditions.”

“I get it. You’re going for your dream. You have to start somewhere.” Steve understood about starting at the bottom.

“Exactly. And the job’s not so bad. I make people happy. Hell, sometimes I even do weddings. I like those gigs. Newlyweds are the best tippers. Especially when they’re drunk.”

“You’re allowed to marry people? I thought that was a joke.”

“No, it’s the real deal. I have a license from the state and everything.”

He shook his head. “Amazing. Only in America.”

“Only in Vegas.”

* * *

In the airport, the neon lights and clanging slot machine bells told the story—this was Vegas, baby. Kathryn and Steve made their way to the baggage claim area. “You go look for our limo driver while I get our bags,” he said.

“You got us a limo?”

“Sure. You deserve the best. This is a once in a lifetime event.”

She had to admire his optimism.

Near the door, she spotted the waiting limo drivers and located the one holding a sign reading “Tyler.” When Steve returned from the baggage carousel, she let him help her into the limo while the driver took care of their luggage. Settling onto the bench seat, she stretched her arms over her head. “I’m stiff. I can’t believe I slept through the whole flight. Five hours. That’s as much as I used to sleep in an entire night.”

Steve slid an arm around her shoulder. “You needed the rest. Your body’s working hard.”

She relaxed against his chest. “I was lousy company. Did you die of boredom?”

“No. I watched the movie and talked to the guy in the window seat. We hit it off.”

“I guess so. I saw him giving you his business card in baggage claim.”

“Yeah. He’s a singer. If we have time, maybe we can catch his act.”

The limo turned off the exit ramp from the interstate onto Las Vegas Boulevard. A laugh of pure delight bubbled from Kathryn’s lips. “Just look at all this. We have King Arthur’s castle, and the Statue of Liberty, and the Eiffel Tower, and the canals of Venice, all within a few blocks.”

“Disneyland for adults,” Steve agreed. “I’m surprised you like the strip, though. I figured you’d think it was tacky.”

“Of course it’s tacky. It’s supposed to be tacky. Look at the attention to detail. It’s full-on, all out tacky. Tackiness with commitment.”

Steve rested his chin on Kathryn’s shoulder. “I love it when you laugh.”

“Know something? I love it too.” She heard the surprise in her voice. “I just realized, I’ve probably laughed more in the month we’ve been together than I had in the previous five years.”

Steve nuzzled her neck. “You needed someone to teach you to have fun.”
You needed me
hung in the air between them. Kathryn let it hang.

* * *

“Wake up, gorgeous. Enough stalling. Time to get hitched.”

Opening her eyes from a Saturday afternoon nap, Kathryn saw Steve sitting on the edge of the bed. His hair was wet from a shower, and he wore nothing but his gym shorts. Smart choice. The sight of his bare chest always put her in a cooperative mood. He smiled and held out a ceramic hotel coffee mug.

She sat up and reached for the mug. “You’re giving me coffee without busting my chops about it being bad for the baby?”

“This is ginger ale. Drink it fast before your stomach has time to get unsettled.”

Like that was going to work. But she had to love him for trying.

Love him? Did she? She wasn’t sure she wanted to go there. She drank a gulp of the ginger ale. “You take such good care of me.”

“Of course. It’s my job to take care of you and the baby.” He laid his head against her stomach. “Daddy loves you, princess.”

Kathryn ruffled his hair. “If it turns out the baby’s a boy, you may have warped him for life, calling him princess.”

“No. The message would still be the same, that he’s loved.”

Her expression turned serious. “You’re working your tail off doing things for me, and all I do is give you a hard time. I can’t believe you’ve been so patient. Especially since you could have walked away from the whole... situation.” She just stopped herself from saying, “mess.”

His smile vanished. “You’re wrong. I couldn’t have walked away. I wish you understood that.”

She laid her free hand on top of his. “I wish we knew each other better too. But I’m starting to understand. This ‘an officer and a gentleman’ business isn’t just words to you. It means something.”

His jaw jutted forward and he nodded. “Yes, it does.”

“You always do your duty.”

He frowned. “I try, but I didn’t ask you to marry me out of duty.” He grabbed the empty mug from her hand and laid it on the bedside table so he could take both of her hands in his. “If any woman before you had given me so much grief, I’d have given up a long time ago. But I’ll jump through any hoops it takes to win you over. I’ve wanted you most of my life. You’re worth the effort.”

“Wow. I’ll try to deserve you.” She pushed herself up off the bed, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the shower.

By the time she came back out, wrapped in a towel, Steve was dressed. When she saw him, for a moment she almost forgot to breathe. In his dress uniform with its silver braid and ribbons and medals, he was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. “Oh. My. God,” she breathed out.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”

“I’ve never seen you in a real uniform before. Since you moved in with me, all you’ve worn to work is that canvas sack thingy.”

He grinned. “That canvas sack thingy is called a flight suit. Show a little respect.”

She laid a hand on his chest. Under her palm, his heart beat almost as fast as hers. “I like this a lot better. You look...” She couldn’t come up with a word that did him justice.

He cupped her face with his hand and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You look pretty hot yourself. That towel suits you.”

Her cheeks grew warm. “Stop it.”

“I won’t stop it until you believe me. Wonder Woman shouldn’t doubt herself.”

“I don’t feel like Wonder Woman any more. I screwed up.”

“Yeah, you’re human, like the rest of us. Must be hard to take.”

Even though she knew he was teasing, the hint of criticism made her eyes mist. “You’re making fun of me.”

“No, baby. I’m trying to get you to stop being so hard on yourself. So things aren’t working out exactly the way you planned—big deal. You just adjust your plan.”

She looked into his eyes. “This new plan could be... really exciting, actually.”

He smiled and pushed up the corner of her lip with his index finger. Such a gentle touch for such a large man. “See, that wasn’t so hard to admit. Hurry up and get dressed. We have an appointment at four.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.”

She frowned. “I don’t like surprises.”

“Trust me.”

There was the rub. How could she trust him? Then again, how could she not? They were about to start a major project, one that would take years—no, decades—to complete. She frowned again. “Do you have the rings?”

“What if I said I forgot?”

Something in his expression hinted that he was playing her, so she returned the favor. “I guess we’d have to stop at one of those pawn shops that seem to be on every corner.”

“A used wedding ring?”

She laughed at his horrified expression. “Rings are inanimate objects. They don’t carry their previous owners’ bad luck.”

He shook his head. “You’re one tough lady.”

“Yes, I am. Can you handle it, big guy?” she purred.

“I’m looking forward to handling it. Or at least, to handling you. As often as possible. And I have the rings right here.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two plain gold bands, one thin, the other larger and wider.

Just as she’d suspected. She touched the larger ring that must be his. “This is a serious ring.”

“Damn straight. I don’t want anyone to miss it. Everyone needs to know I’m taken.”

She smiled then, a soft smile. “Okay. Give me a few minutes to get dressed and I’ll go wherever you want to take me.”

* * *

Katie made her usual efficient work of dressing, and in less than fifteen minutes they were in a cab heading down the strip. She wore a pale blue suit, just a shade away from white. Maybe deep inside she wanted some tradition after all. To him, the look said businesswoman more than bride, but he suspected she considered the outfit too feminine for the office.

Her smile said businesswoman too, one of those insincere smiles that didn’t reach the eyes, and her body was rigor mortis stiff. He slid an arm around her waist and rested his cheek against her hair. “Relax, baby.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.” He ran his free hand up her leg, barely skimming her flesh with his fingertips, and smiled with satisfaction at her familiar shiver of response.

“Hey, it’s normal for a bride to be nervous on her wedding day. I wish Amanda were here. This feels a little sad. Even though I was the one who wanted the stealth wedding. We could still change our plans. We could spend tonight playing blackjack, and have the kind of wedding you probably wanted later, back home, in Our Lady of Peace, with our family and friends, and me in white lace. Only I don’t do white lace.” Finally running out of breath, Kathryn gave him a huge smile and laid her hand on his knee. “Let’s do this thing.”

Steve smiled back. “I’m worn out just listening to that. Thank God you came to the right bottom line.”

The cab turned left and pulled up in front of a hotel. Kathyrn read the name on marquee out loud. “Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel.” Her eyes widened. “No.”

“Yes.”

She shook her head. “I thought you were being sarcastic when you suggested we get married by an Elvis impersonator.”

“I was, but the idea grew on me. And this way, there’ll be one familiar face at our wedding.”

“You know an Elvis impersonator?”

“My friend from the plane. I told you we’d catch his act.”

She gave him a great, dazzling Katie smile. “What fun! I love it. We can reword the vows. I’ll promise to love you tender, not to step on your blue suede shoes, and never to make you check into the heartbreak hotel, even if you treat me like a hound dog.”

“Hey, this is serious,” Steve protested, but he knew his eyes held a twinkle.

Her smile grew gentle. “I hope we’ll have a life like our wedding—serious, but fun too.”

“Amen, Sister Katie.” Grabbing her hand, he dragged her into the building, and the start of their new life.

The wedding was over and Steve and Kathryn were back in their hotel room in a total elapsed time of under an hour. As the door closed behind them, he grabbed her left hand, with its brand new ring, and held it against his cheek. “It’s done. You’re my wife.”

“That makes tonight our wedding night.” She drew her hand away and looked from his face to his crotch and back. “Did I mention you look great in that uniform? Though you’ll look even better out of it.”

“Go into the bathroom and change.”

The husky tone of his voice ignited her senses. She rolled her eyes. “It’s a little late now to be shy. You’ve seen everything there is to see.”

“I need to get the room ready.”

She ran her hands up his arms and pressed her body against his. “You don’t need to make a big production out of tonight, flyboy. It’s not like this is our first time.”

“Sure, it is. Our first time as husband and wife. Give me time to make things nice.” He lowered his head and nibbled on her neck. “Though I love how much you want me.”

“I do want you. Sometimes it scares me how much.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of, baby. I made you a solemn freaking promise today. Now go.”

In the bathroom, Kathryn opened a pink Victoria’s Secret bag and slipped on the wispy concoction Amanda had insisted she buy. A matching negligee and cover-up of white lace, nearly shear. Amanda knew she “didn’t do white lace.” Had her friend realized there was more to this weekend getaway than Kathryn was saying?

She examined herself in the mirror. Part of her said this getup belonged on someone a lot younger. But she needed to impress a sexy young husband who’d seen supermodels naked. And in her opinion, she looked damn hot for a slightly overage pregnant broad. Her stomach was still flat, but her breasts had already started swelling. Steve was going to love them.

“Ready when you are, babe,” Steve’s voice called out. Kathryn paused for a moment with her hand on the knob, then opened the door.

The curtains were drawn, leaving the room dim. Kathryn smelled the roses before she saw them. A path of dark pink petals led from the bathroom door to the bed, while more petals covered the bed. Kathryn’s eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. She touched Steve’s arm. “You did this?”

“Who else?”

The look in his eyes, so loving and so trusting, made her breath catch. She felt herself blushing. “I turned your life upside down.”