made him think things he shouldn't. Things that would get his heart broken in the process. He had no idea of her feelings for him. Did she see him as just her boss or more? Was their one night together just that? One night of drunken bliss? Or was it more? Could it lead to more? Did he want it to?
He didn't even have to think on that one. He did. Seeing her smile made him happy. Seeing her smile at him made his pulse race. She'd asked him what happened when they went home and he'd said he didn't know. He knew now. He wasn't ready to give her up. It wasn't the alcohol talking when he said he wanted her. He was sober now and he still wanted her. Wanted it all. The smiles, the laughs and the gasps. The way her hand felt in his, the way her body felt snuggled into his side. He wanted her. The question was, when all of this was over and the lies came out, would there be enough left for her to give him?
Macy felt sick. Her head was throbbing and her stomach was queasy. Her mother said it was just nerves and she was probably right but that didn't stop her lunch from trying to come back up.
She was sitting at her mother's vanity getting her hair curled while her sister-in-laws reported on the goings on downstairs. Apparently the preacher had arrived. Macy inhaled deeply, willing her stomach to settle. She couldn't believe they'd come this far in their plan for it all to backfire in their faces. A wedding. Their tiny fib was now a monstrous lie that had grown two heads and was still growing. She was preparing for a wedding that shouldn't be taking place. How did everything get so out of control?
'Sean looks amazing, Macy,” Pam said, smiling. “And he looks as nervous as you do.'
'I'm sure he is,” Macy mumbled. She glanced into the mirror, looking at Pam before forcing a smile onto her face.
'He's pacing the living room talking to himself. I don't even think Bruce was as nervous as Sean seems to be.'
Bruce actually wanted to marry you, Macy thought, before sighing. And that piece of knowledge was the hardest of all to swallow. She'd been half in love with Sean before he even agreed to come to the mountains with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. Now, a week later, she knew she'd be miserable when he was no longer there. How was she supposed to go back to work and pretend this week didn't happen? Pretend Sean's kisses hadn't made her toes curl up and caused her heart to race uncontrollably. To pretend their one night together meant nothing when it meant everything. One night of bliss spent with a man she'd give anything to have forever. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized this was her ultimate fantasy where Sean was concerned. To be fussed over by her family while he waited at the altar for her. Only in her dream, he loved her back.
'Oh, she's crying.'
Macy looked up at Pam when she spoke and smiled before wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I'm fine,” she lied. “Everything's just happening too fast, I guess.'
'Are you sure that's all it is, Macy?” her mother asked.
Macy nodded and grabbed her mother's hand. “Yeah. I'm just a bit emotional, is all.'
Rose smiled before placing the last pin in her hair. “Well, that's to be expected,” she said. “A woman's wedding day is always an emotional roller coaster. All those doubts and fears come into play and give us all sorts of crazy ideas.” She laughed before shaking her head. “The day I married your father, I ran like the hounds of hell were after me minutes before the ceremony started.'
'You did?” Macy asked, shocked.
'I sure did,” Rose said. “I got scared and ran out of the church. It took your grandfather two blocks to catch me.'
Macy laughed. “I can't imagine grandpa running after anything.'
'Well he did. He said he'd already paid for everything and I was going to marry your father or else.” Rose stepped to the bed and grabbed the veil she'd worn at her own wedding and placed it on Macy's head before smiling. “Of course, as you can see, I did marry him. The minute I reached that altar and looked into his face, the fear left me. I knew then that I'd spend the rest of my life with him.'
Macy smiled as her mother retold her the story and thought of her own wedding. Wouldn't this be something to tell her future children? How she lied to her parents and had a fake wedding. Pushing the thought away she looked into the mirror when her mother said she was finished.
The girl looking back at her was one she barely recognized. Her hair was pulled into a loose upsweep with small curls framing her face. The veil fell past her shoulders and the string of pearls her mother gave her completed the look. She looked lovely, even if she said so herself. She just wished her mood would match how she looked. If any of them knew how awful she felt…
She looked up at her mother and, seeing her deep frown, forced a smile onto her own face. “Thanks, momma,” she said. “It looks great.'
'That it does,” Rose said. “I don't think I've ever seen a prettier bride.'
'And Sean will think the same thing,” Pam said. “Now lets go. Everyone is ready!'
Macy stood and smoothed down the front of her dress. Her legs started shaking the moment she started for the door. Would she be able to get through this until they dropped their big bombshell? She just hoped her family wouldn't be too disappointed when they realized they forgot the most important thing in their wedding preparations. The marriage license.
Her father was waiting for her at the top of the stairs. She smiled at him when he held his arm out to her and the music started moments later. She glanced down into the living room, her gaze finding Sean's. He was staring at her with a tiny smile lifting the corner of his mouth. Pam was right. He did look amazing. The dark suit her brother had loaned him made him look very distinguished.
The butterflies started darting in erratic patterns in her stomach again. She took a cleansing breath as they started down the steps. When they reached the bottom and walked into the living room and to the fireplace where Sean and the preacher were waiting, she was amazed she hadn't fallen. Her legs were still shaking.
'Don't look so nervous,” the preacher said. “This is the easy part.'
She smiled in spite of the fact he was wrong. This wasn't the easy part. This was the hardest part of all. This was the part where everything teetered on the brink of disaster. This was the part where two years of pathetic lying would catch up to her and set into motion a chain of events that would out her for the conniving little liar she really was.
Her father placed her hand in Sean's and she looked up at him. He smiled before squeezing her hand. She was glad he seemed so calm. He looked happy, actually. His smile wasn't forced and to all appearances, he looked… content. She inhaled deeply and let it out in a gush of nervous jitters. His hold on her hand tightened.
'Let's get started,” the preacher said. He straightened his shoulders. “Friends, family, we're gathered here today to join Macy and Sean on this most joyous day. In the years they've been together their love has grown and matured and they've now decided to make their commitment to one another as husband and wife.” He smiled before asking, “Who gives this woman in marriage?'
'Her mother and I,” her father said. He smiled and kissed her cheek before turning and walking to the other side of the room where her mother stood. Macy watched them smile at her before turning back to the preacher.
He talked for long minutes, telling them the definition of a true marriage and the seriousness of the vows they would take. His words were like a slap to the face. She glanced at Sean again and noticed he was watching her. The look on his face puzzled her. He didn't look nervous at all. He looked… well, pretty calm for a man who was about to marry a girl he wasn't in love with. What was he thinking? Was he waiting for the right moment to say something about the license? Was he waiting for her to say something instead? When should she do it? Should she wait a bit longer or stop the wedding now? How far should she let them get? The vows? The rings? She gasped lightly when she remembered the rings and felt a small burst of hope. “Rings!” she yelled and turned to look at Sean. “We don't have any rings, Sean!'
The commotion in the room grew by the second and she turned to look at her family. They were smiling. Why were they all smiling? Her grandmother stood from her chair and cross the room, her purse clutched to her
