Page 18 of The One Night Match

Without hesitation, I step forward into her space and gather her in my arms. There’s too much fucking dress in the way, but I work around it as I pull her into my body and crash my lips down on hers, giving our guests far more than they likely bargained for.

I’m sure my best friend, Colten, will have some questions considering I’ve done nothing but bitch about how much I’m not looking forward to how awkward a first kiss in front of a thousand people is going to be, but right now, Riley is all I can think about.

Clapping and cheering drag me from her lips, and she stares up at me through long, thick lashes. “Come on, Mrs. De Luca. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“You probably shouldn’t say hell in church.” She smirks stiffly.

I chuckle and take her hand, leading her down the aisle and toward the entrance.

I need to get her alone, even if it’s just for a few minutes. We need to work out how the hell this happened and then work out what we’re going to do. Obviously, we’re married now, so regardless of our feelings on the matter, we’re going to be tied together for the rest of our lives, but maybe this won’t be so terrible.

Maybe for once in my life, things are going to work out the way they were supposed to.

NINE

RILEY

This is a nightmare I can’t wake up from.

How could this possibly be my life?

I go out thinking I’m having a one-night stand with a sinful man, and I’ll be able to hold on to that last passionate night during a loveless arranged marriage, and somehow end up fucking my future husband?

Only I could get myself into such a monumental mess, and there’s not a soul on this earth I can talk to about it.

Except Cruz, I suppose, but he’s not going to understand. Or maybe he will.

I don’t really know.

All I know is I’m freaking the fuck out, and if it weren’t for his steady presence, I would have had a panic attack in front of everyone.

Cruz tugs me through the hordes of people offering their congratulations, and I let him. Not because it’s what’s expected of me as his wife now, but because I want him to get me out of here. I need a reprieve, even if it’s just from the crowd, so I can get my head together.

I wave at my parents and sisters as Cruz ushers me into the waiting limousine, and I awkwardly shove the thick layers of tulle through the door before following it in.

This thing is a hazard.

Once I’m settled and my dress is taking up almost the whole seat, Cruz slides in after me and slams the door behind him, blocking us from the rest of the world.

My shoulders sag, and I release the breath I’ve been holding since I realized I fucked the man I was about to marry, thinking I’d never see him again.

What a spectacular mess I’ve managed to make for myself.

This is truly artful, even for me.

“You okay?” he asks as the driver pulls away from the curb.

“Nope.”

He chuckles as his tattooed fingers wrap around my chin and guide my face around to meet his eyes.

How is he even more attractive in the light of day? I thought for sure the dark suit, tattooed skin, and bone structure that would make even Brad Pitt weep with jealousy had to be in its element in a dark club, and yet here he is, looking like a fallen angel of death in broad daylight.

It’s not fair.

“You’re really crashing out, huh?”

“You think?”