Shine Not Burn(96)

“He disappeared for the whole damn night, thanks to you,” said Ian. He was pissed.

“Shut up, Ian. Now’s not the time,” warned Mack.

I continued, ignoring Ian’s interruption. “We hardly even knew each other, but we got married.”

Mack stepped over and stood close to me, pulling my attention away from his mother’s shocked expression. I could feel his arm all the way down mine and his warmth comforted me as I think it was meant to.

“It’s not real, Andie. It didn’t happen,” said Bradley, also stepping closer. He was using his cajoling tone, trying to get me to change my mind.

“Oh, it’s real, all right,” said Mack, defensive. “She has the documentation to prove it, and I’m not signing any divorce papers. Not yet anyway.” He looked down at me. “Not until she’s absolutely sure she’s done with me.”

I stared at the ground.

“She doesn’t need you to sign any papers, you redneck idiot,” Bradley ground out.

“Hey now, there’s no call for that kind of language,” said Angus, his chest puffing out a little. Several of the men nearby moved closer to stand behind him.

I started feeling panicky about the situation. I had to fix things before they got out of hand. “Bradley’s right. Mack doesn’t have to sign the papers. I can do it without the signature if I have to.” I forced myself to look up at him, even though I knew it was going to bring so much pain.

He was stricken. “You’re not going to do that are you?”

“I have to,” I said, my voice trembling. I wanted to vomit right there at his feet I was so sick over it.

“No, you don’t,” he insisted, putting his hand on the side of my face. “I told you, you can stay here. Stay with me. Be my wife in more than just words. Let me show you how much I love you.”

“Am I the only person here who hasn’t lost his mind?” yelled Bradley, clearly frustrated.

“No!” yelled Hannah. “You are not the only one!”

“Thank you!” he yelled back, looking at me. “Andie, that knock you took to the head obviously caused you some brain damage. We’ll get it looked at back home, but you need to come with me now. No more playing cowgirl. We have a rehearsal dinner to plan, a wedding to finish, and people to pick up from the airport. Our friends and family are waiting for us back home.”

I looked from Bradley to Mack, my head spinning with the choices flying around me. Lifeplan or off-the-rails-no-plan? Lawyer or rancher? City or country? The man I once loathed and then came to see a partnership opportunity with or the man I’d never had anything but fun with? The known quantity or the stranger?

Mack’s hand fell away from my face and his expression became shuttered.

“I don’t think she wants to go with you, city boy,” said Grandma Lettie.

Bradley frowned at her dismissively before turning back to me. “You’re just feeling obligated,” he said, his voice much gentler than it had been. “You feel like you signed the paper and said the vows, so now you have to follow through. I know you, Andie … I know you a hell of a lot better than this hayseed does. But you don’t have to do that, okay?” He got a really hopeful grin on his face. “I made some calls. It’s all good news.” He held his hand out for mine.

“What’s good news?” I asked, wondering what he had cooking up his sleeve. Bradley was always good for a last minute courtroom surprise, and that’s what this felt like.

He glowered at Mack for a few seconds before continuing. It made my heart freeze over because I knew what it meant.

“I called the Nevada State licensing department.”

“So did Andie. She has a document from them,” said Mack. He was nervous too. I could hear it in his voice.

“I’m not talking about that department. I’m talking about the one that licenses wedding chapels.”

My blood ran cold and the sound of pounding heartbeats echoed around in my head. I could hear my own hammering pulse and it was drowning out everything but Bradley’s voice. He was like the great and terrible Oz, delivering the bad news.

“That place that married you? They weren’t properly licensed. Your marriage is a sham. It’s not real. You’re not really married to this guy. See? You don’t even need a divorce.”

There were a couple gasps from the women and a mumbling came from Angus’s group of friends.

“What are you talking about?” I asked when I could speak again.

“For a girl known around town as the discovery queen, you sure didn’t do a very good job of checking your facts,” he said mockingly as he moved in to take me by the elbow. “Come on. Time to go home.” He looked over my head at Mack. “No harm, no foul, guy. You’re single. Might as well live it up while you can.”

I looked back at Mack and felt something like a knife entering my chest at the expression on his face. He was staring at me like I had done it, like I had tricked him into thinking he was married.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I let Bradley lead me to the front of the house.

The crowd in front of us parted and fell away. An almost clear path led from the banquet table to Bradley’s shiny silver rental car. The only thing standing in our way was Grandma Lettie.