Vegas Vacation (11 page)

Tamlyn came out, holding something behind her back. Her eyes sparkled. “Give me the basket, and I'll go pay for it.”

He slid his hand into hers. “I'm coming, too.”

“Fine, but you mustn't look. You can scan the perimeter or whatever cops do, while she wraps the dress.”

Picking up the bags a few minutes later, she gave him another dazzling smile. This Tam was so different from the spoiled brat he'd met a couple of days ago. He liked this one. “What do we do about witnesses?”

“All the chapels have witnesses on hand, but I called Vance while you were trying the dress on. He and Peggy will come to the chapel with us. We're going to change at their house.”

 

****

 

Tamlyn glanced at the framed family portraits lining the hallway of the Wicks family home. She'd never had a close family like this, and it didn't seem right to deceive them, but if Martin felt comfortable doing it, who was she to argue? After all, he was doing this for her.

Vance thumped Martin on the back. “Hey, bro. Peggy's just coming.”

“Nice to see you too, Vance.” Martin said, returning the bear hug.

“Martin!” A small, dark-haired, pregnant woman ran down the hallway, her arms outstretched. “You're looking better than you should be after totaling your car.”

Martin hugged her back. “Thank you, I think.” He pulled back and grabbed Tamlyn's hand, pulling her closer. “This is Tamlyn. Tam, this is my sister Peggy and her husband, Vance.”

Tamlyn blushed as she became the center of attention. “Hello.”

Vance pulled her into a hug, playing his part to perfection. “Well, you're a pretty young thing and no mistake. What're you doing with a reprobate like Martin?”

Tamlyn shrugged as Peggy hugged her. “Nice to meet you.”

“And you. I can't believe he didn't tell us about you before now. Or bring you to meet us. He's lucky I have something to wear.”

Martin's arm slid around Tamlyn's waist, pulling her close to him. Did he realize exactly what that did to her? How the heat from his touch ran straight to her core, making her want to melt at his feet?

“Sorry, sis.”

Peggy smiled. “I called Mom and Dad. They're on their way over.”

Martin stiffened. “Why did you do that? I asked you not to.”

“I'm sorry. But you're getting
married.
They have to be there.”

Martin
humphed
.

Tamlyn turned to look at him, startled by the anger in his eyes. “It's OK, hon. Just because my father can't be there, doesn't mean your parents can't be, either.”

Martin's gaze held hers for a moment and her knees threatened to give way with the intensity of the stare. “Are you sure, babe? It doesn't seem very fair.”

She nodded, kissing his cheek. “I'm sure.”

He moved his face and caught her lips with hers. The kiss was soft, with none of the passion he'd shown earlier. Maybe she misread the signs. She rested a hand on his waist as she kissed him back.

Vance grinned and shook his head. “Good grief, man, that's how you kiss your sister, and I should know, because I've watched you do it.”

Martin's face flushed as he let Tamlyn go. “Yeah, well, not everyone likes showing emotion in public, Vance.”

“You're not in public and if you can't show the woman you're marrying in a couple hours how much you love her in front of family, then there's no hope for ya.”

Martin scowled at him. “Mind if I hang our things up in your room?”

“Sure.” Vance looked at Peggy. “Go make Tamlyn some coffee, baby. We'll be there in a few.”

 

****

 

Martin watched the women head down the hall, and then let out a deep breath. “Why did you let her bring Mom and Dad into this?”

Vance lowered his voice. “Did that bump on the head from the accident take away all your senses, man? You're meant to be protecting her Ladyship, not marrying her.”

“That's exactly what I
am
doing. We are going into this with our eyes open. I need you to help me, here. If anyone finds out this marriage is in name only, then it's all for nothing.”

“Peggy will be hurt. She's really happy for you.”

“I know and I hate lying to her, but I have no choice. Someone killed Raleigh, and then tried to kill us. Until I get to the bottom of this, I want things done this way. Are there any leads on the necklace yet?”

Vance shook his head. “No, I don't know where it is, but it's worth a whole lot more than you think it is. I'll show you what I've discovered. The file's upstairs.”

Martin followed him and laid Tamlyn's dress, still in its carrier, and his suit on the bed. He took the file and opened it. “That's it,” he said looking down at the photo. Then he took a deep breath, his jaw dropping and eyes widening. “It's worth how much?”

“Keep reading. The estate is almost insolvent. Several bad investments over the years have left Lord Bradshaw almost bankrupt, even with Daniel Haynes buying half the estate. That gold cross would clear the rest.”

“It belongs to Tamlyn, not the estate. She wants it back.”

Vance nodded. “You marry her and you're a bigger target than you are protecting her. They already tried to kill you once, Martin. They won't hesitate to do it again. You can't go through with this.”

“I have to, Vance. I know I'm working, but, so help me, I have fallen for her. If doing this protects her, then that's what I'll do.”

“Even if it kills you?”

Martin looked straight at him, not skipping a beat before answering. “Even if it kills me.”

 

****

 

Tamlyn grabbed Martin's hand in relief as he reappeared.

Vance smirked. “She's got it bad for you, bro.”

Martin scowled. “Maybe you scared her. So what time are Mom and Dad arriving?”

The doorbell rang. “About now.” Peggy headed out, Vance behind her.

Tamlyn glared at Martin. “Don't you leave me, again. Your sister wanted to know how long I'd known you.”

“What did you say?”

“I said a while.”

Martin nodded, forcing a smile as his parents came into the room. “Mom, Dad.” He hugged them and rolled his eyes over their shoulders at his sister, then pulled back. “I'd like you guys to meet Tamlyn Bradshaw, my fiancée. Tam, honey, these are my parents, Hank and Casey Ames.”

Tamlyn found herself hugged by two more total strangers. What was it with Martin's family and hugs? She'd had more hugs in the space of an hour than in the past ten years. She listened as Martin skillfully wove a plausible back story. His whole family seemed to have taken to her, his mother in particular. She'd break their hearts when this ‘marriage' ended.

“So how are you wearing your hair?” Casey's voice dragged Tamlyn out of her thoughts.

“I have a flower for it.”

Martin glanced at his watch. “We should change, don't want to be late.”

Tamlyn followed Peggy upstairs to the bedroom. She wanted to change alone, but Peggy and Casey both insisted on helping her.

“You look like a million dollars,” Casey said, fixing the flower in her hair.

Peggy frowned. “Wait, Marty's not supposed to see your dress before the ceremony.”

Tamlyn smiled. “He chose it. Well, he pointed to the rail and said, ‘how about one of those'. I picked out this one. He doesn't know which color is it.”

There was a knock on the door and Martin's voice came through it. “Are you ladies ready? We need to go.”

Peggy opened the door. “My, don't you look handsome, little bro.”

Tamlyn gazed at the figure standing in the doorway. A white shirt and black suit jacket hugged his broad chest and narrow waist. A blue tie and neat black trousers completed the image. She stared at him, her heart pounding, and her pulse racing.
Wow. He looks like an Adonis. Lord, I know he isn't going to be mine forever, but at least I have him for a few days. Thank You.

Martin grinned. “Want me to do a twirl so you can stare at my back as well as my front, Tam?”

“No,” she managed, her throat dry and her voice husky. Did he have to use those words? The image of him running into her room, wet from the shower and clad only in jeans sprang to mind, making her cheeks burn even hotter.

Martin moved over to her. “You are beautiful.” His hand trailed down her face, cupping it and bringing it towards him. His lips brushed across hers tenderly, his other hand sliding into the small of her back, pulling her against his taut, hard figure.

Tamlyn slid her hands around him, running them down his back, returning the kiss. As he pulled away she smiled at him.

Martin smiled back. “Let's go get married.”

 

****

 

Martin stood next to Tamlyn in front of the chapel. He could feel her whole body shaking as he held her hand. He longed to take her in his arms, comfort her, and tell her he loved her and that everything would be fine, but he wasn't sure it would be.

The reaction of the others to what he was doing had stirred up doubts within him.

Would Tam expect more of him than he could give her? Because this wasn't simply a case of the department faking the paperwork.

This was a legally binding contract between the two of them. One he couldn't fulfill in the way everyone expected him to. This was going to be one of the hardest things he'd ever done. He was doing something he wanted to do, but could never let her know.

He held Tamlyn's gaze as he slid the ring onto her finger. He'd chosen the vows deliberately, so as not to mention faithfulness, because that would never be an issue.

“Tamlyn, I take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you, with all of your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.”

Her hands shook as Tamlyn picked up the other ring and slid it onto his finger. Her pretty blue eyes glistened. Was that love in her voice as she spoke her vows? Or were his tortured emotions making him hear something that wasn't there?

The minister pronounced them man and wife and Martin wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her gently, not wanting to make this any more of a big thing than it already was. Cameras clicked and flashed as he and Tamlyn signed the papers.

She looked up at him, concern written all over her face.

His heart twisted within him, the desire to hold her and make all this go away increasing exponentially. He kissed her cheek. “Everything will be fine.”

Peggy frowned. “You're supposed to tell her you love her. Did I teach you nothing?”

“Apparently not.” He wanted to tell Tam that, so very much, but couldn't.

“We should go and celebrate. How about champagne at the Bellagio?” his father suggested. “Get pictures of you two by the fountains?”

That was the last place they needed to be.

Martin shook his head. “Tam doesn't drink, and I'm driving home—”

Tamlyn shushed him. “Photos by the fountain sound great and we can stick to juice, as you're driving.”

Peggy smiled. “See. A voice of reason, that'd be why he married you. Maybe we should see if the honeymoon suite is free. Or were you actually planning on going back to your apartment?”

Martin cleared his throat. “Well actually, yeah, we were.”

Peggy looked at Vance in horror. “The guy has no idea how to treat a woman at all. Martin, this is your
wedding day
. At least try to do something nice for your wife. Vance, tell him.”

Vance looked at him apologetically. “There's no arguing with your sister. But I'll book the room. Make sure it has a nice view at least.”

Martin nodded; that meant it would be nowhere near the suites they had to avoid. It also meant someone would know where they were should the need arise. “Thanks, bro.” He glanced at Tamlyn as his sister steamrollered them out of the chapel. “Sorry,” he whispered.

Tamlyn shrugged. “Maybe we can get the rest of my things while we're there. And it's a big hotel. Perhaps we can avoid them.”

 

 

 

 

14

 

Standing on the terrace looking at the fountains, with a glass of sparking juice in her hand and her wedding ring on her finger, Tamlyn didn't think the moment could be any more perfect. She had a dashingly handsome husband on her arm, a new family who adored her and...

Scratch...

The scrape of the sound effects indicating the dream turning back to reality, was almost audible. She gazed around the room, half expecting to see her father or Garth appear on the edges of it, before returning her gaze to the protective services cop, aka her husband, hanging onto her arm.

Martin kissed her cheek. He'd stuck to juice as well. But then he'd have to, as she supposed he was still working. “Are you OK?”

She nodded. “Yeah. It isn't exactly how I'd imagined my wedding.”

“Me, either.”

“You have a room here for the next couple of nights,” Peggy said. “I've got them to take your bags up for you. Vance tried to talk me out of it, but it didn't work. Then he insisted on picking the room. I wanted a suite, but he chose otherwise.”

“I'm sure it'll be fine,” Vance said. “I mean it's got a bed and a bathroom, what more do they need?”

Martin rolled his eyes. “A swimming pool would be nice,” he said dryly.

Tamlyn shivered as Peggy shoved the key into Martin's hand.
Hopefully it's on a lower floor than my original suite
. She caught sight of the number on the key and closed her eyes in relief. Nowhere near either her, or Daniel's, suite.