Talon(15)

Asher disengages his arm from mine, kisses my cheek, then turns to his brother and gives him a quick hug before retreating to his own seat behind us.

"May I introduce you?" the female officiant asks, her voice cheery. "Asia Jenson, meet Talon Valentine. I'd like you to join hands."

I don't recall moving my hands, but soon they are engulfed in large, warm ones with callused fingertips.

The officiant's voice sounds a million miles away as I slowly look up to meet my future husband's eyes—which are the same deep, rich brown as his brother's, only with a mischievous, sexy glint.

Oh, God.

This is not my dream man.

This is like rock star hippie Tarzan.

His dirty-blond hair is long, almost as long as mine, flowing down over his shoulders to his chest. He's not wearing a tie, and the dress shirt under his tux is unbuttoned at the top, exposing tattoos on his chest.

This isn't what I described in my application.

His lips are moving, but I can't hear him over the screams in my head. Soon a ring slides onto my trembling finger.

Did I say I do?

The officiant asks me to repeat the vows and I do, my voice robotic.

What am I doing?

Kat hands me the platinum band and I slide it onto his finger, noticing the tattoo design on the top of his hand as I do so, a sugar skull with dark roses around it. No way does this guy work in a corporate office, as I always pictured my husband to be doing.

"…you may kiss the bride!"

Wait. What?

He leans toward me, and at the last second, I freak out and turn my face and his lips land on my cheek. The guests all start to laugh and cheer.

Rewind. Please rewind. Go back to months ago when I agreed to this mess and undo this.

"She's really shy at first," Kat jokes to the guests, her hand on my back. "Kiss him!" she whispers in my ear.

I can't.