Bedded Bliss (Found in Oblivion #1) - Cari Quinn Page 0,96

and feeling overlooked, depending on the day or his marital status.

“Come on in and we’ll talk.” He bent to grab her suitcase and went back up the hall to his door, holding it open so she could pass him.

“Thanks.” She smoothed back her hair and strode forward, stopping on the threshold to gasp. Almost immediately, she started to back up. “I can’t stay here.”

He looped his arm around her shoulders to keep her from backing into the hall. She was practically shaking. “Too late. You already asked and you know I can never say no to you. Besides, don’t you want to know if I swallow?” Before she could move, he bent to whisper against her ear, “If it’s you I’m drinking down, the answer is hell fucking yes.”

She shut her eyes and just sagged against him. “You didn’t tell me you had a place like this. I mean, I could tell from the doorman, and the ritzy building, and I know you’re in a band and doing well for yourself, but all this?”

“Take a breath before you pass out, all right?” He nudged her farther inside and closed the door behind her. “You forgot a couple of things. My dad is insanely wealthy and lined my diapers with gold thread, and my mom has married a number of rich men, if you’re making a list.”

Chloe covered her face with her hand. “Oh God. I shouldn’t have come.”

“Never say those words. Not in reference to arriving or in reference to, you know, not coming.”

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You’re nuts.”

“Maybe a little. I’m also really glad you’re here.” He eased her duffel off her shoulder and placed both beside the long, low black leather sofa. “Want a drink?”

“Is that your solution to everything?”

“It used to be,” he answered honestly. “But I’ve been dry since after we got married. I meant liquid, non-alcoholic. You know, in case you’re thirsty.”

“Sorry.” She grasped her throat and didn’t move. “I’m extra touchy today.”

“Well, that sounds fun.”

The slightest hint of a smile curved her mouth. “You’re incorrigible.”

“About the whole marriage thing. It occurs to me I never showed you this.” He withdrew his wallet and flipped it open. “I was waiting for a good time, and then I forgot. But you haven’t seen it, and you should.” He pulled out the folded white piece of paper that had knocked his world on its ear a week ago. “Make copies if you’d like. Have them verified by Johnnie Cochran or some such.”

“I think he’s dead.”

“Oh. Too bad.”

She took the paper and read it silently, chewing on her lower lip. “So that’s how you found my address.”

“Yeah. Phone number wasn’t much help though.”

Seeing her smile made all his annoyance at the fake number seem like it was insignificant. Now it was. In only a week’s time, they’d come a long way.

At least they could tell the grandchildren they’d known each other for years, and it wouldn’t be a lie. Exactly.

Wait, what? What grandchildren? Getting married by accident was one thing. But accidental procreation? All right, you could do that too, but it was totally a different kettle of diapers when little people were involved.

“Thank God I stopped drinking,” he muttered, pushing a hand through his hair.

Chloe handed back the marriage license. “What did you say? By the way, I’d like a copy of that.”

“Sure. Coming right up once I have a home office and a scanner. Or else we go to Kinko’s. That name always sounded dirty to me.”

She scrunched up her nose. “Are you okay?”

“Yep, fine. Never better. Let me grab you a drink.” And me a reality check. “Be right back.”

“Do you have diet Co—oh yeah, you hate Coke. Fudge.”

“Fudge? If you’re going to live with me, honey, I should warn you. Only actual swear words allowed.”

“I’m not living with you. This is just temporary until I get my feet back under me—” She pressed her lips together as if she’d said too much. “What kind of soda you have?”

“Dr. Pepper and grape. Lots of Dr. Pepper. I have this thing for spicy flavors lately. So weird.”

She flushed. “I’ll take that, please. Thank you.”

“Gotcha. Be right back.”

In the kitchen, he poured Dr. Pepper into two glasses of ice. His mother’s insistence on always serving company tea cookies on a tray had him opening the cupboard and taking out the box of Girl Scout cookies he kept for that purpose. Not that he’d actually ever served cookies to anyone. Like who? His