Paisley pulled away and smiled over gritted teeth. “I’m ready to get to our suite and relax.”
Lucas shot a wink to the officiant. “The honeymoon can’t start too early.”
Paisley twisted out of his grasp and turned to go back down the short, narrow aisle. Lucas nodded to the witnesses and turned to follow his bride. Never in his wildest dreams—and he’d had some wild ones—did he ever think he’d marry Paisley or have the woman standing in practically nothing as he slid a band of diamonds onto her finger.
Speaking of, Paisley hadn’t reacted one bit when he’d put that ten-carat flawless diamond on her finger when they’d taken off from Houston. In fact, she’d stared out the window and barely said a word to him.
Maybe he shouldn’t have gone for something so traditional. Someone like Paisley would want an emerald or a ruby. He should—
No. Hell, no. What was he thinking? He wasn’t getting her something else. Between the engagement ring and now the wedding band, she had enough on that finger to help support her shop. This wasn’t for love or until death did they part. Paisley already had an expiration date on their marriage.
Of course, if she produced an heir, there was no way he’d divorce her. He didn’t just want her in his bed, he wanted her to give him a child. Paisley had always wanted children, or she used to when they were together before. They’d often dreamed of one day having their own family.
Lucas slipped his arm around her waist and guided her out to the waiting car. As soon as he settled in beside her and the driver closed the door, Paisley turned to face him.
“I sent a copy of my mother’s letter to your email,” she started. “When we get back to the room, we can start digging into that and you can share what you’ve discovered so far. I can answer questions about my mom’s past, but—”
Lucas leaned over and covered her mouth with his. He shifted so that he pressed her against the back of the leather seat as the driver took them down the Strip. Lights from the hotels flashed through the windows, but nothing else mattered except the fact that his new bride instantly wanted to get down to business.
Well, he did, too, but a completely different kind.
Paisley shoved against his chest and turned her head away. “Can you focus?”
Lucas curved his hand around her upper thigh and gave a slight squeeze. “Oh, I’m plenty focused.”
Those hazel eyes with flecks of emerald landed on him. “You promised to help find the truth and I want to be part of that process.”
He stroked the inside of her thigh with his thumb. “You’re my wife now. You’ll be part of everything.”
Her brows shot up. “I thought you’d try to exclude me.”
“I see no reason in leaving you out when this is your life I’m dealing with.”
Clearly his response shocked her. She shook her head and glanced out the window as the car turned into the front of their hotel.
“I’ll never understand you,” she murmured.
Lucas didn’t bother hiding his smile. He was banking on her being kept off guard. He wanted her wondering what he’d do next. Pretty much like she had always done to him, and today with that damn lace number was no exception.
That was just one of the things he’d always loved about her—her ability to keep him on his toes. The way she’d challenged him and always had him guessing what she’d do next had made for a great relationship...until the ultimate moment when she’d caught him off guard and destroyed his heart.
“How much did this scrap of lace cost me?” he asked.
The car came to a stop and Paisley turned to him with a smile on her face. “I don’t recall, but it was worth every penny. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Her door opened before he could answer and the driver extended his hand to assist Paisley. Lucas went out into the night after her and nodded his thanks to their chauffer.
As he and his bride waltzed through the spacious five-story lobby, she got some looks. Not because of the nearly sheer getup—this was Vegas, after all—but because she was so damn stunning that she could’ve been wearing a sack and she still would’ve drawn attention.