Chapter 5

chapter

five

Annabelle

I'm married.

To Greyson Freaking Hendricks.

This is not how I thought this day would go when I woke up this morning. I had completely expected to be in a friendly, but loveless and mutually beneficial marriage of convenience. I can't even be mad at Devon for bailing on me. Hell, I'm proud of him for standing up to his parents.

If I didn't have people relying on me to secure the inheritance, then none of today would have even been necessary. But I did have people relying on me. Namely my niece and my nephew.

I would have died before I let Lizzie marry that piece of shit who fathered her kids.

We're currently on the drive back from Corpus to Houston.

He has already pulled off his tie and his sport coat, both of which have been tossed into the extended cab behind us.

His stomach growls loudly inside the truck. "Do you mind if I drive through somewhere and get something to eat?" he asks.

"Of course not. What's the matter, Grey? Did the roasted beet salad with goat cheese medallions not fill you up?"

"That dainty shit wouldn't satisfy a child let alone a growing boy like myself."

As if on cue, my own stomach rumbles with hunger.

He laughs. "Why don't people serve brisket at a wedding? We're in Texas for fuck's sake."

"Well, at your own wedding you can serve whatever you want," I say.

"Darlin', today was my wedding. Remember?" He smiles at me, and it's so genuine it kinda breaks my heart a little.

"Brisket," I say as a way of distraction. "Oh my gosh, can you imagine Grandmother's face if I was eating with my hands? At my wedding reception?"

My phone buzzes with incoming texts from my sister.

LIZZIE: Girl!!!

LIZZIE: I need all of the details. All of them!

ME: What are you even talking about?

LIZZIE: Don't play stupid with me.

LIZZIE: You and your new HUSBAND were late coming into the reception.

Oh, shit. I was waiting for her to say something. Frankly I was a little surprised she didn't call me out at the reception. After my new husband finger banged me in the dressing room. Where he had to cover my mouth so my grandmother wouldn't hear my moans from the other side of the door. My cheeks heat and I'm glad it's dark outside. He doesn't need to see me blushing. That will make it very easy for him to figure out what I'm thinking about over here.

ME: Just a little trouble with my shapewear.

LIZZIE: Do not lie to me. I know a post O glow when I see one.

ME: How can you possibly know that?!

LIZZIE: Ha! I knew it!

LIZZIE: Details. You owe me for dealing with Grandmother.

LIZZIE: I thought her head might actually split in half when she came back into the restaurant after going to find you.

ME: We didn't have sex.

I don't know why I typed that. Or sent it, but there, it's out there now.

LIZZIE: What did you do?

I knew if I didn't tell her, she'd never stop bugging me. Eventually she'd just text Greyson and ask him. She had no boundaries.

ME: He just got me off.

ME: Now I'm kinda freaking out.

ME: He was pissed about my shapewear.

ME: Literally sliced it off my body with his pocketknife.

LIZZIE: He did not!

ME: Totally did.

LIZZIE: OMG! That is so hot.

LIZZIE: You should have jumped his bones right then and there.

ME: You know that's not how this is going to be.

LIZZIE: Please tell me you're not going to be that stupid.

"Burgers okay? Harder to drive and eat a taco and I'd rather not go inside. Unless that's what you want," he says.

"No, that's fine. I love a good burger."

He pulls off and into a drive thru. "You need go to the bathroom?"

"Nope, I'm good."

He orders our food, and I ignore the incessant buzzing of my phone while we wait.

Greyson reaches over and rubs my neck. His big hand cups the back of my head where he massages gently. It feels amazing.

"Tired darlin'?" he asks.

"Yes. It's been a long week."

"We can sleep in tomorrow before we drive to Saddle Creek," he says.

It's then that I realize we haven't actually discussed anything about this marriage or our life afterwards.

"That Lizzie?" he asks when my phone vibrates again.

"Probably."

"You can call her if that would be easier."

"I'll do that."

"Hey married lady," she says when she answers my call.

"Can you just tell me all the things you've been texting me?"

"Yes, here's the gist of it. Grandmother has already called the lawyers. She's having them draw up annulment papers."

"Annulment? Why would she do that?"

"She doesn't believe your marriage is real. Or doesn't want it to be. I'm not really sure. I just got a heads-up text from Julie."

"You becoming friendly with the attorney's assistant was the smartest thing you've ever done," I tell her.

Greyson gets our food and hands me a milkshake and a bag of food. I take a sip of the milkshake and glance over at him. He's watching the road, eating one-handed. He still remembers that I love chocolate, strawberry shakes.

"I am the smart one," Lizzie says.

"So, what do I do about Grandmother?" I ask. I'm hoping Greyson can't hear mine and my sister's conversation. I'll have to figure out an easy way to tell him the truth about what he agreed to when we took our vows.

"Don't worry about her," Lizzie says. "You got married just like you told her you'd do. The only reason she was pleased about Devon is because of his family. I can't imagine anyone will be surprised when he finally comes out of the damn closet."

"I know," I say. I munch on a fry while Lizzie speaks softly to one of her kids in the background.

"I've got to go pick up my baby tomorrow," I say.

"I'm sure she's living the high life at that doggie day care," Lizzie says.

"It sure as hell costs enough."

"I'll try to get more information tomorrow when I talk to Julie again. In the meantime, enjoy your husband." I hear a door close through the phone. "Annabelle, this is how it should have always been. You and Greyson. So, when you get to your house, strip him bare and sit on his beard."

I bark out a laugh. "Oh my God, what is the matter with you?"

"So many things."

"Talk to you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you."

"Squeeze my littles for me."

"Will do."

I hang up and dig into my food, thankful to have something to do with my mouth and hands. Because as much as it's embarrassing to acknowledge, Lizzie's words are playing like a damn movie in my head. All that dark facial hair of his, that's way softer than it looks like it would be.

It would feel unbelievable between my thighs.

"For the record," Greyson says into the quiet. "I think your sister is a genius."

I squeeze my eyes shut. I'm going to kill her.