could hide how she truly felt, well
she didn’t care. As soon as the ceremony is over, the man who
wanted her for payment would quickly realize that instead he
received hell and not a wife.
Tense and worried, Jarrod waited at the
bottom of the stairs for his sister. He breathed a sigh of relief
when he saw her come down. “Fanny why don’t you join the others in
the parlor, I’d like a few words with India.”
When Fanny moved away, he gazed down at the
angry face of his sister. “This is not exactly the kind of dress a
young woman would wear to her wedding.” He tried to ease some of
the hostility between them but he knew he only failed by the
loathing lighting her eyes.
India’s eyes glowed with bitterness. “Ah I
find the damn dress quite suited to the occasion. Remember this is
no ordinary wedding. Are you forgetting the bride is payment for
your gambling debt?”
Dane left the parlor to see what might be
keeping his bride; he stood just inside the doorway and listened to
the conversation between brother and sister.
“ Don’t worry brother I’ll marry the
swine only to make sure everyone here doesn’t suffer for what you
have done. Nevertheless, hear me clearly brother, one thing I do promise and that is you
and the spineless bastard who won me will pay dearly for the
destruction you both have done to my life.”
Dane's body stiffened as he continued to
listen, he should not have been surprised over her remarks or
threats. His gaze slid over her and his hands clenched tightly at
his sides when he saw she wasn’t wearing the lovely wedding gown he
purchased for her.
Damn her, she could fight the marriage all
she wanted, but it will not change a damn thing. Even now, dressed
in that ugly black dress, she still looked amazingly beautiful, and
he wanted her just as badly as he did before. No nothing would stop
them from getting married.
Determination filling him, he turned around
and headed back into the parlor. It might take some effort on his
part, but he felt positive that after a short time, he could change
the woman’s attitude and hopefully he might be able to finally
smother the driving lust that burned inside him.
With her head held high, moving past her
brother India walked away. Her eyes clouded with anger as she moved
through the parlor to stand in front of the preacher. She did not
even bother to spare a glance at the man at her side. She felt too
disgusted and furious to even make the effort.
She only wanted the whole horrible ordeal
over with as quickly as possible.
With his shoulders drooping, Jarrod followed
his sister through to the parlor. Guilt ate away at him. He knew
his sister meant every word she said, and he wondered if he might
have just made the second gravest mistake of his life.
All he could do is pray that one day India
would come to realize he didn’t have any other choice and may find
forgiveness in her heart for what he forced her to do.
Out the corner of his eye, Dane eyed the
woman beside him; he could not miss the disgust and anger written
on her beautiful face. One day soon, he hoped it might be possible
to change her feelings. Lord, he hoped so. He let himself relax
when she spoke her vows. At least she is agreeing to marry me he
thought in wryly amusement.
He repeated his own vows in a loud clear
voice, placed the ring on her finger. When the minister said kiss
the bride, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders and turned
her to face him.
The look of shock and seeing her lovely eyes
grow wide with fear, he suddenly realized she recognized who he
was. His mouth lifted up in a mocking smile before he swooped his
head down. His mouth covered hers in a quick gentle kiss; he
straightened up and let her go.
When she felt the hands on her and was
forced to turn, India stood facing the bastard she married. One
look at his face she thought she might faint. Dear God, now she
knew why this despicable pig married her. Revenge. When he kissed
her, she stood