The Marriage Mishap. Judith Stacy
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do you remember?” she asked challengingly.
He glared at her with wounded pride. “And who says marriage doesn’t have its tender moments?”
“Are you sure we’re really married?” Haley sat up, and the room spun again. Adam grasped her shoulders and steadied her; his hands felt strong.
His gaze captured hers. “Maybe you should lie down.”
That was how she’d gotten into this mess in the first place. Haley looked up, and for an instant felt lost in his green eyes, brilliant as emeralds and nearly as mesmerizing. She pushed his hands away and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Where’s that paper you found?”
Adam took it from the bedside table. “Executed by Judge Williams himself, and properly witnessed by Harry and Laurel Oliver.”
“The newlyweds?” Haley opened the paper and read the words, saw the signatures and the official seal.
“I’ve known Harry Oliver for years. He works at the courthouse.” Adam shrugged. “I don’t know how it can get any more legal than that.”
“We got married at someone else’s wedding?” Haley curled her lips distastefully. “Is that done?”
Adam plowed his fingers through his hair. “It must have been at the reception, because I remember the ceremony.”
Haley’s gaze came up quickly and met his. “You don’t remember, either? I thought it was only me.”
Adam shifted, and his gaze wandered across the bed. “Parts of it, I remember very well.”
Haley’s cheeks pinkened. “At least this explains how I got here.”
Adam crossed the room and retrieved his shirt. “And how I got here, as well. Believe me, Miss Caufield, I’m not in the habit of deflowering innocent young women.”
Haley looked back at the bed, then sprang off it. She smoothed down her gown, reaching for any modicum of dignity she could muster. “This can’t be happening.”
He looked back at her. “Some women would be pleased to find themselves married to me, Miss Caufield.”
She ignored his claim. “We have to do something.”
Adam shoved his arms into his shirtsleeves. “Such as?”
Haley touched her finger to her chin. “Harry and Laurel, the newlyweds. They witnessed the whole thing. Let’s talk with them.”
“Honeymooning in New York. Won’t be back for two months, maybe more.”
“Then how about this judge? Maybe he—”
“I doubt Judge Williams will take too kindly to having his word questioned.”
“Is it too late for an annulment?”
His gaze roamed the bed, and he drew in a big breath. “I would say it’s far too late for that.”
“Then that only leaves…” Haley’s stomach pitched.
“A divorce?” Adam’s gaze met hers as he closed the buttons on his shirt. “Now there’s a scandal our families will enjoy.”
Haley pressed her fingers to her lips. Another scandal. Her mother had nearly disowned her over Reginald. What would she do if she found out about this?
Haley stepped closer. “It wouldn’t be a scandal if they didn’t know about it.”
“You’re saying you really don’t want to be married?” Adam frowned as he shoved his shirttail into his trousers.
The haughty, indignant arch in his brows wound Haley’s stomach into a tighter knot. She pulled herself up straighter. “I suppose that comes as a surprise to you, Mr.—Harrington, was it?—but I have definite plans for my own future, and they do not include a husband.”
Adam pulled on his waistcoat and jacket, and stuffed his cravat into his pocket. “I don’t think either of us is in the proper frame of mind to make such a decision.”
“My mind is quite made up, Mr. Harrington. And I’ll thank you to keep this entire unfortunate incident to yourself. I’m leaving.” Haley headed for the door.
“Wait.” Adam followed her across the room.
She grasped the doorknob and looked up to find him standing over her. His height was overwhelming. She barely reached his shoulder. “What?”
He reached over her head and held the door closed. “Isn’t a husband allowed a goodbye kiss?”
Haley’s knees nearly gave out. A heat, an aura, engulfed her as Adam eased closer. His gaze captured hers, and all rational thought left her head. He folded his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. She felt the strength in his arms, tempered by the gentleness of his touch.
“Well?” A tiny grin pulled at his lips.
She tried to protest, but couldn’t speak the words. Visions, images, flashed in her mind.
Adam touched his mouth to hers, kneading them together gently until she parted her lips. He moaned deep in his throat as his tongue met with hers in an intimate exchange. She was sweet, giving, exquisite…just as he remembered.
Desire coiled in his belly as further recollections surfaced in his mind. He pulled his lips away and kissed a hot trail down her cheek, nestling against her neck. She tasted good. He wanted more.
“We don’t have to call off the marriage right this minute,” he whispered against her ear. “Another hour or two wouldn’t make any difference. How about it?”
Adam lifted his head and looked down to find Haley staring at him. Her lips were wet and swollen with his kiss, and her body was nearly limp in his arms. But her eyes, deep blue eyes, were wide with fright.
They’d made love all night, done wonderful things with each other, and he didn’t understand her reaction. He wanted to be mad, but couldn’t. Instead, he stepped away and pulled in a deep breath.
“Well, at least let me walk my wife down to get a cab.”
Befuddled, Haley stepped aside as he opened the door and walked with him down the carpeted corridor. The air was cooler here, and it helped clear her mind—enough for her to worry that they would be seen in the hotel together.
At the head of the grand staircase that descended to the lobby, Haley stopped. “I’d rather go down alone.”
Adam peered down the stairs. The double doors at the main entrance were only a short walk across the lobby. Several men sat on the settees and others stood near the front desk. Haley in her evening gown— modest as it was—certainly would catch their attention. And suddenly he didn’t like the idea of those men ogling her.
He shook his head. “I’ll see you to the cab.”
Haley started to protest, but he closed his hand over her elbow and led her down the stairs. She took heart in the strength that radiated up her arm.
Crossing the lobby, Haley kept her head down, though she could feel the stares of everyone there. At least she was new in town and almost no one knew her, the chances that she’d be recognized were slim.
She lifted her gaze for an instant, calculating the distance to the doorway. Only a few more feet and she’d be safely out of the Madison Hotel, safely away from the man clinging to her elbow, safely on the path to salvaging her reputation, not to mention getting her plans back on track. Her spirits lifted. No one would ever know.
Aunt Harriet stepped into the doorway.
Haley dug in her heels and pulled back. What was her aunt doing here at the Madison on a Sunday afternoon? Her first instinct was to run, but the man at her elbow anchored her in place. She pulled against him.
He held tight and looked