Blind Luck Bride

The white-haired woman keeping bar interrupted Lilly’s almost-wedded bliss. “S’cuse me,” she said to Dallas, “but what in tarnation do you think you’re doin’?”

“Mind your own business, Lu, this is my future bride.”

“Isn’t one bride per day enough for you, Fi—”

“That’s it. We’ve gotta go.” Finn nearly fell off his bar stool trying to slip his hand beneath his bride-to-be’s elbow while at the same time shooting Lu a would-you-please-hush look of desperation. By God, if she went and ruined this for him, he’d take her to court to cover the small fortune in cash and pride he’d have to fork over to Mitch. He might be able to handle a lot of bad situations, but voluntarily losing a bet to ornery old Mitch Mulligan wasn’t one of them. He knew it wasn’t neighborly, but he just plain despised the man, and he’d do anything to get the better of him. Even if it meant marrying this loco filly in the morning only to up and divorce her the next afternoon.

While all that sounded real good in theory, a pang of confusion rippled through Finn at the all-too-fresh memory of how badly Vivian had hurt him.

All his life he’d only wanted one thing—to once again be part of a family. So sure, by going through with this marriage, he’d make Mitch look like the fool he was, but in doing that, he’d also be making a mockery of his heart’s lifelong ambition. Was that wise?

A whiff of pretty-as-a-spring-meadow perfume wove its way like a love potion through Finn’s senses. He took one look at the vision in bridal white standing before him and decided what the heck?

He needed to lighten up.

Besides, what was the worst that could happen on a trip to Vegas?

Chapter Two

“Ready, darlin’?” Finn said, low enough so that hopefully Lu wouldn’t hear.

“I sure am.” Lilly waved to the still-gaping older woman. “Bye-bye.”

Lu might have been willing to let the whole incident slide if only Finn’s bride hadn’t—from out of nowhere—burst into tears.

“Now, now,” Lu crooned, zipping around the corner of the bar. “What’s the matter?”

“I—I’m so ha-ha-happy,” Lilly blurted in the same kind of hormonal, nonsensical, downright blithering sobs that had taken over Matt’s sister the day after she found out she was pregnant. “But I’ve waited so long for my wedding day, and Dallas, you’re even more of a gentleman than I’d imagined, but…I just remembered I locked my keys in my car, and…”

Lu’s eagle eyes bored into Finn’s forehead like twin laser beams. After pulling Lilly in close for a hug, she said, “Now, honey, ’round here folks lock themselves out of all sorts of things. Don’t you worry. Your groom knows just what to do.”

Never had Finn wished harder that he lived in a less nosy town.

After a few more minutes of what Finn considered award-winning acting, Lilly calmed down, her smile shining brighter than the chrome on Vivian’s boyfriend’s motorcycle. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t kn-know what came over me, especially when you had such great news about the keys.”

“Emotions’ll do that to a body,” Lu said, lapping up this rare opportunity to cluck over one of her patrons. “How about you visit the little girl’s room. Freshen up while your, ah, groom gets started on your car—if he’s sober enough.”

“That’d be great,” Lilly said through a watery smile. She looked Finn’s way. “You don’t mind the short delay, do you?”

Mind? Hell, yes, he minded. Not only didn’t he like the idea of spending the next hour or so outside with a coat hanger and flashlight, but once he got this human tear-bucket into her car, did that imply driving it and her all the way to Vegas? It was on the tip of his tongue to call off this whole charade when he caught sight of those wide-open skies his bride called eyes. Never had he seen eyes more blue. On manly autopilot, he said, “Ah, sure, I don’t mind. You go on and do whatever you need to and I’ll just be outside.”

“You remember what I drive?” she asked, her voice all breathy, as if his knowing such a fact guaranteed theirs would be a lifelong love.

“Sure, darlin’.” Simple logic tells me it’ll be the only spit-shined sedan in the lot.

More to prove to Lu that he had the woman’s best interests at heart than to satisfy his own blazing curiosity as to the feel of her petal-soft lips, he slipped his free hand about Lilly’s waist and kissed her hard—not too hard—just hard enough to let her know she was in the company of a real man. Mitch Mulligan might be signing her paycheck, but Finn Reilly was calling the shots.

When she seemed good and dazed by his prowess, with a quick pat to her satin-covered behind, he sent her in the direction of the ladies’ room.

But just as he was growing accustomed to the sight of his bride-to-be’s backside, Lu grabbed him by the ear and yanked for all she was worth—not an easy feat considering he was well over a foot taller than she. “You low-life, back-stabbin’, pitiful excuse for a yellow-bellied—”

“Ouch!” he complained, backing out of her reach. “That hurts.”

“Damn straight, it hurts. Almost as much as that alley cat Vivian hurt you this afternoon. Don’t you see what you’re doin’?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Look, son, and make no mistake, over the years you’ve been comin’ in here, I’ve grown to think of you as my own son. What you could end up doin’ to this girl is the same thing Vivian did to you. You’re gonna lead her on, then dump her. Only at least Vivian dumped you for love. You, on the other hand, will be freein’ yourself up for a truck named Abigail.”

“Slow down, Lu, you don’t know the half of what’s going on.” Challenging her steely gaze with one of his own, he said, “Shoot, Mitch put my bride up to this. That woman’s no innocent. I mean, come on, unless she was being paid darned good money, what would a gal like her be doing in a place like this? No offense.”

“None taken, but, Finn,” she said, sounding all too much like the aunt who had raised him—the same aunt who had been living in Miami, blessedly out of scolding distance, for going on five years. “I don’t know who this girl is, but one thing I do know just from lookin’ at her is that she’s not messed up with Mitch. Maybe she has amnesia or somethin’? All I’m sayin’ is be careful.”

“Lu, like you said, you know me. I’m not planning to hurt anyone.”

“No, I’m sure you’re not, but you be careful anyway, ’cause now that I think about it, the only one gettin’ hurt around here might be you.”

“Ready?” asked the angel in white.

“Yeah, I’m—” Finn looked up, only to have his heart lurch at the sight of her. He’d always fancied himself as preferring redheads, but this blond-haired beauty had brushed her curls into an adorable halo that looped and swirled about the heart-shaped contours of her face. She’d applied a light coat of lipstick that accentuated the faint swelling caused by his kiss. Whew, Mitch sure had improved his taste in women! “I’m ready,” he said. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to get the car.”

“That’s okay. Once you get the keys out, probably with what you’ve had to drink, it’s better that I drive. We wouldn’t want anything to further delay our trip to the chapel, would we?”

No. Hell no.

To Lu, his angel said, “Ma’am, it was sure nice meeting you, and thank you for—” she held up a wadded pink tissue “—for helping me see that Dallas is the only man for me.”

Upon hearing another man’s name in association with Finn, Lu’s eyebrows shot up like a pair of jack-rabbits scared out of their holes. She looked to him, then the woman in white. “You’re welcome, child. And the only thanks I need is the promise you two will share a lifetime worth of happiness.”

That did it.

His bride’s waterworks started all over again, but this time, she turned to Finn for her hugs. Never had he felt more masculine than holding this petite thing in his arms. Never had he felt more in control. This gal was a mighty fine actress, but no one fooled Finn Reilly. He could smell one of Mitch’s tricks from a mile away.

Once she broke her hug, Finn slipped his arm around her slight waist and led her out of the bar as fast as his black dress boots could scoot.

Outside, feet firmly planted on the pea gravel driveway, his gaze aimed at the stars, Finn gulped gallons of the crisp fall air. Had there ever been a luckier man than he? Yep, having Mitch arrange for this fallen angel to enter his life was just about the best damned shot of blind luck he’d ever had. Winning this bet was not only going to be easy, but a ton of fun.

Confirming that thought, his bride snuggled close, resting her head on his chest. Her soft curls tickled the bottom of his chin. He’d always liked it when a woman fit him—even a woman he was only pretending to like.

He and Vivian had stood eye to eye. She’d been a bad fit.

“Dallas?” Lilly said.

“Yeah?”

“I just want you to know, before tomorrow, that I really appreciate you doing this for me. And…and one day, I hope we’ll not just share a marriage license, but maybe even a special friendship.”

A special friendship? Ugh.