Once Upon a Marriage by Tara Taylor Quinn

Author:Tara Taylor Quinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Australia Pty Ltd
Published: 2015-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ELLIOTT AVOIDED THE BRIDE. And her daughter. Dressed in the tuxedo he’d brought with him—one he owned for the occasions when he had to accompany clients to black-tie affairs—he trailed behind the bridal party as, all dressed in their finery, they made their way through the luxury resort to the small, discreet wedding chapel down a hallway on the second floor.

Until that point, he hadn’t known there was anything small or discreet about Sin City. Nor had he known that the city famous for impromptu garish weddings officiated by Elvis impersonators also had on-the-spot facilities for more traditional unions.

He stood in the back of the chapel while final arrangements, including music and video choices, were made. The nondenominational pastor, Reverend Billings, introduced himself, gave a rundown of the proceedings, asked the bride and groom to choose their vows from the various ceremonies he had available and then directed the bridesmaids into a vestibule where they were to enter on cue. For the ceremony video that the bride and groom would have as a keepsake of their special day.

Barbara had chosen to walk up the aisle on her own. She’d be entering from the back of the chapel after her bridesmaids—Marie and Gabi—had taken their places from the side door. Bruce, Liam and Bruce’s brother, Michael, were mingling up front, where, when they were told, they’d take their places at the altar.

Michael’s wife, Erin—the token audience member—was already seated.

Elliott had it all down. He knew where every player was and where they would be when.

There’d been no one in the hallway as they approached the chapel. The outer vestibule had been vacant, as well.

Still, he was on the job. Prepared and focused.

“So?”

He turned when he heard the bride’s voice. She was in the vacant vestibule. Talking in a pseudo-whisper so only Elliott could hear her. Because it would look odd for the bride to suddenly have reason to converse with Liam Connelly’s bodyguard.

But as soon as she spoke, he knew what she wanted. Knew, too, that it was up to him to make himself available to her without raising suspicion.

She might be getting married. But her daughter’s happiness was still on her mind.

Elliott texted Liam. Telling the other man to stay put. He was taking a very quick bathroom break.

And then he slipped into the vestibule.

“He played at a five-dollar table.”

“And?”

“At the end of the night he was up a thousand.”

“So he got lucky.”

“No, he played smart.” Elliott took some satisfaction in relaying this particular truth. Though he really had no reason to feel ownership of the outcome. Liam Connelly was just a job. “He took no big risks. And quit when he started to lose.”

“Because Bruce was ready to come upstairs?” Most might have missed the hint of vulnerability in the woman’s eyes. If he hadn’t been trained to see such things, Elliott probably would have, too.

“Bruce spent twenty on penny slots, won thirty and then seemed to take great delight in cheering on Liam.”

He wasn’t being paid to spy on her intended.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.