“Morning,” she said as she shuffled over and sank onto the couch.
He muted the television, though he hadn’t had it loud in the first place.
“Sleep okay?”
She pushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes. “Surprisingly.” She frowned. “I woke up thinking I was married. Took me a few seconds to remember I wasn’t.”
“Want some coffee?”
“I would love some.”
He pushed upright and she reached out to touch his arm. The lightning bolt sizzling through him stopped him in his tracks. She snatched her hand back as if burned. Her dark eyes were wide and innocent when he gazed down at her.
“I can get it,” she said.
“It’s okay. I need another cup anyway. You take cream or sugar?”
“Just black.”
He went over and poured coffee while she watched the news. When her face appeared on-screen, she didn’t move a muscle. He brought the coffee over and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the mug in two small hands. Elegant hands. The fingers were long and slender, the nails blunt and natural. He had a sudden vision of those fingers stroking his cock, and he shoved it away forcefully. But his balls ached anyway.
Her gaze didn’t leave the television until the segment about her was over. Then she turned to him. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“You say that, but I feel like it isn’t.”
“Trust me, it is.” He wouldn’t elaborate, but knocking out the security guard and evading a pursuer was child’s play compared to what he usually did.
His phone buzzed, effectively ending the conversation. It was Viking.
“Morning, sunshine,” Cash said.
Viking snorted. “Dude, I’ve been up all fucking night researching your problem. Don’t morning me.”
“What’d you learn?”
“Enough.”
There was the sound of a radio in the background. Maybe Taylor Swift, which would be fucking hilarious and something Cash would tease his SEAL team leader about for the rest of his life. Taylor had some kick-ass songs, but no SEAL would want to admit he sang about shaking off the haters, fakers, and takers in his bathroom mirror from time to time.
“What’s the ETA?”
“We’ll be there in twenty.”
Cash’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. Yeah, this was the shortest fucking fishing trip in the known universe. “We’ll be ready.”
The call punched out. Ella stared at him with wide eyes.
“Ready for what?” she asked.
“To leave. Need you to get your cute ass ready to go, Princess. Shower if you want, but we’ll be leaving here within the hour.”
She clutched her coffee cup. Her pulse throbbed in her throat. “Where are we going?”
“Not sure,” he told her. “But we need to be ready.”
* * *
There wasn’t much she could do, but Ella went into the master bath and found a comb in the drawer. She combed her hair to make it presentable, then used the tie she’d found and put it up into a twist on her head. This twist was neater than the one she’d done to have coffee.
She pinched her cheeks for color, slipped into the sweatpants Cash had given her—tying the strings as tight as they’d go so the pants didn’t fall down—and knotted the hem of his shirt at her waist. She had socks, but no shoes. There was no remedy for that. Cash didn’t carry anything in her size. The socks swam on her, truth be told, but they were warm and she was grateful.
She cast a look at the wedding gown she’d laid over the tub to dry. Poor thing—it was stiff and discolored from the weather and the splatters of mud she’d gotten on it. She went over and shook it out as best she could. She was torn on whether to leave it or take it, but in the end she decided to leave it where it was. It was simply too big to drag with her—especially when she didn’t know where they were going.
Ella heard voices. For a moment, her heart leaped into her throat. But she strained to hear what they were saying and realized that no one sounded scared or angry. Cash’s people had arrived.
She hesitated for a long moment before she drew herself up and went to join them. It took everything she had, but she channeled her aunt and glided into the room as if she owned it. Besides Cash, there were two big men. They all turned to her at once, and she felt like the smallest of bugs in comparison.
“Your Highness,” one of the men said, and Cash started. She watched the look of shock cross his face and wished she could wipe it away. Yes, he knew she was a princess—but he hadn’t quite processed it yet. Hearing her referred to so formally clearly jolted him in a way the news programs had not.
“Please call me Ella,” she replied. “I prefer it.”
“Ella, then. I’m Viking,” the big blond man said, coming over and shaking her hand. “This is Cage.” She must have looked confused because he grinned. “Call signs. It’ll be easier for you since that’s what we’ll call each other. Though you likely know this guy as Cash.”
“Yes,” she replied, looking in the direction he’d tipped his head. “What do you call him if not Cash?”
Viking’s grin didn’t fade. “Money.”
“Money,” she said, trying it on. She shook her head. “I like Cash better.”
“So what’s the plan?” Cash asked, folding his arms over his broad chest and not making eye contact with her.
Why did that make her feel the tiniest bit frantic?
Viking turned his attention to Cash. “Need to leave your car for the time being. We’ll come back for it in a few days.”
Cash didn’t look happy. “All right. Where are we going?”
“Dulles. Had to call Hawk in on this one.”
“Not a bad idea,” Cash said.
Ella had no idea what they were talking about. She wanted to tell them she was right here and not to talk over her, but they were both so big and tough-looking that she didn’t quite have the courage. Not that they would hurt her. Still, they looked scary—and that was usually enough to silence her. Speaking out was impossible where she’d come from.
“You might not agree when you hear the plan.”
The other man snickered. Or she thought he did. Ella studied him and… Yes, he was hiding a smile. Cash knew it too. He glared.
“What’s so fucking funny?”
Viking cracked a grin as well. He spread his hands as the grin turned into a laugh. “Sorry, dude, really. But the plan—and no disrespect, Ella, I promise you,” he said to her in an aside, “is that you’re getting married.”
Chapter 9
Cage guffawed. Viking tried to look stern and failed. Cash glared.
“Fine,” he said. “Wouldn’t be the first time we did this shit for a mission.”
Ella’s gaze darted between the three of them, but she didn’t say anything. Cash wanted to apologize for the idiocy of his teammates, but he was too busy frowning at them. Finally he shook himself and turned to her.
“It’s okay, Ella. They’re razzing me. Viking and Cage are both married and they think it’s funny to yank my chain because I’ve told them I’m never getting married. Isn’t that right, assholes?”
Viking sucked in a breath and wiped his eyes. Dude was so amused he’d been crying. Jesus.
“Not a joke, Money,” he said. “You and Ella are getting married. For real.”
Cash’s guts turned to ice. They weren’t kidding with him. “What the fuck?”
“Hey, watch your mouth around our guest. She’s a princess, man.”
Cash was ready to strangle somebody. “Then explain what the hell is going on. Married for real? Why?”
“It’s the only way,” Viking said, spreading his hands. “We’ve talked about it and tried to think of other options, but it’s the only way to protect her. And you, you idiot. The story in the news is that you kidnapped her, though nobody seems to have provided you with a reason for doing so. They say you want
a ransom, but how the hell did you know where to find her in the first place?” He shook his head. “Anyway, you’re a kidnapper in the national narrative. No amount of explaining is going to fix this. But if the two of you were eloping? Yeah, explains everything.”
A grenade detonated in his brain. His thoughts scrambled. He tried to examine the situation from all angles—but he couldn’t figure out another way. Another explanation.
Oh holy shit, he’d doomed himself. He’d saved Ella from that goon and doomed himself. Because Viking was right. What other way could they deflect the attention from him? Her family had money. Sheikh Fahd had money. If they insisted that Cash had kidnapped their princess, who would believe he hadn’t? His guys would. The colonel would.
But that wasn’t enough, because they had missions to do and no time for the huge distraction his arrest would make. He could almost hear the staff meeting on this one yesterday. Fuck…
“So you’re saying we get married for real, and that explains everything?”
“Almost everything. Sure.”
“How did I meet her? How the hell did we form a relationship?”
“Not important right now.”
Ella hadn’t said anything. He turned to her. She was watching them all with a frown on her face. She looked small and cute—and regal. How had that happened? She was a woman in a flannel shirt and sweatpants way too big for her, and she looked like a queen.
Or maybe that was his imagination running wild because she was a princess.
“Ella?”
Her expression hardened. He didn’t know what that was about. Instead of telling him, she turned to Viking. “Is this situation only to protect Cash, or are you intending to help me too?”
“You’ll be his wife. We’ll protect you.”
“For how long?”
“As long as it takes.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Cash said, hands in the air. “I’m not getting married forever. There has to be an end to this scheme. A target date for a divorce or annulment or something.”
“We’ll figure that out as we go,” Viking said. “It’s too soon to set an expiration date. First we have to get you two married and get the cops off your trail. Then we have to make sure Ella’s family doesn’t try to interfere.”
“They will never give up,” Ella said, and Cash’s blood ran cold. He’d worry about that later.
“And where are we eloping to?” Cash asked, stamping his fury down until it glowed white-hot inside him.
“Where do you think? Vegas, baby.”
“There is a problem,” Ella said, and they all swung around to look at her.
Her soft pink lips were parted slightly. The lower one trembled and she licked it. Cash hated the way his balls tightened. He shot a look at the guys. If either of them had the same reaction, he’d stomp them into the ground. But they merely looked politely interested in what she had to say.
“I have no identification,” Ella said. “No passport. How can I get married?”
Viking snorted. “Don’t worry, Ella. We’ve got that covered.”
“I don’t understand.”
Cash shook his head. He had to get into this game or he’d be standing around like a fucking idiot for the rest of the day. “Fake IDs, Ella. We’ll make you one.”
HOT made counterfeit IDs so damned good they made the real ones look fake.
“But the marriage won’t be legitimate. My aunt and uncle will know it. So will Sheikh Fahd.”
“No, that’s not quite right. We’re replacing any identification you had,” Viking said. “Whatever your aunt and uncle are holding will be illegitimate. Colonel Mendez will make sure your prior credentials are declared lost. What we produce will be the real deal.”
Cage spoke up in his Cajun accent. “We need to get going, mon amis. We can keep discussing it in the car, yeah?”
Cash grabbed his duffel. Ella stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes downcast. He let his gaze drift down to the floor—and realized she had no shoes. Hell, she had no clothes other than his. It made him angry for some reason.
“We’re going to need to get Ella some clothes,” he said. “So plan a stop along the way.”
Cage shook his head. “No can do, man. But we’ll have something waiting for her on the plane.”
Cash frowned. “Plane?”
“Did you think we were chauffeuring your ass to Nevada? Hawk’s wife is performing in Vegas. You’re catching a ride with them.”
Of course. After Hawk had married his pop-star wife, he’d eventually left HOT to start his own security business. They provided security services to high-end customers, but Hawk was still HOT to his bones.
Once HOT, always HOT. When Colonel Mendez had been on the run from the US government, it was Hawk and his resources that allowed HOT to help their commanding officer. They’d been stood down, their missions ended across the globe, but Hawk had provided them with what they needed. That he was helping out now was no surprise—but it also got Cash a bit in the feels.
HOT was the best family he had. He’d say the only family, but he had a half sister who’d somehow managed not to inherit her mother’s dislike of him. He didn’t talk to her often, but when he did, she was bubbly and sweet.
Viking’s phone pinged with a text. “Let’s roll,” he said. “We’ve got to hustle to make it to Dulles.”
Cash frowned at Ella. “Where’s the dress?”
“I left it in the bathroom.”
“You didn’t want to harm the dress, but you’re leaving it behind? After all that angst over it?”
“I didn’t think there’d be any room.”
Cash tipped his head at Cage. “Can you get her wedding dress?”
“Sure.”
Cash closed the distance between him and Ella. She had to tilt her head back at a sharp angle to look up at him. He wanted to kiss those pretty lips, but he wouldn’t. If she weren’t so young and inexperienced, maybe he would.
Maybe.
“I’ll carry you to the car,” he said, and her eyes widened.
“I can walk.”
“It’s wet out and you don’t have any shoes.”
She dropped her gaze, and he found himself wanting to tip her chin up again so he could see what was in those eyes. Was she frightened of him? Or just shy? It bothered him that it could be the former. He just didn’t know. And now wasn’t the time to ask.
Jesus. He was marrying this woman. For real. It staggered him. No wonder his teammates were so damned amused.
Viking took the duffel from his shoulder. Cash could have carried it and her, but he appreciated the gesture. He swept her up. She was so damned light. He had a moment of raw anger at the bitch of an aunt who’d controlled Ella’s food intake so severely.
Ella was small, but she was all angles. She should have more meat on her bones. Her arms went around his neck, but she wouldn’t look at him. His gaze dropped to her throat and the pulse hammering there. Wouldn’t take much to put his lips against that pulse. Caress it with his tongue.
Cage returned with the dress, and they went outside to the big black Suburban. Ella and Cash sat in the back while Cage and Viking went up front.
It would take about two and a half hours to reach Dulles. Then a few hours to Vegas. They could be married by nightfall. Cash shoved a hand into his hair and propped his head on his hand with his elbow against the window.
Not exactly how he’d planned to spend this weekend. And definitely not how he planned to spend the rest of his life. It was temporary. An arrangement. It’d be over before he knew it.
Chapter 10
It was around noon when they reached the airport. A man was waiting for them at the first checkpoint. She had to scoot over when he joined them in the back seat. After the way her body had burned when Cash carried her to the car in the first place, she wasn’t ready for another round of boiling in her own skin just yet. Too bad though, because she was going to get it anyway.
“Thanks for the
help, Hawk,” Cash said to the newcomer.
He turned to them and smiled. “No problem. You know how Gina loves weddings.” He held out his hand and Ella took it. “Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. I’m Jack. Or you can call me Hawk. My wife is looking forward to meeting you.”
“I’m pleased to meet you as well—and please call me Ella.”
He nodded. “Ella. I passed your sizes on to her. She has a few things for you. We’ll pick up more in Vegas.”
Ella didn’t know what to say. Thank you didn’t begin to cover it—but what else did one say? When she’d given Viking her sizes while he’d been on the phone with this man during the ride here, she’d had no idea how much trouble he would go to for her.
“Thank you so much. I will pay you back.” She didn’t know how, but her pride dictated she say it. How could she be a royal princess and have nothing? It was the truth, but she’d figure something out. She’d get a job. Somehow.
“It’s not a problem,” he said. “Gina loves shopping. And I’m pretty sure she won’t allow you to pay us back, so don’t worry about it.”
Before Ella could object, they pulled up beside a plane. There was a set of stairs pushed up to the open door at the front of the fuselage, and Ella felt her jaw dropping open. She closed it before anyone noticed.
It was a big plane. When these men had said that she and Cash would be traveling on someone’s plane, she’d been thinking Learjet. Not a huge plane like people rode in every day. Her uncle used to have a jet, but he’d had to sell it. And it had been nothing like this one.
Everyone piled from the vehicle. Cash wouldn’t let her set her bare feet on the tarmac, so she had to wrap her arms around his neck and let him hold her close once more. Oh, the things it did to her heart to be held like this.
And not only her heart. Her insides tingled, and her sex ached with the beginnings of arousal. Embarrassment flooded her, creeping on hot feet across her skin. She kept her eyes downcast, afraid that someone would see how silly and virginal she was.
“This is where we leave you,” Viking said. “Good luck in Vegas. And Ella…”
HOT SEAL Bride Page 6
