by Regina Duke
Uly saw her color fade and her hand tremble as she reached for her coffee. It was obvious to him that whatever happened between her and Zivo, it still pained her deeply. This must be what she was worried about. She wanted to be sure she’d have access to legal help if she needed it. He felt an irrational anger at this Zivo fellow. What a lousy thing for a doctor to do, and double lousy if he was involved with Belle at the time.
Meanwhile, he was worried about a few things himself. If his mother had called Lulamae, there was nothing stopping her from calling his father as well. They didn’t talk every day when he was abroad. There was still tension there, stemming from the fact that Rudy loved the Middle East and Polly would rather remain Stateside. Uly could understand her desire in that regard, but he was still filled with a yearning to win his father’s approval.
All his life, Uly had been teased by Thor and others about being Rudy’s favorite. The sad thing was, he didn’t feel like the favorite. It was obvious to him that Thor was definitely Polly’s shining star. But Uly felt like he had to continually prove himself to his father. Now Rudy had put him in that position again. Knowing his mother and Lulamae were comparing notes, Uly had to make a snap decision.
“Lulamae, would you mind if I took Belle out tonight to see the lights? I promise we’ll stay a few days and visit, and we sure don’t want to miss out on that beautiful pool.”
Lulamae brightened at the mention of staying a few days. “That would be fine. Do you want a car? I think Tex’s red Maserati is in the garage.” She leaned toward Belle and commented, “Boys and their cars, you know. He had to have that sports car. Hardly ever drives it.”
Uly’s face fell. “I’m not sure.” He stared gloomily at his cast.
Belle piped up, “I can drive a shift.”
Lulamae clapped her hands with delight. “Well, that’s fine then. Belle can drive. You don’t mind, do you, darlin’? Or would you rather I ask Kamal to take you in the Cadillac?”
Uly shook his head. “No, no. I’d love for Belle to drive,” he lied. He did not want Kamal along, because he knew the houseboy would report straight back to Lulamae. He turned to Belle. “Shall we go freshen up before we leave?”
“Excellent idea.” She popped up and looked ready to go. She fetched his crutches from where he’d laid them on the floor by his chair. “Ready when you are.”
As they approached her room, Uly waved her on to his door. He put a finger to his lips, then jerked his head to encourage her to follow him inside.
Once she was in, Uly closed the door softly. “I need to talk to you. I’ve got a plan, but only if it’s okay with you. My mother can be a formidable force, and if she gets an inkling of what we came to Vegas for, the jig will be up for sure. Let’s drive to the Marriage Bureau and do the deed tonight. That way she won’t have time to interfere.”
Belle wandered about his room, her gaze lowered in confusion. “What about all that talk about lawyers and me agreeing to terms and stuff?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll honor our terms.”
She pinned him with a smirk. “Oh, sure you will. Where have I heard that before?”
Uly drooped on his crutches. Then he snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea. Where’s your cell phone? Go get it. This is brilliant.”
Blinking and baffled, Belle did as he asked. When she returned, he was busy writing on a sheet of Lulamae’s letterhead.
Uly closed the door. “Okay, here’s the deal. We’ll do selfies on video. We’ll both sign this after reading it into the phones and that will be our legal record.”
Belle burst out laughing.
Uly was hurt. “Don’t you like my idea?”
Belle tried to stop smiling, but joy shone in her eyes. “Actually, I love your idea. I wish I’d thought of it. Let me see what you have written there.”
It took half an hour, with all the retakes and giggling and starting over twice. But at last they were both pleased with their results. Both phones had the selfie video on it.
“Let’s check it and then we’ll go,” said Uly. He hit play. Together they watched the tiny screen.
“I’m Ulysses Garrison, and this is—”
“Belle Daireng.”
“And we have decided, after much discussion and mutual attraction—”
“You want to say that?”
“Well, I think you’re very attractive,” said video Uly. “Don’t you think I’m handsome?”
Video Belle looked at him appraisingly. “As a matter of fact, you are.”
“Good. I’ll keep going. We’ve decided on our own, with no pressure from anybody, to go get married. And Belle will have all the access to my assets that my wife should have, and after one year of marriage, I will give her a gift of one million dollars to show my appreciation.”
Then video Belle added, “And we will take our time getting to know each other, and there will be no unwanted sexual involvement and no expectations of same. Agreed?”
Video Uly made a broken-hearted face, then said, “Agreed. And here is the written version we both signed.”
“And we’ll sign again right now for the camera phones, so you can tell our signatures are original.”
There followed some awkward maneuvering, changing hands and camera angles, so they could sign the paper again. At the end, they both looked into the cameras and chorused, “That’s all, folks!”
Uly turned his phone off. “I think that turned out great. We know yours was recording, too, so we’ve both got a copy of it. Now will you trust me?”
Belle was still chuckling. “You are something else. This is crazy. But yes, I trust you.”
“Good. Let’s go get married.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Belle felt great relief now that Uly knew something about her experience in Denver. And she was also pleased at his solution to the lack of on-the-spot lawyers. In fact, she loved the phone video idea. It gave her confidence in their arrangement.
She had a great time driving the red Maserati, knowing full well it was killing Uly to let her drive the car. He just couldn’t do it with his cast. They would either need a driver, or he would have to let her do the honors. The little car was fun, but she found it too confining. She made a mental note to skip the Maserati dealership when her million was deposited in her bank. That thought made her giggle.
“Having fun?” asked Uly.
Without explaining why, she nodded. “I don’t know how we’re going to get married at this time of the evening. It’s nearly seven.”
“The Las Vegas Marriage Bureau is open until midnight. Just follow the GPS.”
Belle was dismayed at first by the blocky, businesslike feeling of the Marriage Bureau. But then, she was completing a business deal, so she didn’t let it get her down. And they certainly weren’t the only people taking advantage of the evening hours to tie the knot. Standing in line, Uly said, “We have to prove how old we are. I have my passport. I got in the habit of carrying it all the time in Kuwait. But what about you?”
“I have my driver’s license and my nursing license.” Then Belle wagged her eyebrows at him. “And because I went to Eagle’s Toe hoping to get a job, I have my birth certificate with me. So many places want a copy of it when you fill out your W-4s and I-9s.”
“Holy mackerel, we are overachievers, aren’t we? I think all we need is a photo I.D.”
An hour later, they were man and wife.
“What shall we do to celebrate?” asked Uly.
Belle shrugged. She didn’t really care what they did next. Her long day was catching up to her, but she didn’t want to disappoint Uly so soon after he solved her monetary and legal problems. She wasn’t sure what to say.
Uly stopped her before they got into the car. “Look, just pretend, okay? If you were marrying the man of your dreams, what would your next destination be?”
They looked at each other, then both blushed at the same time.
“Okay,” said Uly, clearing his throat. “Bad analogy. What e
lse would you do?”
Belle laughed. “Well, we are in Vegas.” She tried to sound ready for anything.
“Let’s cruise the Strip and see the sights!” Uly sounded eager.
Belle didn’t care about bright lights, but she didn’t mind driving the little car a while longer.
“Okay, let’s go.”
There were only so many times you could cruise up and down the Strip, especially if you weren’t seventeen anymore. By nine o’clock, they decided to head back to the house and take advantage of Lulamae’s beautiful pool.
“You’re back early!” Lulamae was happy to see them. “Did you gamble?”
Belle shook her head. “I’d rather give to charity. But the neon was pretty.”
“I’m so glad you’re back early. That husband of mine is still entertaining his business friends. Sometimes they want to stay out until all hours of the morning, because they come to these things without their wives, you know. I was just about to have a cocktail and slip into the pool. Won’t you join me?”
Uly looked weary, but he said, “I’d love to sit by your pool, Lulamae. I’m not allowed to have alcohol with my pain pills, but iced tea would be nice.”
“I’ll get you some. Rita went to bed. Belle, you go ahead and find a bathing suit. We’ll be out by the pool.”
“Thanks. I won’t be long,” said Belle, feeling suddenly energized by the thought of a swim.
Lulamae tilted her head to one side. “Someone looks mighty happy. Is there something y’all want to tell me, cherie?”
Uly piped up. “She loved driving that car. I can’t believe Tex leaves it sitting in the garage.”
Belle waved her fingers as she turned away to hide her smile. “Be right back.” Yes, she was happy. For the first time since that hot mess in Denver crumbled her whole world around her ears, she felt like things were going to be okay.
When she reached her room, she set her purse on the dresser and began looking in the drawers for the promised bathing suit collection. Lulamae did not disappoint. The drawers were arranged roughly by sizes, and Belle quickly determined that the top drawer held suits that would fit her. She picked out three and laid them on the bed while she stripped and hung up her clothes. The neon green bikini was cute, but she decided it would show way too much skin. The blue and lavender tankini was cute, too, but the built-in bra felt funny. So she chose the modest red one-piece. She hadn’t thought to buy flip-flops, so she was barefoot. She took a look at herself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.
She muttered softly, “Up yours, Zivo. If you find something better than this, I hope she’s smarter than I was.” She glanced around the room again. Did she need anything else? A bathing cap? No, her hair would be okay. Then she turned her purse upside down looking for her phone. She just wanted to watch their video one more time. It made her giggle. Uly was such a sweet guy, as long as he took his pain meds on time. And there was her souvenir copy of the marriage certificate.
She checked her wallet. The money left from her shopping spree was safely tucked inside. And Polly Garrison’s money was there, too. Belle stuffed everything back in her purse. As soon as they got back to Eagle’s Toe, she’d give Polly back her bankroll. Eight hundred in her wallet was okay, but five grand in her purse made her twitch.
She laughed at herself. Time to join Uly and Lulamae. She decided to go out the sliding doors from her room and save walking all the way around through the house. The door opened smoothly and silently. She was about to step through when she heard Uly talking. She paused for a second. Was he telling Lulamae they were married?
“—and you know how I messed that up. I was too young to get married.”
“You were just trying to please your mama,” said Lulamae. “Bless her heart, she pushed you toward that girl.”
“But Dad was against it from the start. He made that clear.”
“Oh, honey, none of that was your fault. You were being played by one parent against the other. Now don’t you tell’em I said that or I’ll be forced to deny it. Polly was champing at the bit to be a grandma.”
“Well, now she is. Thor and Ashley gave her a grandson. So I thought the pressure would be off.”
“And what about this lovely young lady you’re with now?”
Silence.
Belle decided she’d better make her entrance before she heard something she might not want to hear. She coughed softly as she stepped onto the patio.
“Sorry I took so long,” she said. “All the suits were so adorable, I had to try a couple of them to make my decision.” She offered Lulamae a grateful smile.
Uly’s eyes filled with appreciation for her long, lithe figure. “Wow. You look great.”
“Thank you,” said Belle. “Take your meds.”
Uly laughed. “Supernurse on the job. Yes, ma’am.”
Lulamae poured a glass of iced tea for Belle. “I hope you like sweet tea.”
“Yes, thank you.” The heat from the patio tiles was beginning to burn her feet and she quick-stepped to an empty chaise.
Lulamae reached under her chair and retrieved a new pair of flip-flops. “Here you go, cherie. You’ll burn your toes without these.”
“It’s still so warm,” said Belle. “Thank you. It’s ten p.m. and still ninety degrees.”
“Yes,” said Lulamae. “We’ve been having a bit of a cool spell.”
Belle laughed. She sipped at the tea. “This is perfect. If you don’t mind, I can’t resist the pool any longer.” She wore the flip-flops to the side of the pool, stepped out of them and dived smoothly into the water. It felt divine. She swam to the end of the pool by her room, then back and took the L to the other end of the pool. Lap after lap she swam, letting go of her tensions and worries. When she finally emerged and returned, dripping, for her towel, Uly was smiling at her with approval.
“You really are an athlete.”
Belle dried her hair and dabbed the towel at her legs before relaxing on her chaise. “I didn’t expect the pool to be so big. It’s deceptive, tucked inside the courtyard.”
Lulamae was pleased. “I’m so glad you are enjoying it. I bought this house for the pool, if truth be told. It’s the only exercise I can really enjoy these days, and I don’t need my cane in the water.” She stood, dropped her floral sarong on the chaise, and walked carefully to the edge of the pool. In the next moment, she cut through the water like a trained diver and swam languidly from one end of the L-shaped pool to the other.
Belle reached out and tweaked Uly on the shoulder. “You didn’t mention that your godmother was a former swimming champion.”
“She’s still good, isn’t she? A year ago, she was in a wheelchair. It’s so good to see her walking again. I think it’s the pool that did it. They spent too much time living in a hotel, and she wasn’t comfortable using their pool. Too many strangers.”
“I understand,” said Belle. “I don’t like public pools myself. But this is heaven.”
Uly wagged his brows at her. “Maybe we should buy a house in Vegas.”
Belle nodded. “Maybe we should,” she said. “With a big pool, so Lulamae can come visit and swim at our house.” Or my house, she added mentally. Then she wondered if a million was enough to buy a house with a pool.
Uly spoke, as if he’d read her thoughts, keeping his voice low. “I suppose if we did that, then when we divorce in a year, you’d get the house as part of the settlement.”
Belle was embarrassed that he’d seen through her so easily. “I didn’t mean—”
Uly held up a hand and gave her a teasing smile. “I’m just playing with you. But it might be a nice bonus, don’t you think? After all, you’re helping me save my Dad a ton of money, and I mean a ton. Sometimes I feel guilty, knowing that we have so much and so many others have so little.”
Belle felt a glow of affection for Uly in that moment. It never occurred to her that rich people would give a darn about the less fortunate. Her estimation of his humanity rose sky high. She
tried to keep the tone light as she said, “Well, if we buy a house, we can give an equal amount to charity. That might balance the scales a bit.”
Uly looked at her with admiration. “That’s the spirit.” He lifted his tea in a salute.
Lulamae was returning. She pulled herself out of the water and sat at the edge. Belle got up and offered Lulamae her hand.
“Oh, merci, cherie. Getting out is easy. Standing up? I appreciate the help.”
Once they were settled again, Lulamae wrapped her sarong around her dripping suit. Her long dark hair was still held captive by a rubber band but dripped water down her shoulders. “I used to use a bathing cap,” she said, “but now that I have my own pool, I just let it get wet. That way I can go to sleep with the smell of chlorine clinging to me. It reminds me of my youth.” She sighed deeply and took a sip of her tea. Then out of the blue, she said, “Uly, I don’t suppose you told your mother you were coming here to get married.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Uly was red-faced. “Did you have us followed?” He couldn’t believe his godmother would do such a thing. Tex? In a heartbeat. But not Lulamae.
“Goodness no, darlin’. You know how I feel about that cloak and dagger stuff. But I did have one of my feelings, and so while you were gone, I called your daddy.”
Uly groaned. “Now why did you do that?”
“Because he has been sticking his fingers into your business your whole life, and much as I am fond of the little Rooster, that doesn’t hold a candle to how much I love you, punkin. If I ever had a child, I’d want him to be just like you. So forgive me if I got a little overly protective. Now tell me. Is this another one of your father’s schemes?”
Uly looked to Belle for a clue about how she was taking all this. To his surprise, she patted his arm reassuringly.
“Miss Lulamae, our rush to the altar is mutually beneficial. Uly and I have worked this all out between us, and I promise you, I won’t do anything to hurt him. I know what it’s like to have your heart crushed and discarded like you don’t even matter.” She lowered her gaze.
