Page 28 of Married at Midnight

CHAPTER NINE

After both Ellie and Connor had survived the daunting task of picking out a five-piece place setting for twelve, as Viola had demanded, Ellie finally relaxed in spite of the fact that there were now sixty pieces of china they would have to make room for in the house when they were delivered next week.

Ellie had been surprised how easy it had been for them to agree on a china pattern. They’d both liked the simple yet elegant silver ring around the outside edge of the plates, bowls, and cups. That they liked similar things shouldn’t have pleased her as much as it did.

And when they were done picking out china, the saleswoman had informed them Viola had insisted on silverware and stemware as well. Choosing all of it had taken several hours.

“I promised you a date tonight,” Connor said when they were done and had returned to his car. “How about an early dinner?”

“Sounds great. I’m starving,” she agreed. They’d both decided just to keep shopping through lunch. Now that they were done doing Viola’s bidding, it was with total satisfaction that Ellie slid into a chair at a table for two in the bar of the Bush Garden restaurant in Seattle’s International District.

“Have you ever been here before?” Connor asked as he sat across from her.

“No,” she replied, looking around the open room. The Japanese restaurant’s subdued lighting and soft instrumental music helped dispel the last of her tension. “But I’ve heard the food is delicious and that they have karaoke music every night starting at five.”

Connor looked at his watch. “Looks like we’re just in time. Want to try a duet?”

“No,” she said emphatically.

“Don’t want to humiliate yourself at a public karaoke bar?”

“There is not enough alcohol in the world.”

He sat back in his chair and studied her. “You’ll get married drunk, but you won’t sing drunk. What does that say about you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She gave him an innocent smile.

“Hmm. The mysteries of Ellie. I like this game. I think it means you either had a bad experience singing or were humiliated in public. Which is it?”

She laughed. “Are you my therapist now?”

His brows drew together as he stared at her, as if putting together the pieces of a puzzle.

Ellie’s breath caught. She could see the second his understanding dawned.

His eyes went wide. He sat forward. “I’m partially to blame for this, aren’t I?”

The game was no longer playful as a flutter of apprehension worked up her spine. “Could we talk about something else, please?”

They were spared further conversation when the waiter came to take their order. After he left, Ellie took charge of the conversation. “There’s something else we need to discuss.”

“What is that?” Connor asked.

“It became very obvious to me last night when I met with Olivia and Jordan that we need a story to tell people. Like how we met. How long we’ve been dating. Why we got married in Las Vegas.”

He considered her words. “You’re right. We need something that makes sense to all our family, friends, and business associates—something that will help us when it comes time to end the marriage.”

“Any suggestions?” she asked.

“We were abducted by four aliens who forced us to get married before they returned us to Earth.” His grin was infectious.

She felt the corner of her mouth tug up. “The Elvises might very well have been aliens, but I doubt that story will fly with our parents.”

“Yours seemed to accept that we are now together, without a lot of fuss.” Connor paused while their server delivered a beer for him and a glass of water for her. Alone again, he continued. “Should we be worried about that?”

“No need. You heard my dad. He was beyond thrilled not to have to pay for a big, expensive wedding.” Ellie grabbed her water glass. It wasn’t much, but she needed something to hold on to in order to keep herself distracted from the way his smile turned suddenly charming, and the effect it had on her pulse. “The people I worry about most are our friends. Jordan and Olivia know we got married in Las Vegas, but they don’t know we’re only staying together for Viola’s welfare.”

“Then whatever we come up with will have to build upon what you’ve already told your friends.” He paused, thinking. “How about this? We had a torrid love affair in Las Vegas. We decided we couldn’t live without each other, so we got married.”