Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I can’t stand the thought of saying vows to Isabel knowing they won’t last forever.
But fine, maybe we can skip the words. It still bothers me, though I can’t pinpoint why.
At least we find the general in the forest of slots with relative ease. He’s playing this big buffalo game, spinning the reels over and over, the screen shining and making this wild music as he slowly loses all the money shoved into the casino’s guts.
“General Leyland,” I say, grabbing his attention.
He looks back at me, scowling. “What do you want?”
I pull Isabel up next to me. “We reconsidered our proposition from earlier and decided that marriage is the best course of action.”
He tilts his head, looking from me to Isabel. Her face is totally blank, giving away nothing.
“You sure?” he asks. “Getting married to handle a political problem is a big deal.”
“We’re sure,” I say before Isabel can answer. “It’ll work.”
General Leyland hits the spin button one more time before cashing out. He yanks the cash slip and shoves into his pocket before turning to face us.
“I like this,” he says, nodding to himself. “It’s the perfect excuse to deal with my problem daughter.”
“It’s the—sorry, what?” I lean closer. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Allison’s been a challenge for years now. I’ve been expecting her to lash out and make my campaign difficult at some point. Now that you’re stuck in this mess with me, I’m thinking you can help me deal with the girl for at least a month.”
“I’m not following,” I say as an ugly pit opens in my stomach.
“He’s trying to pawn her off on us,” Isabel says. Her tone’s hard, like she’s angry.
“Exactly,” General Leyland says. “You two will watch over my daughter for the next month. Then I’ll have a campaign stop in Los Angeles to pick her up. Keep her safe, make sure she doesn’t get herself into trouble, and throw a whole lot of water on the rumors as they start to spread. You do all that, and we’re good. And, Conlan, keep your hands off her this time, or there will be serious consequences. Okay? Okay. Very good.”
I open my mouth to say something. Watch over his daughter? Allison, the girl I slept with? His nineteen-year-old problem child? It doesn’t make any sense. I’m not a babysitter. I don’t know how to keep another person in line. I can’t even keep myself in line.
“General, hold on. I don’t think that’s going to work.”
“Nonsense. Stick her in a room and guard her door for a month, I don’t give a damn. In your line of business I’m sure you have ways of keeping people under control, right? Go ahead, do whatever you want. Maybe you’ll scare some sense into her.” He doesn’t sound very optimistic about that. “Good luck either way. Just make sure she doesn’t get into trouble. I’ll have my people ship her over to that hotel of yours, what’s it called, the Lincoln? That’ll do just fine. You can handle this, Conlan, you and your new wife. I have faith.”
General Leyland stalks off.
I stare at his back, at a total loss for words.
His daughter? Staying at the Lincoln?
And I’m somehow responsible for her.
“Great,” Isabel says. “I really should’ve stayed home. That girl is as good as dead with you in charge.”
Chapter 12
Isabel
The flight back home makes a detour through Vegas. Conlan’s not talkative and I can’t blame him—when we get back, he’s not only going to have a new wife to deal with, but also a nineteen-year-old albatross around his neck.
But I find it hard to feel sorry for him, considering he’s the reason we’re in this mess.
“How did you convince me to do this again?” I ask once we’re in the town car heading toward the chapel. “I’m pretty sure this is going to be a nightmare.”
“Imagine how I feel.”
“Sorry, are you ignoring my misery and complaining about your own? Because I’m not into it.”
He gives me a tight smile. “No, I’d never. Your feelings are much more important than mine.”
I roll my eyes. “How’s it feel going through the world with an ego that big? Does it get in the way?”
“It’s not a problem if I can own it.”
“Big talk for a guy about to marry his personal assistant.”
“Fair point, but you could’ve said no. Actually, if I recall correctly, you could’ve kept your mouth shut around General Leyland. Instead, you couldn’t help but speak up for me.” He leans closer. “It’s almost as if you like me.”
“I like your money. I love your money. I can take or leave you.”
He smirks, licking his lips, and a little thrill runs into my spine. What’s with this guy and teasing me?
“I know hating me is your favorite pastime—”
“Please, I barely think about you.”
“—but we’re going to be spending a lot of time together. On top of that, we need to make this whole marriage thing believable.”