Royce carries me all the way back to the same dressing room where I was dressed for the wedding. Only, as we enter he starts twirling me around, and shouting out, “Robin, you’ve made me the happiest man alive. We pulled this off. We just eloped along with thousands of people cheering us on, just how we wanted.”

I know he’s acting, but I feel like I can’t breathe because the smile he’s sending out is sincere and truly looks so happy that I almost believe him. The guy’s face is also so beautiful to me, smiling into my eyes how he’s doing, that I could swear it’s increasingly harder to breathe.

When I force my gaze away to scan just who he’s preforming for now, I can’t help but notice he, I, and the entire wedding party are on a new kind of stage. And I get by the tension that seems to be setting into everyone’s shoulders, despite the serene expressions they’re all wearing, that this show might be more important than the one we just performed on stage.

He sets me down carefully, but positions me so my back is facing the press. Quickly he leans toward my face, first brushing a quick kiss on my lips, and then he goes for a second one, this time the kiss is long enough for the sound of two hundred camera clicks to fire off. “Sorry. Had to do that.” He whispers against my ear. “Let’s see your deliriously happy newlywed face before I turn you around.” He runs his thumbs over both of my hot cheeks, and I’m wondering if he’s hoping some of the color that has to be there will fade away.

“How’s this?” I work to shove my jitters away, and grin as wide as possible because those sliver-blue eyes of his are twinkling down at me like he’s not anything but happy while he’s patiently waiting for me to settle into the over-crowded too-attentive vibe inside this room.

“Perfect.” He places his forehead next to mine how he did after we had our first kiss and keeps his hands on my shoulders. “God, but you’re a beautiful bride, Robin, do you know that?” he whispers down to me.

I frown up at him, whispering back, “Save that kind of comment for when people can hear you, would you? But…as a groom, you don’t look so bad in a tuxedo either.” I shrug, adding, “So you know.”

“Thanks.” He chuckles, pulling away to pretend-fix my veil, then he leans back to my ear to whisper, “Keep that glowing-face locked on. Don’t answer anything directly unless I squeeze your hand like this.” He pushes a thumb deep into my palm. “Otherwise, keep on smiling and, please don’t let go of my hand. We need to let them ask all the questions possible before we talk, because these vultures are going to bring up all of the things we forgot to think about in this mad plan. My team needs to take notes so we can fill any holes we may not have thought of as quickly as possible. Ready?” He pushes his thumb deep into my hand like he wants me to answer.

I squeeze his hands back and only nod because there’s no point in telling him that hell-no, I’m not ready for this.

Whatever this is going to be.

A line of bodyguards has kept the press at a decent distance, but as Royce turns us both to face the crunch of rolling video cameras, he straightens his shoulders like he’s facing a firing squad and raises his voice. “Shout out your questions quickly, guys. This is our wedding day and we’ve got transportation waiting—so much to—do!” He wiggles his brows suggestively and everyone laughs, while I shake my head, and gain another laugh by rolling my eyes a little at him.

“Royce. When did you know—when did you know you wanted to be with Robin? Marry her?”

“Like I said on stage. From the first moment we met. At first there was this connection to her that felt like no other, and then…honestly, I swear I just knew she was the one. The way things came together that led up to marrying her today? It was like fate kept intervening. I was walking on this road and everything lined up so easily.” He glances around and points at another reporter. “You, over there, the woman in the blue dress? Do you have a question?”

A woman steps up, camera also rolling. “Robin, I’ll ask you the same. Was it love at first sight with you? I mean come on, it’s only been a week—and like we know it’s too soon for you to wonder if you’re pregnant—but are you, are you pregnant?”

Royce presses his thumb into my palm.

I pull in a deep breath and answer being as truthful as possible. “No. Of course I’m not pregnant. And, no, I never expected to fall in love with Royce how I did, but it’s happened.” I smile and flash my wedding ring. “Obviously.”

Everyone in the room goes silent, listening while I sort through more truths I can speak about. “The attraction was always there for me, of course because—well—you see him here, he’s…wow.” I feel my cheeks going hotter.

People in the room chuckle.

I go on, “So that part was easy, considering.” I laugh again along with them, keeping my gaze as steady as I can. “But, I didn’t fall for him because of his looks. I fell for him when I realized what an amazing friend and person he is.”

“What do you mean?” A man in the back calls out.

“Everyone thinks Royce is the band’s bad boy, only he’s not.”

“Oh, here we go. She’s going to blow my cover,” Royce jokes.

“Royce has so much honor and his kindness goes above-and-beyond anyone I’ve ever met, and cares deeply about everyone. We shared this one kiss, and…” I glance at Royce who’s watching me intently. “And I know it sounds trite, but it was like I’d been struck by lightning. From that point forward he was simply part of my mind—inside if it. I agree with what Royce said. That what happened between us has to be fate, because all of the puzzle pieces between us that should have seemed difficult—like how we’ve only known each other a short time, how I’m just a girl from North Carolina—a girl who ran away to save my brother, and because of my age, too? Well instead of those things being obstacles, they actually helped us get married even faster.” I motion around to the band. “Royce aside, suddenly I had these amazing people who cared about me pushing the decision as well. These are people who I actually do trust and love and who say they love me right back.”

Mrs. Felix wheels her wheelchair over to pick up my other hand and smile up at me, I start to tear up. “When Royce asked me to marry him I, at first told him no. Told him he was insane. But with his grandmother telling me to let go of doubts.” I shrug. “Encouraging me to not pay attention to what society does, and doesn’t do and to simply live my life.” I motion to Mrs. Felix, Gregory and the rest of the band, “I decided to trust. Trust these amazing people who wanted to help me, and,” I glance up at Royce. “And trust how my heart feels, and I’ve never felt like how I feel when I’m with Royce. It’s like Royce says, it’s real and even though it’s really awkward to tell a whole room full of strangers about it, I’m—” My voice falters as my gaze catches on Royce’s. “We. We are, very much, in love.”

“You’re doing beautifully, dear,” Mrs. Felix whispers.

The press mob starts shouting out hundreds of questions then, about my age, about why we didn’t wait, about how this whole thing is crazy.

This time Mrs. Felix is the one to silence them by letting go of my hand and pushing the control on her wheelchair forward like she’s trying to create a shield between them and us.

“It’s your fault they had to get married so quickly, you know?” She points at them, shaking her finger like they’re naughty children. “All of you—you—the press. You caused this instant wedding for these poor dear young people.”

“How can that be true?” A man shouts out from behind a camera.

She wheels forward more as they stop shouting to hear what she has to say. “I’m sure you all know, or maybe some of you horrid gossips even wrote the damaging stories, the ones that called this nice girl here unthinkable things.” She points to me. “For those of you who are pretending to not know what I’m referring to, Robin was being labeled as a prostitute who worked for the band. A money-grubbing groupie! And worse, when in fact she was only ever employed as our hired nanny.”

Mrs. Felix shakes her head sharply, then points at her grandson. “Royce is in love with this girl, and given different circumstances he would have wooed her, dated her, and taken a couple of years to grow his relationship with her. But once you all wrote that garbage about the young woman he loves, the steps we decided to take were obvious to all of us.”

She shakes her head and does the very cute ‘tsk-tsk’ sound she always makes. “Many a marriage around this world involves a bride and a groom who don’t know each other well. What about the arranged marriages that work out? I’ve even heard there’s even a few TV shows that feature fast marriages. And, what about those with the bachelor or bachelorette picking a husband or wife very quickly. We’ve watched these people fall in love.”

“Or out of love,” one reporter calls out in a snide voice.

Mrs. Felix gifts that man her worst stare and zooms even closer to the press, forcing them all to step back. “Well, that’s true of course, but once in a while these arrangements allow a good couple to be happy together and to stay in love. But this is more than a good couple. This is better than any of those arrangements. This is two people who have a real connection, who got married to save each other’s reputations and families, and two people for whom I vouch. If you could see how truly wonderful and in love they really are together despite the odds stacked against them, and despite the few days they have actually been dating, you would not speak with such cynicism.”

“So you really do approve of this match?” The woman in the blue dress calls out, sounding as though she’s amazed.

“Yes.” Mrs. Felix nods. “If I had to go out in the world and choose a girl that I think would be perfect for my grandson to marry it would be exactly this girl, our own, darling, Robin Love. She’s kind, she’s considerate, generous and her heart is genuine. She’s been raised by her wonderful ARMY father with so much honor and love and my Royce adores her, so yes. Of course I approve.”

“Robin. Robin! What would your father think of Royce? If he’s found, what will he do when he meets your husband?”

The entire room grows completely quiet and when I catch Royce’s expression as he presses his thumb into my palm for me to answer, I realize he might be as curious as the reporters. “My father?” I laugh a little. “Well, he’s Special Forces and I’m his only daughter, after all, so…” I dart a wink at Royce. “I would assume he will try to kill Royce for marrying me without permission.”

Everyone erupts into laughter including me.

“But then what?” Royce asks.

“But then, my father will hear the story, and he will love Royce how I do. He’ll also be so thankful that we’re safe and okay, because that’s what any deployed parent wants for their children, right? Just how Sage and I hope our father is somewhere…” I swallow, going on, only because I know everyone is listening only to me. “That he’s alive and that he will be found…soon.”

The room grows so quiet it’s unsettling, and I pull in a shaking breath before saying more. “I’d like to ask anyone who’s filming this, to please run this footage and maybe can you ask the public to give my dad and his best friend, who is also missing in action, one quick prayer, because they really need it.” My voice cracks. “Their families need it, too.” I swallow the massive lump that has taken over the back of my throat and croak out, “We’re all so worried about them.”

Mrs. Felix, sensing I’m about to break down and cry, zooms her wheelchair in front of me. “Do you hear how sweet she is? Your stories from yesterday marking her a prostitute would have stuck to her reputation and ruined her life. People would have whispered and torn this nice girl down even more than what you had already done to her, all because you assumed the worst about her when it wasn’t true. Today she’s safe, and she’s married, and we’ve invited you into the real story that’s unfolding here. I ask you, this time, to report and do good. Try to help this girl find her father, try to make up for the lives you almost accidentally destroyed.”

The press mutters more, but seems to be fresh out of questions for me and Royce. Suddenly a bunch of them surge towards Sage who’s standing at the back of the room with Hunter and Vere, eating chips out of a large bowl.

As a few crowd close to ask him a few questions, I can see my brother is nervous, and though I can’t hear the questions they’re asking or his answers, I can see the expressions on the faces of the people interviewing him. It’s obvious Sage is working his charm on them because they’re laughing and nodding and taking some of the chips he’s offering them.

I try not to look panicked, seeking solace in how we told Sage he didn’t have to lie about our dad or how we ran away anymore, so I can only hope whatever he’s saying helps solidify our story.

“What about a honeymoon?” One man calls out. “Where will you go?”

I feel my cheeks go completely hot at that question. My heart starts beating so fast that suddenly it feels really hard to breathe. I turn my face to hide it into Royce’s bicep and lower my lashes unable to meet anyone’s eyes, because the word honeymoon is slamming around my head so hard I can now hardly see.

I risk a quick glance through my lashes up at Royce, hoping his poker face is turning out way better than mine, and thankfully up on his chiseled-calm-face things seem stabilized and not at all ruffled.

He’s flashing a smile and nodding while he does this heart-stopping eye-twinkle thing I’ve never seen before as he says, “Oh hell yes there’s going to be a honeymoon and, not that this is anyone’s business, but this is not rocket science here. We just told you we’re in love, and we just got married, so what do you think is going to happen here? It is our wedding night.”

He laughs, shooting everyone a second wicked grin before pulling me gently closer to his side. “But that’s the last time Robin or I will let anyone talk about that side of our relationship, because—damn—come on people. Did you not just hear my grandmother’s speech? A little privacy and respect is needed where my wife is concerned. She’s not used to all of this yet. I’m not stupid enough to reveal where we’re having our honeymoon, but I can tell you that she and I are not allowed to leave the state. We need to be back here Monday morning to talk with the authorities that are coming in from North Carolina to help us address the situation surrounding the custody of Robin’s little brother.” He shrugs casually like what he’s saying is normal and not at all a big deal, before he adds, “Luckily this is the awesome state of Florida, so there will probably be beaches at this honeymoon, waves, sun and some sand to play in. If…” He winks. “If we get outside at all. And on that note, I hope you understand the clock is ticking. We have some travel plans waiting, and so we’re out of here.”

As the press tries to swarm forward while they shout out more questions for me and Sage, Royce ignores all of them, simply looks down at me and says, “Can I carry you out of here.”

I look up at him, trying to match my expressions to his all over again but it’s really hard to hold my smile, because my darn corset has been pinching me this whole time. I suddenly find that I can only whisper, “It’s actually the only way I’ll be able to move. Please carry me.” I blink. “I’m wearing a strait jacket thing under this dress and it’s made me immobile.”

“Christ.” Royce laughs, pausing to brush another small kiss on my lips and adds, “But you do look really pretty.”

Because the kiss took my breath away and the dress feels like it’s gone from one hundred pounds to one thousand in the last few minutes I answer, “Shut up and get me out of here, would you?” I hold my arms up and try to leap into his arms but all of that effort only pushes more air out of my lungs. Frowning up at him, I mutter, “Pretty sure wedding dresses were invented to make it so brides can’t run away how they want to.”

He bends down laughing some and once again, effortlessly scoops me up into his arms while whispering against my ear, “No more running away, Robin. That’s what started this trouble, remember? No more running away.” He brushes yet another one of those sweet kisses on my lips, and then puts one on each of my cheeks.

“And what finished it, was you, kissing me, remember?” I feel my cheeks firing extra hot with the awareness that every camera in the room is recording how Royce Devlin is planting his lips all over my face!

“I’m only doing it for the sake of the press,” he says, voice light—but suddenly he’s sounding wounded. “I’m going to need to pull of just one more. Is that okay? One more…kiss?”

I realize he’s worried I may say no, or that he’s gone too far, somehow already. And then I realize that he’s staring at my lips in this way that makes my heart flip—makes me want to lick my lips—or heck, melt or, I don’t know what… because the look in his eyes and the way the corset is smashing my diaphragm is quickly gobbling up the remainder of of my sanity.

“For the sake of the press. Okay. One more,” I agree, turning my face up to his, thinking that if I suddenly die because of this dress, it will at least be in Royce Devlin’s arms with his amazingly soft and sexy, smiling lips pressed against mine.