The McClintock Proposal. Carol Ericson

license.

      “Pretty simple for a momentous event.”

      “Is it a momentous event?” He raised an eyebrow, a half smile reaching his lips. “I thought we had a business arrangement.”

      “Of course we do. I meant a momentous event for other people.” The words she uttered weighed down her heart. For other people. This kind of happiness swept others away, not her. And apparently not Rod.

      “Let’s get you some shoes for the occasion.”

      SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, he wheeled along the curved driveway of the Milano Hotel and Casino on the Strip.

      A valet parking attendant helped her out of the truck as Rod plucked the parking claim ticket from another attendant. “Shops?”

      “Level B, sir. When you enter the hotel, take the escalator to your right and go down one level.”

      Rod thanked the valet and ushered Callie into the hotel, the plush red carpet sinking beneath her bare feet. They entered a women’s clothing store, open already at seven in the morning, or maybe it never closed.

      Callie picked out a pair of off-white sandals with low heels. When the saleswoman began to take one of the sandals off her foot, Callie stopped her. “I’ll wear them out.”

      Rod joined her at the counter, holding a gold band, ringed with small gemstones, between his thumb and forefinger. “Will this work as a wedding band?”

      She took the ring from him and slipped it on her left ring finger. “Is it expensive?”

      “It’s cheap costume jewelry.”

      “Okay, it’ll do.” She held her left hand in front of her, admiring the sparkle of the fake gems. Her gaze collided with the bugged-out eyes of the saleswoman behind the counter.

      “I-is that all, sir?”

      “Add this.” He slapped down a pack of spearmint gum. “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t brushed my teeth in twenty-four hours.”

      “Ditto.” Callie avoided looking at the saleswoman, whose mouth now resembled that of a gaping fish.

      Rod handed over some plastic to pay for their purchases and asked, “Does the Milano have a wedding chapel?”

      “Of course, and it’s on this floor. When you leave the shop, turn to the right. Go to the end of the line of shops and turn left. The chapel is straight ahead.”

      As they left the shop, the woman called after them, “Congratulations and…good luck.”

      Their luck held. The chapel squeezed them in before the first scheduled wedding of the morning. Rod paid for the standard package, which included a small bouquet for her, a boutonniere for him, a commemorative photo and a witness.

      Top-notch all the way. Callie grasped the bouquet in her hands, the cloying scent from the lilies making her woozy.

      The clergyman smiled and began speaking about love, commitment and sacrifice. Callie nodded as if all those words applied to her and Rod. She swayed, and then dug the heels of her new sandals into the carpet.

      Rod took her arm and grinned down at her. That grin didn’t contain an ounce of hesitation or concern. Why should it? They had a deal. She’d promised to set him free once she met the conditions of her grandfather’s will.

      “Do you, Roderick McClintock, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

      “I do.” Rod’s voice sounded close to her ear, and she closed her eyes. The low timbre of his voice reverberated in her chest, unlocking dreams and desires she didn’t realize she had.

      McClintock. They didn’t even know each other’s last names. Callie McClintock. Mrs. McClintock. Mrs. Roderick McClintock. Callie and Rod. Yeah, she’d promised to set him free…but she didn’t want to.

      “Do you, Callie…”

      Her knees buckled as her world went black.

      Callie sagged against him before crumpling into a heap at his feet. His mouth dry, he crouched beside her and called her name.

      The clergyman joined him on the floor, fanning Callie’s face with the marriage license. “Is she okay?”

      Her golden lashes fluttered against her cheeks, and Rod blew out a breath. “Callie, are you all right?”

      She struggled to sit up, and he wrapped an arm around her waist to help her, propping her against his thigh. “Rod, I…we…”

      “Shh. It’s okay. We’re going through with this.” As he smoothed her hair back, he glanced at the clergyman. “She’s nervous and hungry. We didn’t stop for breakfast this morning, after a long drive. Can you finish the ceremony now?”

      “O-on the floor?”

      “Finish it.”

      The clergyman shot a worried look at Callie. “Miss?”

      She nodded. “Let’s get this done.”

      The clergyman shrugged. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

      Rod planted his lips against Callie’s forehead. He could save the real wedding kiss for later. He swept her up in his arms, dug in his pocket to tip the clergyman, and strode out of the chapel with his bride.

      “Let’s get breakfast.”

      “You can put me down now.” She kicked her legs, with those strappy sandals on her feet.

      “What happened in there?” He set her down but kept his arm around her, in case she decided to take another tumble. “Did you have second thoughts?”

      Her blue eyes clouded over. “I didn’t want to trap you into a situation you’d regret later. I realized how selfish I’d been.”

      “I agreed to help you.” He gripped her shoulders, hooking his thumbs beneath the straps of her dress. “Once I commit to something, I see it through. And right now, I’m committed to finding breakfast.”

      THEY FOLLOWED THE HOTEL SIGNS to the buffet and parted company at their table.

      Rod piled food onto a couple of plates, shook out his napkin, and ordered coffee from the waitress. He sipped the hot, mellow brew while he waited for Callie.

      For a minute in the chapel, he thought she’d changed her mind and took a dive to opt out of the deal. Would he have cared? He would’ve dropped her off at the bus depot in Vegas and paid for a one-way ticket to L.A. Out of sight, out of mind.

      Yeah, right.

      He could no sooner put Callie…McClintock out of his mind than he could walk into that casino and drop a twenty at the blackjack table. Hell, he didn’t even know her maiden name, but that didn’t matter.

      She was a McClintock now.

      Callie returned to the table balancing two plates of food, one heaped with bacon, eggs and hash browns and one overflowing with a huge waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

      “Weddings give you an appetite?”

      “Well, I did almost faint at the…er…altar.”

      They both dug into their food in silence, and Rod downed three cups of coffee to combat the weariness that kept tugging at his eyelids. He figured they had another long drive ahead of them, to reach Callie’s ranch in Wyoming.

      Pushing back from the table, Rod tossed several dollars on the table. Callie scooped them up and counted out the eight dollars.

      “Not enough?” Rod reached for his wallet.

      “No. Very generous, considering we got our own food. I’m trying to keep track of how much I owe you, once I get my hands on some money.”

      “Don’t worry about it. We’re