Dangerous Rock (Dangerous Noise 3)

I nod. Barely. I can't think here. He has a ring. And I have a ring. Well, two rings.

This really happened.

How did this happen?

Joel's touch is soft as he peels my body off his and sets me on the bed. He gets up to get something from his suitcase. Advil I guess.

He pushes himself up as he uncaps the bottle. "I'll order you toast and tea."

"Thank you." I press my lips together. That's far too formal of an address for my husband. But then…

God, my head is throbbing.

He brings me the pills and a glass of water. His fingers comb through my hair. He's being sweet and caring.

He's glad I'm his wife.

And I can't remember our wedding. I can't remember most of last night.

I push myself off the bed. That's enough to make me dizzy. It takes me a second to find my balance, but I do get it.

My eyes go back to the ring. To the massive, expensive, beautiful ring.

Then they go to Joel.

I'm married to this beautiful, tattooed man.

And I'm wearing his beautiful, enormous rock.

I… I'm going to throw up.

I find my dress on the floor and pull it on.

Joel is still staring at me, but now his green eyes are filled with concern.

"I… I'm just going to go back to my room. To change." I grab my purse off the side table.

"Bella—"

I grab my pumps and run out the door before he has the chance to finish his sentence.

In my hotel room, I plug my dead phone into its charger. Then I shower and wrap myself in a towel.

My head is still pounding. Of course it is. I drank my weight in gin last night and I skipped out of Joel's room before swallowing those ibuprofen.

I find painkillers in my suitcase and force myself to down three glasses of water. That takes the pounding to a dull ache, but my stomach continues to do somersaults.

When I'm confident I won't throw up, I grab my cell and investigate. Sure enough, my Gallery is flush with photos.

The first few are familiar. There's me and Joel at the club, laughing, kissing, smiling.

Then we're outside the pyramid shaped Luxor. Riding the monorail to the Excalibur. Joel is pointing at a Thunder from Down Under ad and copying a stripper pose.

Then it gets blurry. I can remember bits and pieces of our walk to the Bellagio.

I can almost feel the spray of the water fountains.

The mist was freezing against the cold air.