Jo had kept one outfit and changed into it after the salon was done with her. She saw a different girl in the mirror. Even better than what she imagined in her daydreams. She thought she looked like she was about to go on stage with the studded belt around her waist and her high heeled boots. She thought she would wear them with the black formal dress she had bought when she married the guy. Then she sighed and remembered what she was doing. The man was mean and never smiled. At least not in a good way. And he glowered and growled. She held out no hope that she would eventually fall in love with him. And she was taught that divorce was a sin, so once she said I do, it was permanent.

She tossed her old things in the trash and pulled out the studded bracelets that she had bought from a store in the mountains on the last trip she had taken with her parents. Her mother hated them but her father gave in a bought them. Her mother had always tried to suppress Jo's bad girl style as she called it, but her father indulged her.

She didn't see the man when she stepped out. She had expected him to be waiting right outside the door. She saw a bench by the waterfall and walked towards it. The gazes she got from people as she walked made her feel really good about herself. She could not stop smiling. Then she wondered why she was sitting there waiting. She could take off if she wanted. How could he stop her? But she had made a deal and she had never broken her word … ever.

Then she saw him. He peered into the salon and then turned around and around searching. He looked right at her, but didn't recognize her. She smiled at that too. Then he touched his head in a way that said he was frustrated, and he sat down on the bench outside the salon and hung his head. She stared at him for a while. He didn't seem so scary all of a sudden.

Ryback couldn't believe that he had been stupid enough to leave that woman alone and worse, she had his credit card. She would probably maxed it out before she left the mall. He started to think about his job and how they would laugh at him. He had blown his chance to avoid it.

Across from him a good looking girl waved, but he didn't respond. He wasn't ready to move on from Lauren. When glanced again she was walking his way. She probably recognized him from the show and he would have to force a smile and sign whatever she had for him to write on.

"Please tell me we are done shopping, because it's really not that fun anymore." He stared. She was the woman he had taken from the pet store.

"Wow." he let it slip out. He couldn't help it. She was gorgeous, but she looked tough at the same time. He cleared his throat. "I figured you would have baled."

"I don't believe in breaking promises." she told him and he nodded. Not what he expected at all.

On the plane he quietly read a book. He liked crime and mystery novels and found it relaxing to disappear into another world. And for a moment he even forgot about Lauren and the wedding money she had pocketed.

A reflex caused him to snatch the woman's hand as she was reaching into his carry on bag. He put down his book and gave her an inquisitive glare. She had one of his books in her hand.

"Mind if I borrow this?" she asked with a sweet smile.

"Sure." He went back to his book, but kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "You read this stuff?"

"I like all kinds of stories."

"Hmm." soon they seemed to be flipping pages at the same time.

"So," She asked.

"so, what?"

"So, are you going to tell me why you want to marry a complete stranger."

"Nope."

"Well, I just thought it would be nice to get to know each other."

"Doesn't seem necessary to me."

"Eventually you might want to find out my name. Might get a little old intruding me as the wife all the time."

That got his attention. He cocked his eyebrow and turn his book upside down on his leg.

"Okay, what's your name?" "Jo." He rolled his eyes.

"Great it's going to sound like I married a dude."

"Would you rather marry a dude?"

"I'm not going to respond to that." he growled. "You can decide for yourself later tonight." He picked up his book and hid a genuine smile. The way her mouth went from a smile to hanging open tickled him. He did take a moment to look her up and down and then he flicked his eyebrows and ran his tongue over his lip to let her know he had definite plans to consummate their marriage. Especially after seeing the woman a little money had turned her into. "I'm Ryan by the way."

That night he checked them into a casino hotel and made an appointment to be married in their chapel. He dressed in a nice suit and touched up his beard. Then he took a deep breath. It wasn't the wedding he had been looking forward to. It would have been okay if Lauren was his bride. It wouldn't have mattered, but Jo looked pretty good in the black dress she wore. It was short and accented her long legs.

"Do you want pictures?" The lady at the desk asked them.

"Yes, lots of pictures." he told them. Then he whispered to Jo. "Act like your in love. I want these wedding photos to look real."

"Rings?"

"What?"

"do you have rings?" the sales woman asked him.

"Um, no." that was something else he had let Lauren take care of and one more thing she didn't buy with the money he gave her. He was thankful he had told her he wanted to wait until they were married before he merged their bank accounts when she had asked him to. She would have wiped him out if he had agreed.

The sales girl placed a large assortment in front of them. Some looked outrageous with dice and such on them.

"You pick." he said. He didn't think he could pick out a ring to give to a stranger. Jo picked out a nice matching wedding band set. He was shocked she didn't pick out a set with a diamond. They were white gold and had skulls engraved around the spinners. Something Lauren definitely wouldn't have picked out, but he thought they were pretty cool.

Jo played her part well. Too well. Maybe she was happy after all she was getting a lot out of the deal. She was a gold digger to he assumed. No wonder she didn't run at the mall. When the time came to kiss her, he didn't hesitate. He pulled her tight and pressed his mouth passionately against hers. He didn't hold his tongue back and when she kissed him back he felt a tingle shoot through him. The kiss shocked them both. They posed for a few more photos and then waited for them to be printed and put into a book. They were also given a disc containing pictures, but he doubted he would print any more.

They ate dinner at a nice restaurant and even shared a small wedding cake that was brought to them compliments of the chapel. It was unexpected with its one layer and small couple on top and he even allowed the bus boy to take pictures of them eating it with his phone when he offered.

"I think we're supposed to do this." Jo said after the waiter had poured their champagne. She linked her arm through his and the bus boy snapped a picture of them drinking it with arms wrapped around the others. She giggled and covered her mouth after letting out a nearly silent burp. "I think I'm already drunk."

"You don't drink often do you?"

"First time." she admitted and he laughed at her.

"Sure, it is. And I bet you're a virgin too."

she laughed and took a sip of her drink and her eyes shifted as far away from him as she could get them.

"Okay, now I just think you're making shit up. No way you're that innocent." the alcohol had made him too relaxed and he was interested in her. She seemed fun. What harm would come of them being friends. Hell, it might even turn out better than being in love ever did.

"I'm not going to defend myself to you. You can decide for yourself later." she giggled again. Definitely drunk – and was she flirting? With him? He guzzled down a beer, tired of the champagne.

"Maybe we should find out right here." his flirting was met by laughter.

Jo felt as if her head was no longer attached to her body and her face felt hotter than the rest of her body.

"I'll be right back." she felt she needed to go to the bathroom and run cold water on her face. She was acting silly and felt like she was making a fool of herself. But when she stood Ryan pulled her into his lap and kissed her long and hard. She felt a surge rush through her that she had never felt before and she was glad they were seated in a dark corner when his lips trailed from her neck to the top of her dress. He pulled it down slightly and kissed the top of her breasts causing the bus boy to place Ryan's phone on the table and leave in a hurry.

"We should slow down." Jo pushed away suddenly feeling sober. She went back to her chair and drank some water. She was surprised by how much fun she was having. She reminded herself she was there by force in a way. She sure as hell didn't want to reward him for what he had made her do.

The food came and they ate. Jo could not bring herself to look at Ryan. She had conflicted feelings. She liked him, but hated him at the same time.

"I'm so tired." she said when they reached the room and she really was.

"it's the alcohol." he told her and then sat in chair and watched her a little too intently. She went into the bathroom and changed into the pajamas she had bought. She suddenly wished for the long pants instead of the shorts she had chosen and with the matching tank top she suddenly felt naked. She went to the bed and covered herself. She closed her eyes. She heard him move closer and she listened as he changed his clothes and then climbed into the bed with her.

"You can look at me you know." She opened her eyes and wished she had drank more. She felt completely sober. Then she thought about how relaxed she had been at dinner. It was nice and turning to the drink would be a good way to deal with her new situation. She rolled to her other side so she could face him and was shocked to find him lying on top of the blanket completely naked. Every inch of his body was completely cut and she blushed when she gazed at his manhood.

"Your turn." the drink had not completely left him and he grinned impishly. "You were into me at the restaurant." He urged and lifted her tank top. She was scared he would become angered if she rejected him so she helped him remove her clothes, then his body was close to hers. He kissed her and she melted. There was something about his kiss that made her forget all she questioned.