So not many reviews for the last post. I'm not sure what to make of that. Do you not like the direction it's taking or what? If you get a chance then let me know.

The Plans are Made

Ryan quickly (or at least as quickly as he could given the state of his arousal) made his way to Keith's room and knocked on the door. As soon as it opened he stepped inside and closed the door. He wanted to get back to Marissa as soon as possible. "So tell me again exactly what you found out?"

"The good news is that you don't need any blood tests. But you do need to get a license from the courthouse first. The bad news is that you have to do that in person so I can't help you there. But it should be straightforward. I couldn't find out exactly, because I wouldn't reveal your names, but I gather that it doesn't take very long and they will endeavour to process it quickly if they are aware that you are VIP's. So you and Marissa would definitely pass." Keith informed him.

Ryan nodded. "Thanks. I'd really like to surprise Marissa with all of this but I am going to need your help."

"You know that I'll do anything." Keith assured him.

"You might regret saying that." Ryan smiled as he replied. "But first I need you to do some shopping for me. I need you to pick up Marissa's dress ..." Ryan started only to be cut off.

"Um Ryan. I may have made a visit to Victoria's Secret for Marissa that you will never let me live down, but I really don't think that I'm the right person to buy Marissa's wedding dress. Maybe Annabel …" Keith started only to be cut off by Ryan.

"Don't worry. You only have to pick it up. Actually thinking about it, they will probably deliver it. I'll give them a call." Ryan assured him. For some reason Ryan didn't think that Marissa would want Annabel having anything to do with her wedding dress. "But I'm still going to need you to book the chapel for me and organise the flowers and ..."

"I hate to put a dampener on all this … but have you considered how the paparazzi are going to react when they find out about this? They will go bananas. I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to keep them at bay by myself. Maybe we should contact Bill and organise to get some help." Keith suggested.

Ryan shook his head. "I don't want to be out numbered by security. But I have had an idea that I think could work that I need to run by you. And please feel free to say no. I realise that it is a big ask."

"Fire away." Keith replied only too happy to help.

---

Annabel was luxuriating in the enormous spa bath in her honeymoon suite. She had opened a bottle of champagne that had been delivered courtesy of the management and she knew the only thing that could make life better at this very moment would be to have Ryan sharing the tub with her. She allowed the thought to roll around her mind. She wondered if Ryan and Marissa were still not talking and couldn't keep the smile off her face when she was startled by the ring of the telephone. Fortunately there was a phone beside the bath and within reach so she pulled her mind back from the blissful dream she was having and answered. "Hello."

"Annabel. It's Ryan. I need to see you urgently."

Annabel felt like her dreams were about to come true. Maybe Ryan and Marissa had finally broken up and he needed a shoulder to cry on. "Come right on up. I'll be waiting for you." She replied and hung up. She looked around the room wishing that there was some way that she could stay in the bubble filled tub and let Ryan in by remote control and then he could come and join her or even better he could watch as she emerged from the tub but unfortunately she was going to have to open the door. Lifting herself out of the tub she contemplated whether to put on her new teddy but eventually decided to just pull on one of the hotel gowns over her naked body. She would keep the teddy for their next time. She moved to the small bar to get another champagne flute for Ryan and poured some of the crisp frosty liquid into the glass and set it on the small table just as the door bell rang. She took a moment to check her cleavage in the mirror wanting to make sure that she wasn't being too obvious but also wanting to be showing enough to make sure he got the hint and knew that she was available whenever he was ready. Opening the door she was surprised to find Ryan with Keith standing behind him.

They quickly entered and Ryan gave her no more than a passing glance. "Sorry to bother you. But this is important." He said as he moved to the sofa and sat down.

Keith stood quietly, but was enjoying the view as Annabel sat down alongside Ryan and the gown fell open just enough for them to see a large expanse of shapely leg. "What's the problem?" she asked.

Ryan had a moment of misgiving about including Annabel in his plans but he could really think of no other way. "First, I need to know that anything I say to you will be kept completely confidential?" Ryan asked.

"Of course." She assured him wondering what this was all about.

"I have to ask a favour of you, well two actually …The first one is a lot easier than the second but I want you to know that you don't have to agree to either. It's just …" Ryan started and then couldn't find the words to finish.

Annabel had never seen Ryan in such a state he was so nervous. There was sweat beading on his brow. "Ryan what is it?"

He took a deep breath. "Marissa and I are getting married tomorrow and I wondered if you would be a witness?"

Annabel was completely dumbfounded. She could feel the blood running from her head and was scared that she was going to faint. She blinked her eyes slowly trying to refocus them. "What?" she whispered.

"Marissa and I are getting married and we need two witnesses. Keith has volunteered to be one and I'd like you to be the other. But if you don't want to … then I know that we can get the chapel to supply one. I just know that we would prefer it not to be a stranger." He explained.

Annabel was stunned. When her mind started to function again she panicked. "Ryan just because you're in Vegas you shouldn't rush in to this sort of thing." She managed to get out.

"I'm not rushing in to it. Well I guess I am … " he corrected, smiling as he said it "but we had already planned for it to happen. I'm just moving it forward a bit. Or a lot." He added.

Annabel was having trouble processing the whole thing. She was sure they had been about to break up. They had been fighting. What had happened to bring this on? "Is Marissa pregnant?" she asked, thinking that would explain the sudden rush to the altar. She knew that Ryan was too much the gentlemen to ever let his child be born out of wedlock and it would explain the sudden rush. And thinking that, she decided that she wouldn't put it passed Marissa to trap him that way. In truth she just wished that she had thought of it first.

"No." Ryan snapped and then realising that it had actually been a possibility not that long ago and that they had already been down that path he softened and added "And it doesn't matter whether she is or not … the fact is we are going to be married whether you consent to being a witness or not."

Annabel realised that Ryan was getting upset with her. "But what about a pre-nup? Your worth millions. Surely you need to get something drawn up to protect you from …" she started looking for any way to postpone it.

"Annabel. I don't care about the money. All I want is to be with Marissa ... for the rest of my life." He stated simply. "So will you be a witness or not?"

Annabel looked at Keith and then back at Ryan who was waiting expectantly, What could she do but agree? She slowly nodded her head.

"Sure." She looked back at Keith who kindly smiled at her. She would swear that he understood just how hard it was for her to say that.

"The other thing I need to explain, is that this is a surprise for Marissa." Ryan said.

"What?" Annabel cried. Surely this time he had to be kidding. "She doesn't know?"

Ryan shook his head. "She has agreed in principle. But she has no idea about how, where or when." He explained.

"But how can … "Annabel was dumbfounded.

"Keith and I are organising it all." Ryan explained.

Annabel nodded trying to take it all in.

"Thank you. Obviously this is completely confidential. If the press get any idea of what we intend to do then they will make a complete circus out of it." Ryan explained.

"I understand." Annabel assured him pulling the gown closer together. It all seemed so pointless all of a sudden and she was beginning to feel like a tramp sitting there naked underneath the hotel gown.

"And we will be keeping it a secret for several months yet. At least until after Seth and Summer are married." He explained further.

Annabel just nodded her head again. She was still trying to come to terms with the knowledge of what he was planning. She thought that she had weathered the worst of the storm, until she heard Ryan's next words.

"And that brings me to the next question … the BIG question … " Ryan started, wondering just what sort of reaction he was going to get.

A/N Sorry to leave it there but I am going away for a few days. I'll post as soon as I get back.