Creighton Manor Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought he was gorgeous with the scruffy, roll-out-of-bed look, but never had she imagined him to appear the way he did now. His face was smooth from a recent shave displaying his rugged lines, square jaw with that cute little cleft, right dab in the center. She found her eyes focusing on his generous mouth. She felt the heated flush spread across her cheeks as she imagined how it would feel to be kissed by those lips.
    She was going nuts!   Instead of thinking of kisses, she should be thinking of turning around and running.
    Josephine seemed to sense this, and blocked the exit, making it impossible for her to flee. Looking extremely pleased, Cyrus stood with his hands behind his back, smiling from ear to ear. Ellery stood by the captain with a grin of his own. He had the nerve to wink at her. She clenched her fists, having the urge to slap the silly expression off the man’s face. Luckily for him, someone pushed her forward until she stood next to the scowling groom.
    “Can we get this over with?” Zachary grumbled. “I have things to do.”   He glared down at Gillian, his icy blue gaze boring into hers. “You see I had not planned on marrying today.”  
    Gillian couldn’t believe the man's arrogant hostility. He hadn’t planned on getting married!   What did he think that she had planned today? She was ready to give him a piece of her mind, but Captain Pike cleared his throat and began the ceremony. She still couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined being forced to marry a man she didn’t know. Here she hadn’t married Jerry because she wanted to wait for her soul mate, the man in her dreams.
    All of a sudden, the irony of the situation hit her, causing her to chuckle over fate’s peculiar sense of humor.
    All eyes rested on her, but it was Zachary’s glare that silenced her. “You find something amusing?”
    “If you only knew,” she mumbled with a sigh.
    “What did you say?”   Zachary looked at her again.
    She shrugged. How could she explain it to him? It was best she kept it to herself.
    Zachary turned toward the captain giving him the signal that he may continue.
    She tuned the captain out, wishing she were anywhere, but here. Probably not a good idea since she needed to participate in this farce.
    “Miss, we need to know your name,” Captain Pike asked for the second time.
    Zachary’s raised eyebrow and disdainful gaze made her realize he thought her mad. Yeah, well she wondered what he’d say if she told him she traveled from the future.
    Zachary nudged her.
    “My name?” she managed to stammer out, causing Zachary to roll his eyes.
    “Yes, your name,” the captain patiently coaxed. At least he showed her some compassion.
    “My name is Gillian Metcalf,” she finally managed to choke out.
    The captain nodded. “Gillian Metcalf.” He looked at his Bible before he continued, “Gillian Metcalf do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love, cherish, and obey him till death do you part?”
    This wedding was preposterous. She didn’t love this man, so how could she cherish him?   She definitely wasn’t going to obey him, and as for, the death do you part . . . She wanted to shout, No!   No, I don’t want to marry this man. I just want to go home. Instead of articulating her complaints, in a voice she barely recognized as her own she said, “I do.”
    Captain Pike smiled, completely oblivious to the situation of this sham of a marriage. He then turned his attention to Zachary repeating the words that would bind them together. When it came time for Zachary to give his answer, silence greeted them, giving Gillian hope he would object, but Ellery prodded him, forcing him to answer. “I do.”
    The captain droned on, ending with, “You may kiss the bride.”
    Kiss the bride!  She’d at least find out how those lips felt against hers. She might as well get something out of this mess.
    Zachary glared down