Free Angelique Rising by Lorain O'Neil Page B

was sleeping on his chest. The woman wasn't what was almost too much for George --it was the small stain of blood on the sheet beside her. Wyatt had found a virgin? In Vegas? Wyatt opened his eyes, spotted George gawking from the open doorway and signaled him with his eyes.
                  Get. Out.
                  George didn't budge but continued to leer lewdly, jerking his eyebrows up and down theatrically at Wyatt, giving him an energetic thumbs-up salute.
                  Wyatt flicked his head sharply in fruitless threat.
                  NOW.
                  George pulled a face, turned and closed the bedroom door, bowing with great although silent aplomb. Leave it to his older brother he reveled cheerfully, to come to Vegas and get some. He sat down, waiting. Two minutes later Wyatt appeared, quietly closing the door behind him.
                  "You're late, George."
                  "You're right, Wy, don't know what we'd all do without your mind-blowing assessments."
                  Wyatt scowled at him in wry amusement trying to repress a smile.
                  "But I see you put the morning to good use, bro," George continued, his eyes dancing in mirth. "Now you want to tell me what this is all about? Not often I get a message like that -- get your ass on the jet to Vegas pronto. "
                  "I'm getting married today. You're best man."
                  "WHAT?"
                  "Her name's Angelique Reising, that's her in there," Wyatt smiled slyly.
                  "You're marrying a Vegas showgirl?"
                  "She's a student, George, from home. She's here giving a performance, she earns her living by singing which you would know if you had shown up at the Gala, she was the headliner there."
                  "Wait a minute --is she the woman you sang that duet with that everyone can't shut up about? She's going to marry you?"
                  "Hopefully."
                  "What d'you mean hopefully? You haven't asked her yet?"
                  "No, and I'm not going to. She would say no."
                  "Then how--"
                  "I'm going to get her drunk today. Crazy drunk. She's young, she's never had hard liquor before. The wedding will be here in the suite --Johnson's arranging everything. I figured the best way to keep him from scuttling the whole thing was to put him in charge of it. As soon as I've got her amenable, we'll do it." Somehow he almost made it sound permissible, a minor inconvenience.
                  "Wyatt, that's crazy. You can't--"
                  "I can and I'm going to so I need you standing by ready. And don't tell me you've never done it, deliberately gotten a girl drunk, I have a very good memory."
                  "Yeah, but not to say yes to marriage! Mom and Dad will have a nut. And Maureen! She still thinks the two of you are gonna get back together. I take it there won't be any prenup."
                  "No George, but don't worry, I'm keeping this one no matter what it takes. She's... different. I know you don't believe that, you think I'm some dumb fool in love but that's because you haven't met her yet. Trust me, there's something about her--"
                  "You're sure about this? Remember how much Maureen cost you?"
                  "I'm very sure."
                  "Okay then, bro, I'll be there. Probably would've just lost my money down in the casino anyway, I never win anything."
                  "That," Wyatt said handing him an envelope, "is where I want you to wait, make sure your cell is working properly. That's a check they'll cash for ten grand, make it last, I don't know how long this is going to take. Once she's drunk I have to