Irreplaceable
Chapter 11

Rafferty knew the moment she passed out. Was it because she was in his arms, and they were dancing

t was because he was kissing her when it happened. What an ego boost. Now he was left holding up a limp body in the basement of an empty church. If Mia hadn't been passed out, she would've loved it; in fact, she would've been the first person he wo ve called for help if she wasn't the drunk person. Grabbing his phone, he shut off the song. He was happy he picked the right song for the event. It had been glorious to have her in his arms, even if it had been for two songs when she was drunk. Though he hamit, he didn't think she was pass-out drunk until she actually passed out. Shifting her easily, he picked her up into his arms. With her there, he grabbed the nearly empty whisk

hair was the brown she used to have when she was younger. And, of course, she was happy to be marr Wait. Did he even want to marry her? He wanted to think that the idea was so farfetched it had never front of everyone they knew.

When he left the little room, he was relieved that the groom and bridesmaid were gone, along with ev related to each other. Only Mia would even think that.

He was successful in getting her out of the church, across the parking lot, and past puddles and mud. Getting her into his car was a challenge, as she was dead weight, but after a few minutes, he had her That set, he went back in to see if anyone was still around. He didn't want to leave the building unlock To his surprise, he found the pastor still in his office. Knocking on the door frame, he stated, "I think I The man looked up at him and smiled before saying, "Okay. Good."

"Do you get a lot of weddings that fall apart?" Rafferty wanted to know. "More fall apart during the first year than the few minutes before."

"Then it's good that she bolted today." Rafferty didn't know why he was still talking to the man, but he "Yes. I don't know your name, but I've seen you around town," the pastor stated.

le and left her little room. He couldn't get the image of her out of his mind: She was getting ready for her wedding. She was in a tight white dress, and her

m.

his mind. That he hadn't sat in that church waiting for the wedding that didn't happen, imagining him and Mia in front of the church, promising forever in

else. So nobody saw him carrying the passed-out woman through the church. Rafferty chuckled at Mia's insistence that the groom and the bridesmaid were

now the sun was shining, it hadn't erased the evidence of the downpour that had happened just hours before.

in. Turning on the car, he cranked the air conditioning-he had to go back into the church, and he couldn't leave her in a hot car.

d he didn't have a key to lock it.

last one still here."

"Rafferty Brooks. I sell insurance in town," he said, in case the man was looking for insurance. You nevW. "Nice to meet you, Rafferty. I'm Pastor Ruston Abbott. You must be a friend of the bride?" he asked, pr "Mostly a friend of a friend of the bride. I kind of crashed," he said sheepishly.

"It was a good one to crash." Ruston smiled at him.

"It was. A runaway bride. Well, I'm going, so you can lock up." Because Rafferty had a drunk Mia to put to bed.

"Thanks, Rafferty," the pastor said as Rafferty went back to his car and to his drunk friend of the bride.

been to a wedding where the couple ended up not getting married be fore.

because the groom wasn't from town, and the bride was.

The drive to her place was so short, it was almost not worth the hassle of getting her into his car earlier. It was only a few blocks, and he probably could've carried her. Probably should have carried her. Would've loved to carry her in his arms as far as needed. Except then they would've been the talk of the town, and Mia would hate him anew.

Once he had wrestled her out of the car and up the stairs to her apartment, he was glad he hadn't carried her all the way. She wasn't heavy, but she was dead weight.

Once in her bedroom, he laid her on her bed, and she sat straight up and started to fight her way out of her dress. Where was this person when he was trying to get her out of his pickup? The one who can undress while passed out?

Helping her as best he could, they got the dress off, but she almost choked him when she grabbed his tie and pulled it as hard as she could. He had no idea what she thought it was, but she wouldn't let go. Loosening it, he took it off. Then he got to gaze at her glorious breasts that hadn't been in a bra this entire time. While he was appreciating them, she had removed her panties. Rafferty smiled as he pulled the covers over her body.

Yup, she was still a brunette under all that hair dye.

Once again, he got out some aspirin and a glass of water, and put them on the night stand. He knew she was still holding his tie, so he left it. He could pick it up another time, when she wasn't holding on to it with everything she had.

Picking up her dress, he found a hanger in her closet and hung it up-no need for it to be wrinkled. He wanted to see her in it again. She looked amazing, and now he knew she didn't wear a bra with it.

Closing the door behind him, he wasn't as happy as he usually was when he left her drunk in bed. Today, he wanted her sober and in bed. Today, he had crashed the wedding in hopes of getting Mia to dance with him at the reception. He was happy he got his dance, but he wanted her sober.

He was tired of her being drunk every time he got close to her. Though she was a fun drunk, she was also fun sober.