Just for This Moment (Wishful 4)

Myles gave the information and watched her fill in her own.

“Mom’s maiden name?” she asked.

“Myles.”

“Ah, you’re one of those, huh?”

“First born. It’s a thing. I consider myself the lucky one. Also on the table was Clifton. I mean, really. Clifton Stewart?”

“I take your point. Highest grade completed in school? Bachelors or Masters?”

“Masters from Columbia.”

“Columbia, huh? And how did you enjoy The Big Apple?”

“I missed the hell out of Southern cooking. Great night life, though,” he admitted. “Anything else?”

“Am I correct in assuming there’s no previous marriages hanging out in your closet that you’ve failed to mention?”

“Nope.”

“Me either. Okay, we’re done.” Piper crossed to the counter and handed the application over.

“I’ll just go get this typed up. You wait right there. Oh, and the fee is fifty dollars. Cash only.”

Piper turned back to him. “Uh oh. Did you bring cash?”

“Got it covered. Come sit with me, future Mrs. Stewart. Although, under the circumstances, I guess you’re not changing your name, are you?”

“I hadn’t thought about it yet.” She sat, lacing her fingers through his. “But yeah, under the circumstances, I guess it doesn’t make sense.”

“If things were different, would you want to? Take my name, I mean.” He didn’t know why it mattered, really. He understood all the reasons a woman might not want to take her husband’s name, but a part of him was still old-fashioned enough to wish she’d at least want to, even if it wasn’t practical.

“I’m not attached to my maiden name, and I always figured I’d end up taking my husband’s name when I married just as part of that whole forging a unit thing—unless it sounded ridiculous with Piper or was something heinous. There’s this one girl I went to high school with who’s now Amber Hopper Butts. I am pretty positive I can’t love anybody enough to take the last name Butts.”

Myles laughed. “Don’t blame you there.”

“But yes, if things were different, I’d take your name.”

He lifted the hand he held to his lips. “Is it crazy that this is starting to feel less crazy? I keep waiting for reality to kick in, but all I can think about is you.” How was it that in so little time together, she’d so thoroughly worked her way under his skin, into the very fabric of his life?

She shifted her hand to cup his cheek, staring into his eyes in a rare moment of seriousness. “Nothing great is ever gained without risk. You’re worth the risk.”

Had anyone ever believed in him that much? Certainly not his family. He had no idea what he’d done to deserve her faith.

“Piper, I—”

“Here we go,” said the clerk.

They crossed to the counter, still holding hands.

“I just need to get your signatures. You here, Mr. Stewart.”

Myles signed where she indicated and passed the pen to Piper.

“And you just there, Ms. Parish.”

Squeezing his hand, she scrawled her name.