“Live a lie.”
“No. I wouldn’t ask you to do that. You can give the details to whoever you want. There are a few people I’d tell. But only a few.”
“I can’t believe we’re having a serious discussion about this.”
He slipped his hands from hers and leaned back against the bench. “There are a whole lot of things about the past few weeks that I can’t believe.”
She leaned back beside him, and they both stayed silent. The breeze rustled the trees, while the waves below splashed against the rocks.
“Before this,” she finally said, “before they found you, when I got the bad news, I swore I would do anything, give anything, endure anything, if only Eli would get better.”
TJ liked where she was going, even if he wasn’t crazy about the word endure.
“I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world,” she said.
He couldn’t help but smile. “That’s what a man wants to hear.”
To his surprise, she smiled back. She even gave a quick laugh. “I’m not going to start sugarcoating it.”
He took her hand in his, raising them both. “Is that a yes? Are we in this together?”
“Raising Eli? Getting him well?”
“Both of those things.”
“You are his father.”
“I am.”
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “We’re in this together.”
CHAPTER SIX
Sage could barely repeat her vows. She swallowed again, but it didn’t help. Her voice was paper-dry. She doubted the justice of the peace could even hear her.
They were in a hushed room at the Whiskey Bay courthouse surrounded by mosaic tiles and polished wood. TJ’s friends Matt and Tasha had come along as witnesses. The diamond ring felt heavy on Sage’s finger. She’d told TJ that an engagement ring was silly, but he’d insisted.
Matt and Tasha knew it was a marriage of convenience, and TJ was open to telling anyone else Sage wanted to tell. But for the public at large, they’d agreed it was best for Eli if their family looked as normal as possible.
She knew it was the right decision. Still, she felt like a fraud wearing a two-carat diamond.
She couldn’t help but glance down at it now. The round solitaire gleamed against the gold band. It was as conventional as you could get, for a marriage that was anything but conventional.
She made it through her vows and braved a look at TJ. He was somber, almost sad. But he gave her hands a reassuring squeeze and seemed to muster up a smile.
He had to be thinking about Lauren. Sage knew how much he missed her. She could only imagine their wedding had been worlds away from this simple ceremony.
The justice of the peace asked for the wedding rings, and Matt brought them forward. TJ slipped a ring on her finger. Then she slipped one on his. And it was done.
“You may kiss the bride.”
TJ’s smile firmed up a little, and he tilted his head, leaning forward. Sage tipped hers, waiting for his lips.
She could do this. She knew what to expect. It wasn’t like it was their first kiss. And she’d relived that one a thousand times.
She braced herself for the pleasure she remembered. She was ready.
His lips touched hers, and a deluge of emotion washed through her.
She wasn’t ready!
Time must have dulled her memory.
A starburst erupted in her brain. Her skin flushed to glowing. Her toes curled, and the sizzle of passion warmed the roots of her hair.
Her lips parted. The kiss deepened. She leaned into him, and before she could stop it, she’d plastered her body against his and wrapped her arms around his neck.
TJ’s hands slid to her hips. He eased her back, breaking away.
She blinked herself back to reality, mortified.
“Congratulations.” Tasha’s rush of enthusiasm covered the moment and she gave Sage a hug.
Matt clapped TJ on the back and shook his hand. “Congratulations, TJ.”
Sage fought to bring her racing pulse under control and to pretend she hadn’t just made a colossal fool of herself.
“Caleb set up the private room at Neo,” Matt said. “Nothing too much, just us, them and Noah and Melissa.”
“The chef at Neo is amazing,” Tasha said.
“Wait, what?” Sage looked to TJ.
“We’re going to celebrate,” Matt said.
“It’ll be low-key,” Tasha said.
Highly uncomfortable, Sage looked at Tasha. “You know… I mean, you guys know this isn’t really…”
“We know this isn’t a conventional marriage,” Tasha said. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not part of the family. I can’t wait to meet your son.” Concern came into her expression. “How’s he doing?”