Wicked Sinner (Dangerous Love 2)
“No vows,” Asher explained.
Remy looked his way,
finding his lips pinched tight. There was a very big part of her that wanted to stop this. She could see his jaw working, a tell that he was stressed. And yet, if she stopped this, where would that leave them? Only in danger. “Can’t we just say ‘yes’ or ‘I will’ or something like that?” she asked, glancing back at the judge.
“Of course, nice and simple, nothing wrong with that,” the judge said with a soft nod, then rose. “I think we’re all set here. Give me a moment to make sure we’ve got the paperwork all together and ready to go before we begin.” She left the office through the side door.
“You can breathe again,” Asher said tightly.
Remy blew out the breath she’d been holding, the room spinning around her a little. She stretched out her fingers, not having realized she’d been squeezing them together. “Considering what I’ve been through lately, you wouldn’t think this would be so nerve-racking.”
“It’s the unexpected that always gets you,” Asher said, moving to the leather chair and taking a seat.
She followed his cue and sat in the chair next to him, crossing her legs and bouncing the one on top. “How did you get us in here so fast anyway?” she asked, trying to fill the unbearable silence.
“A perk of being a cop,” Asher explained, seemingly totally at ease in his chair. “I called in a favor.”
“Does she know what’s going on?”
Asher shook his head. “She knows I wanted to marry you this morning. She didn’t need to know more than that.”
A knock on the door had Remy glancing over her shoulder. The blood drained from her face as Boone and Rhett entered the room. That last thing she wanted was an audience. She was barely managing all this as it was. Asher nudged her knee, dragging her attention back to him. “We needed two witnesses.”
Remy nodded, sure she couldn’t get any words out, let alone any that made sense.
Boone moved inside the room and leaned against the desk. “How are you two holding up?”
“Good.” Asher nodded.
Remy just shrugged.
“Well, if you were going for zero emotion at all, I’d say you’ve gotten it,” Rhett said, frowning. “This place looks like somewhere I’d get married.”
“Rhett,” Asher warned.
A burst of nervous laughter bubbled up and Remy couldn’t fight it. “You know, you’re right, this is totally up your alley.”
Rhett winked.
Asher visibly relaxed then, obviously realizing that Rhett was only lightening the mood.
Curious now, though, Remy turned to Rhett and asked, “What would you do if you were in my situation?”
Rhett gave Asher a long look, then dropped into the leather couch. “I’d do exactly what you’re doing.”
Liar. He thought this was a huge mistake, and maybe it was. But she needed a fix, and a marriage certificate was it. Didn’t mean that made any of this easier. The room suddenly began to feel small, and the air stuffy. She rose and began pacing in front of the desk, her thoughts beginning to run wild with doubts, when the judge strode back into the room carrying a file folder.
“Ready to begin?” the judge asked.
Remy glanced back at Boone. He gave her a tight smile and a firm nod. Then her gaze fell to Rhett. He held her stare with his usual hard expression, revealing not much of anything. God, what was she doing? How had all the shit in her life led her to this moment, where she was finally marrying the love of her life, and the marriage was a total sham?
“Remy.”
Asher’s strong voice pulled her attention to him. She got lost in that steady gaze that could make her feel better on the worst of days. “Do you need a minute?” he asked, sliding his fingers gently down her arm.
She desperately wanted to melt into that touch, but her mind pulled back, protecting her. “No. No, I’m okay.” She moved in front of the judge’s desk and Asher joined her. After a deep breath and reminding her heart that she was the one who got herself into all this trouble, she took Asher’s hand and said, “Make me Mrs. Sullivan.”
* * *