Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Whitney

I'd made the fastest trip to the mall I'd ever made in my life. While hopping in my foyer and pulling on my black high-heeled shoe, the doorbell rang. I flung open the door and my breath hitched.

Hudson stood in the doorway looking like a romance novel cover model come to life. A dark blue pin-striped suit emphasized his broad shoulders, wide chest, and long legs. A crisp white shirt and pocket square and a blue-patterned silk tie enhanced the sharp ensemble. He'd groomed his playoff beard. I itched to smooth my hand along his neat jaw. His dark hair was still damp from his shower, and the spicy fragrance of a body wash enveloped me with its warm scent. A swarm of butterflies danced within me—I was going to be on this gorgeous man's arm when we took our vows.

His deep brown eyes scanned me from head to toe. "You look?—"

I smoothed the satin of my form-fitting little black dress. It wasn't the voluminous, lacy white dress I'd imagined I'd get married in, but it was my best dress .

"Stunning." His gaze burned into mine.

My heart raced at the desire blazing in his eyes. "Th-thank you," I said, breathy. I ducked my head to hide my heated cheeks.

I snagged my clutch and the bunch of mixed flowers I'd bought from a vendor on the corner. "We need to hurry. They close at 4:30. Let's hope there's no line on a Monday afternoon." I stepped into the hallway and locked the door. "Do you have our marriage license application confirmation number?"

He patted his jacket pocket. "I do." He grinned. "I guess I should practice saying that."

I groaned and shook my head, biting back a smile. "Save it for the ceremony." The ceremony. Oh God, I was marrying a virtual stranger. The happy butterflies disappeared, and my stomach churned. I didn't know Hudson, except by reputation and what I could glean from news articles. But he'd taken care of me during and after my seizure, and that spoke volumes about his honorable, protective nature. The same caring qualities I saw in his love for his grandfather. Somehow, I trusted him despite the scandal.

My hand trembled from nervousness as I tucked it into the crook of his arm, and he led me to his BMW SUV. The trip to the County Clerk-Recorder's Office was short, and we arrived before I was mentally prepared.

Hudson parked and held the tall glass front door open for me to enter the building. But I halted just inside as second thoughts flooded my mind. I dropped my arm, crushing my flowers against my side. Was this the only option? Should I go through with this foolish scheme or back out while I could?

Hudson caught up to me. "Hey, it's going to be okay." He took my hand in his big, callused one and squeezed.

His touch grounded me. I took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do this." Following the signs, I led him to a bank of service windows and found Express Marriage, a glass-fronted opening in the flimsy paneled wall.

His gaze found mine, the conflict in it obvious. Compassion shone in the depths of his eyes, but also uncertainty, as if he knew this wasn't the wedding ceremony I would choose. "Are you okay with this?"

My stomach bottomed out. This was not the petal-strewn aisle I'd envisioned for my wedding. Hudson was not the fiancé gazing at me adoringly by the altar. That dream had shattered like a mirror whacked with a hammer. This was a marriage of convenience that threatened to chip away at my moral code instilled from birth.

I shrugged, feigning indifference. "It is what it is. We need to get married sooner rather than later."

He rubbed a hand down his face. "We need to do this. Today."

It was my turn to squeeze his hand. "We do."

There was no line of couples waiting to get married, so I led him directly to the window. My mind raced with doubts and questions over our decision, but knowing that this farce served a greater purpose settled me.

A smiling, middle-aged woman greeted us. "Are you getting married today?"

Hudson raised his chin. "Yes." His voice was firmer than mine would have been.

My palms grew clammy, and I let go of his hand.

We took care of the preliminaries, and the officiant called a witness to stand with her. My heart pummeled my chest, and I swallowed to keep my lunch down.

The officiant began, her tone reverent. "We are gathered here in the presence of this witness to join Hudson Michael Talbott?—"

I made a mental note of his full name .

"—and Whitney Jane Austen Addison?—"

Hudson turned his head and smirked.

Heat flared in my cheeks. My mother's favorite book had been Pride and Prejudice .

"—together in matrimony. The contract of marriage is a most solemn one, and one not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously?—"

I swayed, lightheaded. This was all a lie.

"—and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Will you, Hudson, take Whitney to be your lawful wedded spouse?"

"I will." His voice was strong and determined, ready to see this deceit through to the end.

"Will you, Whitney, take Hudson to be your lawful wedded spouse?"

I didn't have Hudson's confidence. My throat dry, I rasped, "I will."

"Please join hands and face each other."

I placed my flowers and clutch on the counter, and we took each other's hands. Mine shook in his steady fingers.

"Hudson, please repeat after me. I, Hudson, take you, Whitney, for my lawful spouse, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Until death do us part. Was there a penalty for lying during your marriage vows? I locked my knees to prevent them from buckling and stopped breathing.

Hudson leaned forward and whispered into my ear, "Breathe. We're doing the right thing." His grip tightened. "We'll get through this together."

I took a deep breath and nodded.

He straightened and repeated the vows, and then I said my vows to him in return.

"We are ready for the rings. "

I reached for my clutch and pulled out a black tungsten carbide ring for Hudson. I'd run to the mall across the street and bought it so fast my head had spun. It wasn't expensive, but it was what I could afford.

But for the first time since we'd arrived, panic widened Hudson's eyes. "I didn't know…I didn't think." He blew out a breath. "I don't have a ring for you." He shook his head and his soft gaze apologized. "I'm so sorry."

I blinked back tears. Well, what did I expect from a fake marriage planned in a little over an hour? "That's okay. I'll order a band from Amazon," I choked out, keeping my voice low.

"Are we ready?" the commissioner asked.

I held up the shiny black band. "We only have one ring."

She must have seen everything in her role, because it didn't faze her. "We'll just perform one part of the ring ceremony, then. Whitney, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Hudson's finger. With this ring, I thee wed."

With shaking hands, I slid the thick symbol of commitment onto Hudson's ring finger. It caught briefly on his large knuckle, and I worried that it was too small. But it fit at the base of his finger. How I wished I was sliding the ring onto his finger under different circumstances.

With love in my heart.

He made a fist, as if to capture the ring and hold it tight, and my aching heart warmed at the gesture.

"By the power and authority vested in me by the State of California as the authorized Deputy Marriage Commissioner for Santa Clara County, California, I now pronounce you lawfully married."

My stomach plunged. Oh God, what have I done?

The deputy commissioner beamed. "You may kiss."

My gaze whipped to my husband's eyes, which focused on my lips. His eyes blazed with hunger. "May I kiss you?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

The answer caught in my throat. All I could do was nod, my heartbeat thundering in my ears and drowning out the ambient noise of the Clerk-Recorder's Office.

He gathered me against his hard body, and my arms naturally wound around his shoulders. We fit like we belonged together.

If only he was open to love. But I'd take a kiss.

His head descended at a tortoise's pace, as if giving me time to bolt like a hare. But he'd caught me in his snare, and I lifted my chin to receive him. His mouth dipped to mine, his lips warm and soft. He brushed against my lips once. Twice. Tasting and testing. Then he firmly pressed his lips against mine, cupped my head with his large hand, and kissed the hell out of me.

Our audience faded away, and it was only the two of us as he licked the seam of my mouth and requested entrance. I willingly opened for him, tightening my hold on his shoulders. His tongue slid into my mouth and danced with mine. I moaned.

A throat cleared, and reality doused me like a tidal wave. We broke apart, blinking and confused at our surroundings. Our public surroundings.

The officiant whispered, "There's a line waiting. You can finish later." She winked.

Hudson flushed from his neck to his hairline, and my cheeks heated.

She slid the marriage license and a pen across the counter. "Sign here and you're done. Congratulations."

We finished and turned around, and the couple behind us grinned. I wanted to sink into the floor. What had I been thinking to get so involved in the kiss? It was a fake marriage, for goodness' sake .

But that kiss didn't feel fake. It felt very real.

I took Hudson's hand and dragged him out of the way, searching for a quiet spot. "We need to take a photo for social media." I found a map on the wall and scanned it. "There."

I led him to a set of closed double-doors and put my ear to them. Silence. I opened a door and peeked inside. Four rows of narrow pews flanked a short aisle. A wire arbor trimmed with silk flowers stood at the head of the aisle. The wedding chapel stood empty. I slipped inside and pulled Hudson in with me.

"Selfie time." I drew my phone from my purse and positioned us in front of the arbor. "Lean down and put your cheek against mine. Smile!" I snapped the pic and checked it. No. Our smiles looked forced. "Let's try again." I held up my phone, and at the last second I turned and kissed Hudson's cheek. I peeked at the photo. Yes. I'd caught a natural, candid shot of an affectionate couple. I stared, mesmerized. We looked good together.

Hudson peered over my shoulder. "How does it look?"

"This one's a keeper." It wasn't the wedding photo I had expected or planned for, but it tugged at my heart.

Because, for better or for worse, it was my wedding day. Perhaps the only one I would ever have.

He pulled out his phone. "Text that to me, and I'll send it to my agent. He'll release a statement. But first, we have to tell Gramps and Grandma."

And lie as if our lives depended on it.