Page 19 of Who Needs a Billionaire

She lay her palm over her heart. “You look so handsome.”

He stepped closer. “Are you going to cry?”

“No.” Her chin quivered a little as she blew out a breath.

“This isn’t a real marriage, Deals.”

“I know, but it’s still your wedding. I always get teary at weddings.”

He hugged her. “Thanks for doing this.”

She nodded as she straightened his tie.

Adelia hadn’t exactly been on board like Gus had thought she would. In fact, she’d had some pretty compelling arguments as to why this wasn’t a good idea—lying to his family being the biggest. But in the end, she had agreed to help them.

“We should get out there. Your bride is waiting.”

The moment those words left her mouth, his chest tightened. My bride?

As they walked along the hallway, a surge of panic shot through his body, and his forehead broke out in a sweat as the reality sank in. They were about to get married. Were they insane for doing this? He looked down the hallway toward the exit. It wasn’t too late. He could still back out.

But then he turned and caught sight of Merritt. She was wearing a simple cream-colored lace dress that fell just below her knees. Her hair was twisted loosely at the nape of her neck with a white flower tucked in the middle, and in her hands was a small bouquet of the same flowers. Her eyes met his, and his heart stuttered in his chest. She was breathtaking. And suddenly his nerves calmed and he was ready to marry this girl. Even if it wasn’t real.

At that moment, he half-wished that it was.

He shook off the thought and stopped a couple of feet from her. “You look beautiful.”

She gave him a shy grin and a once over. “Thanks, you clean up nice too.”

It might have been the first nice thing either of them had ever said to each other.

They made their way into the courtroom where another couple was finishing up with the Justice of the Peace.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

The nerves were back. Kiss the bride? The thought of kissing her sent a thrill through him, but he knew it was just for show. He glanced over at Merritt, who was now at his side, and she looked surprisingly calm. Either that or she was a very good actress. He couldn’t believe how his nerves had amped up in the past two minutes.

This was definitely not how he envisioned his wedding, not that he’d really thought about it much. Getting married had never been one of his life goals. But now that they were here, about to face the justice, about to vow to love each other in sickness and in health, things felt strangely real. And he had to keep reminding himself that they weren’t.

“Schultz Wedding,” a woman said as she directed them to the judge’s bench.

“Here we go,” Gus said as he took Merritt’s hand in his.

TEN

The Justice of the Peace was a stout, balding man with glasses and a warm smile. He greeted each of them and their witnesses in front of the judge’s bench, and Merritt felt perfectly fine … until he began the ceremony.

“Augustus and Merritt, today you have chosen to celebrate the beauty of love as you join together in the vows of marriage.”

Merritt’s hand shook involuntarily, and Gus gave it a squeeze. She gripped his hand tightly, needing to hold onto something to combat her sudden nerves.

In her periphery, she saw him glance at her, but she stared straight ahead at the justice. If she looked at Gus, she was certain she would crack and be a mess of tears. So much for trying to appear calm and collected.

Her gaze moved past Gus to Adelia, who was giving her a sympathetic smile. She looked lovely in a navy blue belted-waist sheath dress, perhaps more appropriate for a courtroom appearance than a wedding, but they were in a courthouse. Giovanni was photographing the ceremony for them, while Whitney stood to Adelia’s side, looking as stunning as always in a long pale blue gauzy maxi dress. But rather than pay attention to the ceremony, Whitney was watching Giovanni with moony eyes, like she wished it was the two of them getting married instead. At this moment, Merritt wished the same thing.

The justice then asked them to face each other for the vows. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned to face him. If ever there was a time to back out, this was it.

“Augustus Paul Schultz, do you take Merritt Elaine Christianson to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”

---