Page 65 of Beau & Autumn

We think we’re so damned clever, and in reality, we are. As long as we can keep up the pretense, we’ll be fine. We’ve agreed she’ll move into my place while she carries out some of those pesky repairs to her house, and that will be the perfect cover of living together. I know she wants to repaint the whole house, pull up some of the flooring where it’s worn away in places, and that dreaded roof replacement which may now be seeing the light of day once her pay dirt comes through. Then there’s the fun task of telling our families. I’m not looking forward to that, but it doesn’t stop me wanting to charge for the registry and sign those papers.

We’re going to drive out to Memphis pronto and meet with her folks and her grandmother, then break the blessed news to them in person. Her mom isn’t the easiest lady to get along with, but the marriage papers will be well and truly dry by that time, so there isn’t a damn thing she’ll be able to do about it. Except cut her off. I guess we have to prepare for every scenario.

I tug Autumn into my side. My nerves are a little on edge; not about what we’re doing, but all the other stuff that proceeds after this. We just have to stick to the plan.

Yes, she’s cute and I adore her, but she trusts me, so I need to stick to the deal and not fall for her. If we treat it like two friends with a business arrangement, we can’t go wrong. I will try my best to pretend all that flirting I’ve been doing means absolutely nothing.

“Don’t be worried, princess. We’re gonna be fine. It’s just a little piece of paper that says we’re legally bound.” I say it like it’s no big deal, and maybe that’s not the right thing to say considering I know Autumn said before she considers marriage very sacred. And it isn’t that I don’t either, I’m just a little more relaxed about it than she is. “And don’t forget, if things go well, we can tell your parents that we will schedule a big wedding later on.” I tack that on at the end with a wink.

She laughs quietly. “I love how you say it’s just a little piece of paper.”

“You know what I mean. It’s going to be fine, you’ll see.”

She smiles and I’m glad she seems more relaxed as we walk up the steps to the administration area. She has nothing to be nervous about, I’ll keep her safe.

She keeps her arm linked with mine as we wait for the celebrant in the waiting area.

I’m glad we don’t have to wait too long so neither of us have any excuse to back out now.

“You know, we’re slightly crazy,” she whispers, tugging my hand when it’s our turn to say our vows. The celebrant introduces herself as Leonie and leads us into a small room which is impersonal and very bland other than some white daisies with purple heads in a vase on the table. It’s nothing like I thought it was going to be; dull drapes, a mahogany desk that’s seen better days, a copy of the constitution on the wall that I blatantly ignore, but I quickly remind myself we’re in here for one reason only.

I haven’t given much thought to my wedding day up until this point. It’s just never really been on my radar. But now we’re doing it, I can’t say that I’m disappointed.

Business transaction. Business transaction. Fucking business transaction!

“Maybe so, but we can be crazy together,” I muse.

We both wrote some fake vows and from the second I’m looking down at them, it’s over in a blur. The biggest blur. I try to take it all in, but I’m blown away with how quick the vows go and also equally stunned with the vibe coming off Autumn. She seems… happy.

Like really, really happy. She has a glow to her skin and she’s smiling, looking at me the whole time. In fact, she doesn’t take her eyes off me.

Is it because she’s finally getting what she wants with her inheritance? Maybe. But she deserves it and all the good things in life. I’m glad in a way I had something to do with it, even if we did have to fake our marriage.

“By the powers invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Leonie takes a step back. “You may kiss your bride.”

I swallow hard. Oh, holy shit. How did I actually forget that part? With all the secret preparations going on — ring buying, ordering my suit, making sure Autumn had a dress in time, and ordering the Gardenia corsage — I never even thought about sealing it with a kiss.

I’m not complaining, it just feels very real, and I don’t want Autumn to feel weird about it.

I glance down at her and take a step in. I mean, it’s not like we can’t kiss in front of Leonie. We have to. Fuck, maybe we should have practiced this. I internally punch myself. Practiced?

She blinks up at me and touches her hands to my arms, lacing them around my biceps, lifting up onto her toes.

I bend toward her and our lips meet. She’s soft and her lips feel full and warm as they brush over mine. I work my mouth slowly as she matches the movement. I’m not even sure if I hear a little sigh escape her throat, but it makes me smile as I pull back slightly to look at her. It’s over in a few seconds. It’s more than a peck, but it also isn’t tonsil hockey either. And my dick kicking in my pants reminds me he’s awake and wondering where the action is.

Autumn is smiling too. We both turn to Leonie.

“And just like that,” I breathe. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

Leonie smiles kindly. “Good luck to you kids,” she says. Maybe she thinks we’re going to need it, I don't know.

“Would you mind?” Autumn winces as she waves her phone at Leonie. “Just a quick pic?”

She nods enthusiastically. “Of course, dear.”

We pose and Leonie takes a photo of us as I put my arm around her.

“Now let's get one of you looking at each other.” She’s getting really into it. I hope she asks us to kiss again. To my disappointment, she doesn’t.

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