Page 25 of The Hockey Contract

"Whirlwind is right," Aunt Carol said, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Honey, this isn't like you. You're the most cautious person I know. You research coffee makers for six months before buying one."

"When you know, you know?" I offered weakly.

The bell jangled again, and Leo's voice called out, "Sienna? You ready to go?"

Saved by the agent. I quickly introduced Leo to my aunt, who was still eyeing me with concern.

"You're getting married in that?" Aunt Carol gestured to my flour-dusted jeans and t-shirt.

"I have clothes to change into," I assured her, grabbing my duffel bag. "It's just a simple civil ceremony."

"I'm coming with you," she declared, in a tone that brooked no argument.

"That's not necessary—"

"My only niece is getting married to a man I've never met. Wild horses couldn't keep me away." She linked her arm through mine. "Now introduce me to this hockey player who's swept you off your feet so quickly I got whiplash."

The drive to City Hall was excruciating. Aunt Carol sat beside me in the back of Leo's car, peppering him with questions about Jax.

"So, Leo, how long have you known Jax?"

"Since college," Leo replied smoothly. "I saw his potential early on."

"And what kind of man is he? Does he treat my niece well?"

Leo caught my eye in the rearview mirror. "Jax is... complicated. But he cares about Sienna, in his way."

In his way. What a perfectly ambiguous phrase. I stared out the window, my stomach clenching with nerves. What had seemed like a straightforward business arrangement was already spiraling into a web of lies that would hurt people I loved.

We arrived at City Hall to find not just Jax waiting, but a small gathering. His teammates Finn and Anders stood nearby, along with Olivia, who was speaking intently to a man with a camera.

"I thought this was supposed to be private," I whispered to Leo as we approached.

"It is," he assured me. "Just a few strategic photos to release. Nothing too public."

Jax looked up as we approached, his expression unreadable. He wore a simple dark suit that fit his athletic frame perfectly, making him look even more imposing than usual. For a moment, our eyes met, and I saw a flash of something—uncertainty, perhaps—before his professional mask slipped back into place.

"You brought family," he said quietly as I reached him.

"Aunt Carol surprised me at the bakery. I couldn't exactly tell her no." I took a steadying breath. "Jax Harrison, meet my Aunt Carol Williams."

To his credit, Jax switched smoothly into charming mode, taking my aunt's hand and smiling warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Williams. Sienna speaks of you often."

"Does she now?" Aunt Carol raised an eyebrow. "Funny, since she's never mentioned you until today."

Jax didn't miss a beat. "We wanted to keep things private. My public life can be... intrusive."

Olivia approached, saving us from further interrogation. "We should head inside. The judge is waiting."

The ceremony itself was a blur. We stood before a judge in a small courtroom, repeating vows that felt hollow and significant at the same time. I was acutely aware of Jax beside me, his large frame radiating tension as he recited promises neither of us intended to keep.

"I, Jackson, take you, Sienna, to be my lawfully wedded wife..."

His deep voice was steady, his hand firm around mine. When he slid the simple gold band onto my finger to join the engagement ring, I was surprised by the gentleness of his touch.

Then it was my turn. "I, Sienna, take you, Jackson, to be my lawfully wedded husband..."

The words stuck in my throat, not because they were lies—though they were—but because a part of me recognized their weight. Marriage had always been sacred in my family. My grandparents had been married for sixty-two years, my parents for thirty-five and counting. And here I was, making a mockery of those vows for money.

---