Page 33 of Snow Blind

"Well, that sucks."

"I can add you to my insurance on my job," he said.

"How do you plan to do that, as your live-in lover?"

"No," he said, staring her in the eyes. "We go over to the computer, fill out the marriage license application, take it to the courthouse in the morning, find a judge, and make it official. I take the paperwork to the office and add you to my insurance."

Helen stared at him. "In the morning, we go to the courthouse to get married so you can add me to your insurance?"

"Sounds like a plan, then later, we can have the church wedding when you're ready, decide on the honeymoon, and all that good stuff," Mustang said.

"Get married. In the morning."

"Helen, you're going to be my wife. I'm spending the rest of my life with you, and tomorrow, we get the documentation that takes me off of the market to make me yours," he explained. "It's what I want. I want you. I want you as Mrs. Helen Neary to come home to me in this house where we will be a family."

"A family," she said. "I saw Oscar petitioning you to be a member of this family of ours. You did great with him. He really likes you. They all like you. You impressed me by taking time with each of your newfound nephews."

His face showed no amusement. "Helen, are you changing the subject?"

"No, I am just letting you know you impress me. So, yeah, courthouse in the morning before I head out, and I become Helen Neary," she said softly. "I thought you wanted to ask my dad for my hand."

"I will," he said, "but tonight, I want to play house with you, Mrs. Neary."

"You want me to bring out the love potion?"

"Hell, no! I nearly sprained my back the last time with that shit," he said. "Tonight, I just want to be loved by you, nothing more, nothing less. And in the morning, I'm going to marry you."

"Roger that," Helen said, lifting her blouse. She winked at him and took off at a sprint toward the bedroom. Mustang was hot on her trail.

Chapter 10-Blow

The hour approachedtwo in the afternoon as Helen entered the city limits of Antioch, Illinois, on her way to Passion Fruit's weird little cabin in the woods. The nearly four-hour return drive was postponed by her new husband, whom she found first thing in the morning, sitting in their kitchen, wearing a three-piece suit. She'd never seen him in a suit before, complete with necktie and pocket swatch. It made her girly parts clench at the man’s sexiness.

"Well, you look all kinds of delicious," Helen said.

"We're getting legalized this morning," he said. "Will you please change into a pretty dress so we can head over to make us official?"

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