Page 34 of The Fake Husband Play
Our vows are quick, but beautiful. Judge Renault, a solid black man with gray in his beard and kind eyes, does the honors while his clerk, a grinning redhead in a lightly-wrinkled pantsuit, observes.
Grammercy and I both say our parts, and then, the judge murmurs, “By the power vested in me by the state of Louisiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He shoots us a big grin. “You may kiss the bride, son.”
Then, like something from a dream, Grammercy turns, drawing me against him, and the world disappears.
His palm comes to my face, cradling my jaw like I’m something precious he never wants to lose. His thumb brushes across my cheekbone, and I forget how to breathe. And then he dips his lips to mine and?—
Oh.
Oh my…
This man is magic on the ice, but his kiss?Thiskiss?It’s axis-tilting, life-changing. Grammercy Grave’s lips are fresh air, cool water on a hot day, a poem written just for me.
He tastes like mint and salt and hope, and when he deepens the kiss, I melt into him like a flower tilting to the sun. My hands slide up his chest to tangle in his hair—thick, silky, and perfect, just like him—and he makes a happy sound low in his throat, making me think he’s feeling the moment, too.
The moment and the magic…
Time slows to honey-thick sweetness, until there’s nothing but his mouth on mine, his strong, solid body, and the racing of my heart. And bliss. So much bliss. I’m dizzy with it, overwhelmed by how good this is, how right, how I never want it to stop.
When we finally break apart, I’m breathless and shaken.
But in a good way.
Because now I know that it’s real. Kisses that turn the world upside down arereal,and one of the men capable of giving them is now my husband.
WTAF.
“We did it,” I whisper.
His lips curve in a soft smile. “We sure did.”
His hand is still on my cheek, my lips are tingling, and the glowing, molten heat in my chest is probably visible from space. I don’t know how long we would have stood there, marveling, if the judge’s clerk hadn’t cleared her throat.
We both startle before turning to face the redhead standing beside us.
“Sorry to interrupt, but the judge is due in court in ten minutes, and we’ll need you to sign this before wego.” She hands us our marriage certificate with a giddy grin. “But congratulations! I’m sure you two are going to be very happy together. You’re both just lovely people, I can tell.”
“We can always tell,” the judge agrees. “You’re going to do just fine, Mr. and Mrs. Graves.”
Mrs. Graves.I’m Mrs. Graves now.
Holy shit.
We sign the paperwork in a daze, and before I know it, we’re back in the courthouse lobby, officially married and saying goodbye.
But only until tonight…
Grammercy is coming by our place after his afternoon team meeting to help us pack so we can be ready to move into his place tomorrow.
“See you at six,” he says, squeezing my hand outside on the courthouse steps. “I’ll bring pizza and salad so we don’t have to worry about dinner.”
“Thank you, Mimi will be so happy. She loves pizza.”
“I remembered that,” he says. “That’s why I ordered it. Hope she likes pepperoni?”
“She loves it. It’s her favorite.” I clutch the marriage certificate in my other hand, this evidence that what happened wasn’t a dream. “I promise we won’t work you too hard. I found boxes behind the grocery store this morning and already packed a few things. Honestly, we don’t have that much stuff aside from Mimi’s art supplies and ten thousand stuffed animals.”
“I’m not worried. I like packing.” He grins as he adds, “Though I like unpacking better. There’s something exciting about fresh walls and a fresh start.”
