Page 18 of The Mountain Man's Mail Order Surprise
"Are you entering into this marriage freely, without coercion or duress?"
Gia's hand finds mine under the counter, her fingers warm and slightly trembling. "Yes," she says firmly.
"Excellent. That'll be a hundred dollars for the license fee."
I pull out my wallet, ignoring Gia's protest. "I've got it."
The clerk chuckles. "Smart man. Pick your battles wisely."
Outside, Gia lets out a long breath. "Step one complete."
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I just signed my life away to the father of my child." She looks up at me, and there's something vulnerable in her expression. "A really attractive father who makes excellent coffee and has very large hands."
"You think I'm attractive?"
"I think you know you're attractive." But she's smiling when she says it, and the tension in her shoulders eases slightly.
"For the record, I think you're even more beautiful now than you were in New York."
Pink floods her cheeks. "I'm six months pregnant and wearing yesterday's clothes."
"And you're still the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen."
The honesty in my voice seems to catch her off guard. She stares at me for a moment, lips slightly parted, and I have the sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss her right here in the town hall parking lot.
Instead, I clear my throat and gesture toward the truck. "Ready for stop number two?"
Silas's office is busy when we arrive, but his receptionist waves us straight back. He looks up from his computer as we enter, taking in our joined hands and the obvious tension between us.
"That was fast," he says mildly.
"We filed for the license this morning," I tell him. "Wedding's tomorrow. I need you to draft some kind of prenup that protects her interests and makes this look legitimate for the custody proceedings."
"Custody proceedings?" Silas's lawyer instincts sharpen immediately. "What kind of custody proceedings?"
I look at Gia, letting her decide how much to share. She launches into the whole story, and I watch Silas's expression grow grimmer with each detail.
"Zack Whitmore," he says when she finishes. "I know that name. His family's law firm tried to poach one of my associates last year."
"Is that good or bad for us?"
"Bad for them. I don't like their tactics." He turns to his computer. "I'm going to draft an agreement that establishes separate property rights but also creates the appearance of a committed partnership. Joint bank account, shared living arrangements, provisions for the child's welfare."
"Joint bank account?" Gia shakes her head. "I don't have any money to contribute."
"Doesn't matter. It's about appearances." Silas's fingers fly over the keyboard. "I'll also include a clause about decision making regarding the child, establishing Rosco as the biological father with full parental rights pending DNA confirmation."
"Is that legal?"
"With proper documentation, yes. And speaking of which..." He reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out a business card. "Dr. Martinez at the clinic. I called ahead. She can do the paternal DNA test this afternoon."
Relief floods Gia's face. "Really?"
"Really. It's a simple blood test for you, cheek swab for Rosco. Results in 24-48 hours."
An hour later, we have a stack of legal documents that makes our marriage look more legitimate than most actual marriages. I sign papers establishing myself as the presumed father pending DNA confirmation. Gia signs documents that allow me to act asher representative in legal matters. We set up joint insurance policies and establish shared financial responsibilities.
