Page 79 of From Ice to Grace
“I’m fine,” I breathe. “I’m allowed to be a little nervous, right?”
EJ nods slightly. “Just say the word, and we’ll leave, lillasyster.”
I look up at my big brother, knowing he means every word. He’s always protected me and he will continue to do so no matter how complicated the situation.
“I love you, EJ,” I say, placing my palm against his cheek. “But I want to do this.”
He nods, squeezing my hand before leading me toward Declan. Relief floods his dark features. His hair looks deliberately mussed, his face freshly shaven and he looks handsome in his suit. He always looks great in a suit—I’d know, I see him on game days when he’s dressed to the nines.
But somehow this is different. He’s wearing a suit to marry me.
“You’re just on time, Snowflake,” he says, his gaze moving over me, taking me in. For a second he pauses, looking into my eyes, a rare moment of mutual vulnerability passing between us. We’re actually doing this.
EJ clears his throat and Declan swallows, tearing his eyes away from me.
“This is my brother, Brady,” he says, gesturing to the man in a suit, whose phone is apparently glued to his ear. “Also my agent, and the agent of many others. As you can see, he never sleeps.”
Brady nods, before turning away from us and continuing his intense conversation.
“Murphy,” EJ says. “Can I have a minute?”
Declan nods and the two of them move out of earshot. Their voices are low, but tension is clear from across the room. By the look of the serious expression on their faces, it’s obviously a threat from EJ and reassurance from Declan.
Men.
Brady steps up to me, ending his call and looking over to where my brother is talking to Declan. Brady has light hair and grey eyes…he doesn’t look anything like Declan.
“I hope no one throws a punch,” he says, his voice gruff. “We can’t afford any setbacks.”
“They’ll behave,” I say, glaring at EJ just in case. “My brother isn’t someone who causes trouble.”
“But your fiancé is,” Brady says dryly. He sighs deeply, looking like’s contemplating something. “Even though it’s only been two days, I can see something has…shifted.” He turns toward me, a slight flicker of worry crossing his face. “Are you ready for all of this?”
I’ve thought about that a lot. There are a lot of things we’re not sure of, a lot of factors that will play into our arrangement. But I have this deep sense of certainty that this is the right thing to do.
“I might not be entirely ready, but I have peace with my decision. Does that make sense?” I ask him.
He searches my eyes for a second. “For some reason Declan refuses to do relationships the normal way. He’s never been with a woman where an arrangement wasn’t in place. This will be the first long-term arrangement, so it’s different. But I guess when both of you are entering into this with an open mind, it minimizes the possibility of drama.”
“I don’t like drama,” I reassure him.
He looks over his shoulder to where Declan is still talking to my brother. “For what it’s worth, I think this will do him good. He needs stability, even though he might not see it yet.”
I take Brady’s words to heart. He shared something very personal about Declan, something I’m not entirely sure Declan would’ve told me himself—at least not yet.
The door beside us opens, a grey-haired woman stepping out. “We’re ready for you.”
Declan and EJ step closer and the woman ushers us into the room. There’s nothing fancy or decorated about a private ceremony room. It’s functional. It has a few chairs pushed up against the wall and a table with a stack of paperwork on it. This is about a contract…getting something filed and stamped.
We’re not here for a celebration of love. This is not my wedding day, despite me being in a white dress and walking out of here with a husband.
“Okay,” the woman says, adjusting her glasses before taking her seat behind the table. “Are you two the witnesses?” she asks, gesturing toward EJ and Brady with her pen.
Both nod and she hums in agreement, already scribbling something on the paper.
“Then let’s get started. We are gathered here today for the purpose of uniting in marriage Declan Dawson Murphy and Avah Linnea Johansson.”
My head snaps to Declan the same time his eyes cut to mine the moment our middle names are revealed. His jaw tightens and it looks like he’s already regretting this.
