Page 26 of Worth the Vow

“Recognizing a common-law partnership would take time, and we’d come under even more scrutiny than a legal marriage. I researched it, Dad. Legally being married is the easiest way to ensure Katharine gets on my insurance and has access to physicians she needs.”

“That you need?” Mom asks quietly, and Kate nods.

“I, uh, suffer from —” Kate starts, but I throw up a hand to stop her.

“You do not owe them an explanation unless you want to tell them, Katharine. Your medical health is no one’s business except yours.”

“And yours now, I guess,” she jokes. I must look confused, and she adds, “my medical history has become your business now. You know, because you’re my husband.”

I’m her husband.

Fuck me.

I said she’d have to introduce me, but I had no idea what that would feel like. Hearing Kate refer to me as her husband, as hers, makes a feeling I’ve never experienced run up and down my spine. A current of emotion courses over my skin, and a sense of possessiveness I’ve never felt before clouds my sight.

I’m hers.

And that means …

Katharine is mine.

Kate

There is no way to explain the look that slides across Dominic’s face other than feral. I actually walk toward the house to put a little more distance in between us, because the look on his face is downright frightening. Hot as fuck, but a little bit scary.

“We’ll let you two settle into married life,” his mom says with a light laugh, and I almost ask her to stay. Dominic’s parents would be an excellent buffer to whatever is going on in Dominic’s head right now.

“It’s just a business arrangement,” I stammer. “Nothing to get used to. I’ll still be the nanny, and I’ll still be in my room.”

I hear Nick hum under his breath, and Dominic has the audacity to grin and wink at me. What the hell is happening right now? Hours ago, this was just a way to help me get insurance. Now he’s looking at me like he wants to swallow me whole.

And I kind of want to let him.

“What are the chances of you not telling anyone else?” I ask hurriedly.

“They’ll find out eventually, Katharine,” Dominic says deeply. He’s suddenly right next to me again, and I don’t know how he managed to sneak over. I had consistently put distance between us.

“I have to tell Hannah and Arianna myself. They can’t hear it through your familial group chats,” I respond. “And you have to tell the kids. It can’t get back to them in other ways. If they find out from kids at school, they might hate me.”

Dominic’s expression softens. “They won’t hate you. They might be surprised, but they won’t hate you.”

“Who would hate you?” A voice pipes up from behind us, and I turn to find all three of Dominic’s kids, as well as his oldest brother, Alex, and his two kids.

“I highly doubt anyone would hate you, Kate. You’re pretty dang likable for an almost-cousin,” Alex jokes.

Dominic turns to the crowd, sighing loudly. I watch as Carter mimics his dad’s sigh, which makes Aspen sigh in solidarity.

“I had wanted to take some time to explain this better, because there are some adult things going on here that you may not understand. But to put it plainly, Kate needs medical insurance. It’s very expensive to get by yourself, but my family insurance covers a spouse. So I married Kate so she could get medical insurance.”

Sienna gasps, Carter laughs, and Aspen squeals.

“Are you my new mommy?” Aspen screams, launching herself into my arms.

“What the actual fuck?” I hear from behind, turning to see a very angry Savannah glaring at me. “You have a mommy, Aspen. Come here.”

“No,” Aspen pouts, tightening her arms around me and latching her feet behind my back. She then whispers against my ear, “I don’t like her. Don’t put me down.”

I understand, kid. I don’t like her either. “I won’t put you down.”

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