Page 8 of Kissing the Wrong Mountain Man

"He doesn't have a phone." Tingles shoot up and down both my arms. "How '90s is that?"

"Today marks the official joining of Brock Matteo Palladino and Schapelle Jade Moore as they enter into the legally recognized institution of marriage."

I glance over at Brock. He offers me a tentative smile.

So…when I said pretending to date a man I didn't know was going to be the last crazy and wild thing I did before becoming a mom?

Scratch that.

Thisis the last crazy and wild thing I'm going to do before becoming a mom.

Because yep, I'm doing it. I'm marrying Brock Palladino for a month.

My three sisters—Tenley, my middle sister Allie, and my youngest Beth—all think I've lost my mind.

My parents are concerned, but they've had twenty-nine years of practice dealing with me and know full well that once I make up my mind about something, there's nothing anyone can say or do to stop me.

My lawyer insisted I hand Brock an NDA and pre-nup even though he's the one inheriting fifty mil. I may have a few bestsellers under my belt, but no way am I in that league. Brock signed both documents without question before the ceremony.

The officiant reminds us of the legal obligations and responsibilities that marriage entails and then dives straight into the vows. He's not messing around. This is all happening so fast, nothing like the romantic weddings I spend countless hours agonizing over for my characters.

But that's because this marriage isn't about love.

I meant what I said to Tenley, I'm not going to fall for Brock. Nope. My days of dating the wrong men are over.

While I may be physically attracted to my soon-to-be wedded husband—he's filling out the same navy suit he wore at the engagement party in all the right ways, his deep eyes drawing me in with untold stories brimming beneath the surface, and there's an undeniable currentbubbingbetween us—none of that makes one iota of difference.

In less than five months, my life will change forever. Now is not the time to get my heart played with again. I've got to focus all my strength and energy on getting ready to be the best mama for my baby.

I am one hundred percent done with men…even those of the sexy mountain man variety.

"Do you, Brock Matteo Palladino, take Schapelle Jade Moore to be your lawfully wedded spouse?"

Brock stares at me intensely, a V forming between his thick eyebrows.

Saying you're going to marry a stranger is one thing, actually standing in front of an officiant and two office staff acting as witnesses inside the small chamber of a courthouse wearing a wedding dress you picked up on Amazon is something else entirely. My stomach is doing flips right now, and I wonder if he's having second thoughts.

"I do," he says, his tone clear and commanding.

Looking up at him, studying his handsome face as I get asked the same question, I repeat to myself,Do not fall in love with the man you're marrying. Do not fall in love with the man you're marrying. Do not fall in love w?—

The officiant has stopped talking and clears his throat. "I do," I respond.

"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."

Oh, yeah. This part. It slipped my mind that we'd have to seal the deal.

I must look shocked because Brock leans over and whispers, "We've already done this once. Happy to skip it if you want to."

I lift my chin. "And what if I don't want to?"

My pulse flutters as he holds my gaze for a long moment. "Well, then. What are you waiting for?" The unbearingly bright light catches on the tips of his long lashes. "Kiss me. Again.Wife."

So I rise on my toes and place a gentle kiss on my husband's lips.

4

Brock

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