Page 3 of What About Now

His mouth falls open, and then his eyes snap to my hand. I raise it up and wiggle my fingers. “We’re married?” he asks.

There’s something in his tone of voice. He doesn’t seem angry. If anything, he seems… awed. How is that possible? “I think so,” I finally answer. “That’s the only explanation I can come up with. I was hoping I just bought a ring I loved, but no way would you do the same.”

He closes his eyes, and I think my eyes are deceiving me because I swear, there is a small lift of his lips as if he’s smiling. “Maddox?” His eyes pop open at the sound of my voice. “Do you remember anything?”

“No.” He swallows hard. “Do you?”

“Not much. I remember us leaving with Maggie and Lachlan, and then it gets fuzzy from there.”

“Yeah,” he agrees.

I turn my head, glancing around the room, looking for anything that might help me remember, when I spot papers lying on the table. My legs shake as they carry me to them. I don’t need to pick them up to see what they are. The wordsMarriage Certificateare in big, bold letters at the top.

“Shit.”

“What is it?”

I startle at his voice being so close, and I can’t stop the shiver that races through me when he gently places his hands on my hips as he looks over my shoulder.

“Marriage certificate.”

“So, you’re my wife?” he asks. Again, he doesn’t sound mad about this or even irritated.

“Looks like it. At least until we can get this annulled.”

“What?”

I turn to face him, and we’re now chest to chest with his hands gripping my hips. I look up at him. His big blue eyes study me as if I’m a puzzle he can’t figure out. “Annulled,” I repeat.

“Let’s just take a step back. We should shower. We’re supposed to meet everyone for breakfast at ten.” He glances back toward the bed at the alarm clock. “We’ve got thirty minutes.”

I sigh. “I guess you’re right. It’s Sunday, so there isn’t going to be an attorney open to deal with this until tomorrow, anyway.”

“Go shower.”

He leans in and presses his lips to my forehead. He’s never done that before, and the act has my heart fluttering around like a swarm of butterflies inside my chest. “What about you?” I see my luggage, and all of my toiletries were in the bathroom, so I know we’re in my room.

“My stuff is here too.” He nods to the opposite side of the room, and sure enough, there’s his luggage. “I guess we decided we were moving in together.” He smirks. “I mean, that’s what married people do, right? They live together?”

“We’re not really married, Maddox,” I remind him.

“That piece of paper says otherwise, Mrs. Lanigan.” The smile he gives me, it’s not a teasing smile, but it’s gone before I can put a name to it. “Go shower. You can get ready while I take my turn. That is, unless you want to shower together. That’s better for the environment. Saving water and all that.”

“Nope.” I pull out of his arms, needing some space.

“Lock the door.”

“Are you leaving?” I ask. Sadness washes over me. I know we can’t stay married, but being with him, having his attention, it’s something I don’t really want to let go of just yet. What happens in Vegas and all that.

“No, baby, I’m not leaving.” He reaches up and presses his palm against my cheek. “It’s to keep me out of the bathroom. My wife will be naked and wet. I need all the barriers I can get to keep me away.”

Oh.

He smirks. “Go. Lock the door,” he says again, before dropping his hand and making his way back to the bed.

Quickly, I grab a change of clothes and disappear into the bathroom, and I lock the door just like he told me to. However, the entire time I’m showering, all I can think about is Maddox busting down that door and joining me.

Thirty minutes later, we’re both dressed and ready to head to meet everyone for breakfast. Maddox has his hand on the small of my back, leading me toward the door, when I freeze.

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