Page 33 of Tropical Inferno

She practically dropped the flowers on the counter and ran to him, nestling back in his arms as though he’d never left.

“We don’t have a lot of time.” He glanced at his phone.

She met his gaze in confusion. “For what? I don’t want to go anywhere, Garrett. Not until we leave for the airport. I think—”

He stopped her with his mouth, his lips claiming hers as sweetly and lovingly as he knew how. He paused to rub his nose against hers, one hand cupping her cheek as he met her eyes. His lips hovered just millimeters from hers and their eyes locked the way they always did when they were this close.

“Less than a week ago I met a spitfire of a woman who was trying to chase gangbangers away from her rental car. I saved her life that morning, but five days later I’m sitting here with her in my arms trying to find the words to ask her the most important question I’ve ever asked anyone.” He pushed a lock of curled hair behind her ear and ran his thumb across her cheekbone. “I realize this is the craziest thing ever…and people are going to say we’ve lost our minds, but I don’t care.”

“Garrett?” She was looking at him strangely, her eyes big and wide, like they always were when she was scared or confused.

“We don’t have time for me to turn this into a fancy, romantic ordeal—I don’t even have a ring—but you have about five minutes to decide if you want to give forever a try. With a greasy mechanic who plays a little hockey.”

18

Hawk wouldn’t have thought it possible, but her eyes were even wider now, staring at him in complete shock, her mouth hanging open a little.

“I inadvertently dragged you into the shitstorm of my life but now that I have you, I’ll do anything to keep you. I can’t imagine going back to Ottawa without you at my side and I refuse to let you go back to Toronto without me. I’m asking you to take a huge risk and marry me. Today. We have to get to the courthouse before they close. There’s no waiting period but we have to get the license now because they’re not open on the weekend.”

She was gaping at him now. “Just like that?”

“I called Jamie this morning and told him everything. I told him I’d do whatever he wanted me to do in order to have his blessing. If he wanted me to out Culkin, I would, even knowing it will probably end my career. If he wanted me to publicly profess my sincerest apologies for losing my temper and saying something homophobic, to save my career so I’d have the money to take care of you, I’d do that too. I left it totally up to him.”

“What did he say?” she whispered, searching his face.

“He said it was up to you. He said he believed me and we never had to talk about it again as long as I promised to love you and protect you from the backlash.”

“I don’t care about backlash,” she whispered, a tear leaking out. “I only want you to be okay.”

“Don’t cry.” He gently kissed her again. “I’m going to be fine, just tell me what you want me to do.”

She didn’t even hesitate. “I want the world to know the kind of man you are—I don’t want that jerk to get away with what he said. I don’t care about money. You can be a mechanic and I’ll be a secretary; we’ll be okay. Wasn’t it you who told me we needed teachers and secretaries and mechanics—or something like that?”

“Is that a yes?”

She could only nod. “How could I possibly say no to you?”

“You marked me, baby—what else can either of us do?”

She pressed her lips to his, letting them linger for just a second before slowly sliding off his lap, her eyes never leaving his. “You look awesome, but I can’t get married in shorts and a tank top.”

He laughed and got to his feet. “We have to be out the door in three minutes if we’re going to make it before the office closes. There’s a limo waiting to take us…”

“Garrett, I know you already said it, but this is crazy!”

“Do you love me?”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” she muttered. “But yes, I do.”

“Go change, baby. We can talk on the way there. You have the whole drive to change your mind.”

* * *

Exactly fifty-five minutes later they walked out of the courthouse as husband and wife. Garrett hung on to her hand tightly, grateful that the chauffeur and limousine were waiting right in front, because she seemed more nervous now than before they’d done it. They slid into the back seat and Garrett pulled her close to him, his lips pressed against her temple.

“Are you okay?”

“Just a little shell-shocked,” she admitted.

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