Page 18 of Puck, Marry, Thrill

The magistrate hesitated, looking momentarily dazed before clearing his throat. “Okaaaay…”

He turned to her. “Do you, Jamie Michelle Bellavance, take Kenneth for your husband, to have and to hold, for richer?—”

“You can stop there,” Jamie interrupted smoothly.

The magistrate blinked.

Kenneth did, too.

Jamie turned, locking eyes with her soon-to-be husband, her voice steady. “I do. I really,reallydo. And we’re not doing the whole ‘poor’ thing. Irefuseto be poor. Tried it – and I didn’t care for it a bit. Do not recommend – at all.”

A murmur of laughter rippled through the audience.

Jamie’s grin widened. “I am taking both Kenneth and my little Zach-Attack as my own. They’ll get used to me someday,” she declared cheerfully before effortlessly scooping Zachary up onto her hip like he weighed nothing.

The little boy giggled, wrapping his arms around her neck, clinging to her like a tiny koala. Instinctively, she dropped a kiss on his temple as he smiled, laying a cheek on her shoulder. He was a sweet thing, and she was lucky to be his stepmother. It could have been so much worse.

Kenneth’s eyes darkened again—not with anger this time but with something more unreadable.

She met his stare, unwavering.

Get used to it, Salas.

The magistrate, seeming eager to wrap things up, cleared his throat. “Uh, well, by the power granted to me from the state of Michigan, I pronounce you husband and wife.”

His gaze flicked to Kenneth. “You may kiss your bride, Mr. Salas.”

Kenneth hesitated.

Jamie didn’t.

I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night,she thought immediately, taking advantage of the moment – especially since her new husband was so disgruntled about the whole marriage thing. If this wasn’t a requirement of his contract, she knew he would never have done something as wild as marrying her, a stranger. She was no fool. Her husband was handsome, and if they weren’t going to be real spouses, she was at least getting one kiss from the moody man.

She stepped in, still holding Zachary, and curled her fingers into the fabric of Kenneth’s shirt, tugging him forward until their lips barely brushed—a fleeting, delicate contact.

It was enough.

Enough to cement the deal. Enough to get him to move. Enough to let him know that she wasn’t afraid of him, or this, or what they were stepping into together.

His posture was still rigid, his muscles still wound tight—but there was something else in his expression now. A flicker of amusement, maybe. Or confusion. Or the first crack in whatever wall he’d built around himself.

Jamie leaned in just a fraction, whispering against his lips.

“Done. Get the papers, and let’s get outta here. I’m starving.”

For a heartbeat, Kenneth just stared at her. Then, to her absolute delight, a low, disbelieving chuckle escaped him.

It wasn’t much. Just a breath of laughter. But it was real.

He reached out, ruffling Zachary’s hair before turning to sign the paperwork and settle things with the magistrate. Jamie set down Zachary and took his hand, sticking out her tongue at him playfully as he did the same.

And just like that, they walked out of the courtroom—married.

Jamie exhaled, stretching her arms overhead. “Phew.” She shot Kenneth a playful look. “It was getting stuffy and loud in there.”

Kenneth shook his head, muttering something under his breath as he held the door open for her.

Jamie just grinned, stepping outside.

---