Page 49 of Meant for Me
Amazing Graceplayed softly in the background, Zoey’s request when the courthouse admin asked if she’d like any music. A thoughtful touch, even though she’d panicked and blurted out the first song she could think of.
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.
She certainly felt found in this moment. Safe, for the first time in…well, years. Like maybe someone could take care of her, instead of only ever having to take care of herself.
Like maybe God had been a little more involved in this impromptu decision than she’d thought. Therehadbeen that email that came through late last night. The insurance company had pointed the blame to the fryer manufacturer, who agreed it was an error but not theirs—rather, that of the supplier who had issued a part recall.
In other words, the investigation was still going, and Zoey was still indefinitely homeless and broke.
Talk about a finger writing in the sky after all.
“…’til death do us part.” Linc finished his vows, his voice deep. His dark brown gaze still held hers, a life preserver in an ocean.
The vows were standard, but Zoey meant them with her whole heart as she took her turn reciting after the judge. “In good times and bad…” It wasn’t hard to promise to be there for Linc. Wasn’t she always? Wasn’t that why she was even standing there in the first place, wearing a strapless bra of all things?
And she had no doubt Linc meant his vows too—just in the most platonic way possible.
With a grand gesture and a little bow, Judge Morrow beamed. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Mrs. Zoey Fontenot. It certainly had a ring to it.
And now so did Zoey’s finger. She held up her hand, admiring the simple gold band Linc had procured from a pawn shop on the mainland. She’d never been much of a diamond girl, so this simplicity suited her perfectly.
But would anyone suspect what they were up to without a big engagement ring to go along with it?
“Good news, Linc.” Judge Morrow smiled at him. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Um. Zoey’s hand fell back to her side, and she cast a look at Linc, whose widened eyes revealed the same panic—they’d forgotten this part.
Howhad they forgotten this part?
Judge motioned to them with a chuckle as he leaned against the podium. “Come on, now. Don’t be shy.”
Amelia groaned. “I’ll cover my eyes.” She clapped her hands over her face.
“Okay.” Linc raked his fingers through his hair with one hand, tugged Zoey closer with the other.
Okay?They were doing this?
Her breath caught, and she licked her suddenly dry lips. She’d forgotten lip gloss in her rush that morning, but maybe that was for the best, because Linc didn’t seem like a Frosted Pink kind of guy.
She breathed in the familiar aroma of Linc and his balmy cologne as he drew nearer. He always managed to smell a little like saltwater and sun, even when he hadn’t been on his boat.
His hand let go of hers and moved to her waist, warm against the thin fabric of her dress. They’d stood close before, but never like this. Never with the pressure, the expectation, the anticipation…Her chest heated, and she risked a glance into his eyes.
Linc, nervous? Now she’d seen everything.
Then, before she could begin to decipher why, he bent down and brushed a quick kiss against her lips. So light, he barely touched her. So quickly, she almost missed it.
Her stomach rolled.
He straightened immediately, looking back at Judge Morrow instead of at her.
Zoey schooled her features into a smile as her mind raced to process. She and Linc weren’t the physically affectionate kind of friends. She knew that going into this arrangement—there was no reason to be sad. Nothing had changed, just like he promised.
Didn’t he always keep his word?
Zoey squeezed Linc’s hand, then chuckled at Amelia’s still-hiding posture. “It’s safe now.”
