Page 35 of Attached At Heart
It was the one word I could manage. Truly pathetic after how many words Blake had just said.
“Good.” He met my gaze with his usual intensity, but it felt stronger than normal. “Don’t worry, okay? I won’t kiss you again. And of course, I’ll only touch you if the occasion calls for it. If there’s an audience. How’s that for ground rules?”
“That sounds good,” I acknowledged, thankful I was able to say more than one syllable now that I’d recovered from his rundown. “But Blake, I wasn’tworriedabout the kiss. I’mcommitted to making this believable. And if the occasion calls for it…”
My voice trailed off, but Blake understood.
“Alright. If the occasion calls for it,” he repeated, an agreement of sorts.
And then he got out of the car, leaving me to wonder what kind of occasion that might actually be.
But I didn’t get too long to think about it because my phone rang. Looking down at the number, I froze.
“Do you need to get that?” I heard Blake ask, his car door still open.
“It’s my grandparents’ executor. I sent him our marriage license earlier this week, so…”
“So you should probably get that,” he confirmed.
Fuck.
As if I didn’t have enough to be worried about at the moment.
Grimacing, I looked down at the screen for a moment before answering the call.
“Ms. Delacroix?”
The older man sounded more panicked than I would have expected, which did not help the feeling that had settled in my gut.
“Mr. Anderson.” I tried not to audibly gulp down my nerves. “It’s actually Mrs. London now, but how may I help you?”
I glanced at Blake, who was now leaning down to look into the car, right at me. His gaze flared bright.
Was he nervous, too?
“Yes, that is…why I called. I received the copy of your marriage certificate in the mail. And while I know it is not business hours, I didn’t want to wait to reach out and verify with you.”
I nodded, aware that Blake’s eyes were glued to my movements. “Yes, we eloped earlier this week. My husband and I were just going to celebrate with his family.”
“I, um…” The sounds of shuffling paper broke through Mr. Anderson’s words. Then they stopped, and I could picture his dark brows furrowing as he stroked his salt-and-pepper mustache. “I wasn’t aware that you were intending to wed, Ms.—Mrs. London. This has just come as a surprise.”
A humorless laugh broke through my lips, and I looked outside the window, studying the traffic as it drove by in front of Natalie’s home. “Well, that is the point of an elopement, isn’t it? To be a surprise.”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
Mr. Anderson didn’t sound entirely convinced, so I lowered my voice to add, “Blake and I have been very close for many years. And when we finally realized how we both felt, we didn’t want to waste any more time than we already had. Surely you understand.”
He cleared his throat. “Of course. Yes, of course. Congratulations on your marriage, Mrs. London.”
“Thank you.” I smiled to myself, hoping it came through in my voice. “You should know that I have not yet informed my parents but am planning to do so soon.”
“Oh, good.” His relief was palpable, even through the phone. “I’m sure they will be glad to hear it from you.”
I frowned. Washethinking of telling them? In that case, I was glad that we’d had this call. I didn’t need a surprise from my mother tonight as well.
“Yes, I know you are often in, um, business with my parents, so I will let you know when they are aware of the elopement.”
“Perfect.” More relief. “That works perfectly. We will be in touch, then.”
