Page 16 of Every Single Vow
“Because you want us to galivant around beingfake marriedin front of the entire town.” Her head leans into her palm as she props her elbow up on the ledge of the window.
Nothing about marrying Dakota Sterling would be fake.She just didn’t need to know that. Yet.
“What if they find out it’s a lie?” She continues. “That we just staged this make believe family.” She tosses her hands up. “What if they arrest me?”
“For what?” I chuckle.
“I don’t know! Lying to a judge. Falsifying a marriage certificate. There has to be some kind of criminal consequences.”
“The marriage would not be falsified. Not on paper. Not legally.”
“It would have to look real. Like a real family.” She runs a hand through her hair. “People would have to believe you would love me.”
“Hey.” I reach over and grip her chin between my fingers. “Any man would be lucky as hell to call you his wife. Understand me?”
“Sure,” she mutters. I drop her chin as she continues. “We would have to give the illusion of a loving couple. Like a united front at parent teacher conferences and have things like health insurance, and a minivan.” Her eyes widen. “I don’t even have health insurance, and I can’t pull a trailer with a minivan.”
“Would you quit panicking?” My palm slides over to grip the nape of her neck. “Remember what I promised you?”
She sighs, her eyes fluttering closed as I knead her soft skin. “You know what this is?” I ask.
She opens her eyes. “What?”
“Me keeping my word.” I squeeze. “Let me.”
She stares at me, my heart thudding as I wait for her answer. I’m not sure why I’m nervous. It’s not like she’s marrying me for real. But honestly, I’ll take Dakota Sterling any way I can have her.
“Ok,” she finally whispers.
Thank God.
I dip my chin. “Ok.”
She nods. “I guess we’re getting married.”
I crank the engine, then pull out, heading to the next stop.
“Where are we going?” She frowns.
I’m like a kid in a candy store.
“The courthouse.”
“Cooper…”
The words are barely out of her mouth when both of our phone's start ringing.
I chuckle and flip on my blinker. “Well, that didn’t take long.”
Chapter ten
Dakota
I stand at Cooper’s kitchen island, nibbling my lip as his entire family congregates in the living room. I was able to talk him off of the ledge, and back to the ranch instead of the trip to the courthouse that would end in holy matrimony.
“Why are all of these people here?” Ari whispers, her eyes bouncing back and forth from me to the living room.
Ivy had taken her to town and gotten her a handful of things at the closest Wal-Mart while we were meeting with Norman. She has no idea what’s happening and part of me wishes I could explain it to her first.
