Page 47 of Marry Me, Right Now

We fell into a group hug, and a flash of light startled me. Zachary took one more photo. “Darlings, you’re going to want this one for your albums, trust me.”

JACOB

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LAST DETAILS

Mia was cool as a frozen cucumber, dealing with Zachary’s endless notes. She had impressed me from the moment I met her, but watching her delegate, decide, change direction and get everything done with such quiet authority was amazing to watch.

Many of her smaller vendors were intent on triple-checking details, even though she continually assured them that if they thought it was lovely, so did she.

I still had very mixed feelings about stealing a woman’s real wedding from her, but she seemed to be enjoying the process.

She had asked me the other day if I wanted to approve her choice of a wedding dress, but I insisted that we should keep a few traditions alive just for fun. She grinned, her eyes absolutely sparkling, and I could tell that she wanted to surprise me. I also know that she had excellent taste and would pick something traditional enough, but elegant.

It was fascinating how much I had learned about who she was as a person, but not much about her past, and her dreams for the future. We were living in a strange bubble of right now, with no time or energy to see beyond September ninth.

That day was going to be extremely intense on many levels. Not just from the logistics of such a large event, but we would need to act the part of the loving couple all day and all night.

It was completely easy and natural to do this with her, but I was concerned about controlling my real feelings. I didn’t want to freak her out, and I certainly couldn’t have a conversation with her about it right now, but these feelings could not be silenced for much longer.

She was everything that I wanted in a woman and didn’t even know that I needed. She obviously didn’t want me for my money. Although she was obviously relieved to have a safe, clean home, she didn’t trust it, and thought all of the extras were excessive.

Mia was concerned about my well being. I’d never really felt that from a woman before. I was expected to pamper them without any attention returned. I certainly was what I considered to be a low maintenance guy, but the way Mia really wanted to hear about my day, and what I thought about things was refreshing.

She was naturally a hard worker, which was unheard of in the circle of society ladies. If they left their houses for a one-hour charity meeting, it was an ordeal from which they needed to recover with wine and a catered dinner.

There was no memory of my mother having washed a dish in her life. I couldn’t stop Mia from cleaning up after us. She would make do with anything, and expected nothing. My urge to lavish gifts upon her was only tempered by the fact that she would be completely distressed about it.

Watching her make notes frantically while smiling to whoever she was speaking on the phone with made me sink into a level of comfort that I’ve never had before. Having her here for a full year was going to make me incredibly happy.

When she hung up, I asked, “Mia, is there anything at all I could help with?”

She shook her head, her hair wobbling in the messy bun on top. “Nope. I’ve got it.”

“But I have two hands, and I’m just sitting here.”

Mia laughed. “You worked all week. This is my job now. On this project, you do the money part, I do the work part. We each contribute in our own way.”

“Please, there must be something. I don’t like to see you wearing yourself out.”

Her eyebrow raised. “You must come from a world of delicate women, Jacob. I can run around for a ten-hour shift, then come home to help a friend proof a book for another seven hours, then get up early to paint a theatre set in the morning. Work first. Always.”

It sounded like she could run circles around me. I was often exhausted after an eight hour day sitting around my office with

just a few meetings.

“Hungry?”

She nodded. “Yes. That’s certainly something you could do.”

I hurried to the kitchen and put together a platter of cheese, fruit, bread, and Italian sausage slices. Setting it in front of her on the dining room table which was covered in notes, I returned with napkins and two glasses of pinot noir.

Looking up from her notes, she laughed. “Thanks. This looks lovely.”

Sitting beside her, I waited until she’d had a few bites before asking, “Are you having any second thoughts?”

Mia shook her head. “No. Once I commit to a decision, that’s that. And so far everything is going fine. A little overwhelming, but this is a crazy week, obviously.” She flashed me a dazzling smile. “You don’t throw parties like this often, right?”

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