Page 6 of Knock Me Up

“Did I break something in that cute little brain of yours?” he asks, a smile on his face.

“I’m trying to decide if you’re just overearnest or if Ophelia had the right idea about running away from you after all.”

“Well, you heard her talk. Do you think she’s ever right about anything?”

I can’t help but giggle, breaking my composure.

“You want the same things I do, Piper. We’re different sides of the same coin, both wanting to go in the same direction. I feel more kinship with you after talking to you for fifteen minutes than I felt with Ophelia in over a year.”

I grimace. “I’m sorry you had to deal with her for that long.”

“It’ll be worth it if I end up with you.”

Fuck, he’s so disarming. So handsome. I’m blushing like mad and I’m on the verge of making a terrible mistake.

“You said it yourself,” he continues. “It’d be an awful shame to let everything here go to waste. So I say let’s go with it. Let’s take a shot. What do we have to lose?”

“Our belief in the sanctity of marriage?”

“Eh, people have done crazier things than us to insult marriage. Neither of us are drunk at least, and the pastor isn’t going to dress up like Elvis unless you really, really beg him to.”

I ponder his proposal. The fact that I’m considering it at all makes me doubt my sanity. But I remember the story of Olivia’s happy-ever-after. She met the man of her dreams on a whim, and it’s gone so wonderfully for her. Sure, it’s only been two months, but damn if I’ve ever seen her happier than in that time. Lightning struck for her, a one-in-a-million outcome.

Lightning striking again is even more unlikely, but itispossible, right?

I just have to take the chance.

“Fine. Yes. I’ll do it. I’ll marry you, Luke.” The fact he’s the most handsome man on the planet certainly weighed into my decision, I’ll have to admit.

“Excellent.”

Then, to top off the crazy, he goes for it.

He kisses me.

And it’s fantastic. Electric, his lips on mine, and I lean into him. His tongue pushes in and meets mine. It’s strong, it’s passionate, and goddamn, I’m really liking what I’m feeling. I want more of this, that’s for damn sure.

Luke is offering a lifetime supply.

When the kiss finally breaks, I’m bashful as hell, but he’s just pleased.

He clears his throat. “Well, then. With that agreement made, there are preparations we must do. As practical and business-appropriate as your outfit is, it’s not proper to get married in.”

Usually when I come to weddings for my business, I’m in a modest pantsuit with a button-down underneath. It’s respectful of me since I’m not the star of the show, but it’s by no means proper bridal attire.

Footsteps break up our discussion, and I stand up and step away from Luke as if we’re trying to hide something. He stands up too, and then undoes any attempts to hide the situation by wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close. He’s my fiancé now, after all.

“Piper, I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” It’s Arnold, my photographer friend. “Wait.”

He narrows his eyes as he recognizes Luke as the groom he’s meant to shoot today, but Luke rushes ahead to cut off that line of questioning.

“She’s my fiancée,” he declares. “And we’re getting married today.”

Arnold looks at me. Then at Luke. “Oookay…” He looks about ready to ask about Ophelia, but he’s the consummate professional, just like me, and I can see the calculations going on behind his eyes. He decides not to rock the boat and just smiles instead. “Great. Although I have to confess, Piper, this is a shock.”

“Believe me,” I say, glancing at Luke. “I’m as surprised as you are.”

“It seems… sudden.” He laughs, as if he just said something absurd like, the sun is made out of a million light bulbs, and that’s why it burns so bright.

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