The judge chuckled under her breath before turning her attention to me. “Now, Quinn, please repeat after me. I, Quinn Cartwright, take you, Ford McKenzie, as my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”
“I, Quinn Cartwright, take you, Ford McKenzie, as my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you—and keep you humble by handing you your ass at every possible opportunity—for as long as we both shall live.”
Instead of irritating him like I’d hoped, my words only seemed to make Ford’s smirk grow wider, turning into a full-blown grin.
“Did you bring rings to exchange?” the judge asked.
It was one thing we hadn’t talked about, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if he hadn’t remembered this part, but I reached into my dress pocket to pull out the ring I’d purchased for him. “I have one.”
“Got it,” Ford said at the same time, holding up what looked like a plastic-wrapped package.
I tried to get a better look at what he had in his hands, but he just stared at me with a cocked brow while he ripped open the package and pulled out whatever was inside.
“Perfect,” the judge said. “Ford, please place the ring on Quinn’s finger and repeat, with this ring, I thee wed.”
I glanced down when Ford took my left hand in his, distracted momentarily by the gentle way he held it, his callused fingertips lightly tickling my palm. The soft touch stunned me so much it took me a minute to notice the gigantic ring he held, topped with a huge rock.
Made of candy.
It was a ring pop, green and gaudy. I used to love those when I was a kid but probably hadn’t had one in twenty years.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” he said, his eyes locked on mine as he slid the massive candy ring on my finger. Then, softer and just for me, he said, “Your real one is coming, but I didn’t want to show up without anything. I didn’t know how to make a ring out of watermelon Jolly Ranchers, so I figured a watermelon ring pop was a good substitute.”
It took a moment for his words to register, but when they finally did, my mouth dropped open in shock. In high school, I had practically lived on watermelon Jolly Ranchers. They were my favorite study snack, and I was never without them, no matter where I was. But how did he—
“Quinn, please place the ring on Ford’s finger and repeat, with this ring, I thee wed.”
I swallowed and held his left hand, not even trying to hide the questions swimming in my eyes as they searched his for answers I wasn’t going to get. “With this ring, I thee wed,” I murmured, sliding the black band on to Ford’s finger, grateful I’d guessed his size correctly.
Ford dropped his gaze to where I pushed the ring on to his finger, his brows lifting. “Silicone?”
I couldn’t read anything from the tone of his voice, so I just shrugged. “I know it’s not very expensive, but they’re supposed to be the best option for firefighters.”
He continued to stare at me without saying a word, his gaze weighted and heavy, and I shifted under his scrutiny. I had no idea what he was thinking and couldn’t read anything in his stare. All I knew was my stomach was a swarming mass of riotous butterflies, and I didn’t know why.
“Now the good part—the kiss,” the judge said with a wink.
Oh shit.
Would it be weird to refuse to kiss the groom? Probably. But after what had happened last night, I honestly didn’t trust myself around Ford. Not with these butterflies running rampant inside me.
I’d assumed he would be a good kisser, especially given his extensive experience. But I hadn’t been expectingthat. From the moment he’d delved his fingers into my hair and cupped my face, covering my lips with his own, my body had come alive in a way it never had before.
The judge continued, “Inasmuch as Quinn and Ford have consented together in wedlock and pledged their vows to each other, by the authority vested in me by the state of Maine, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ford, you may kiss your bride.”
Time slowed then as Ford stepped into me and lifted his hands to my face. He slid his fingers around my nape, his thumbs pressing lightly under my jaw to tip my face up toward his. Then he leaned down until his lips hovered just over mine and said, “No take backs now, wife. Just remember I warned you…”
I didn’t have a second to think—hell, I didn’t even have a second tobreathe—before his mouth descended on mine. This kiss was slower than the one last night. Softer, sweeter…and yet not any tamer. Without thought, I reached up and gripped his forearms, opening my mouth to his seeking tongue and tasting him all over again.
I’d had kisses before. Most of them less than mediocre, but there were a few good contenders in the mix.
But there had never been anything like this… Never anyone like Ford.
He kissed me like I was the only person in the world. Like I was oxygen and he was gasping for breath. Like I was a feast in the middle of a desert.
He kissed me like I wasactuallyhis wife.
And I had no idea what to do with that.
