I keep turning my head until I see Luke, Chase, and Cooper across the aisle with Brayden, Leleila, and Savannah.
And then, there are some others.
An older couple, who I assume are Declan’s parents, are in the front row. They’re sitting with an older woman and another older couple I’ve also never seen before.
Four other couples, plus a dark-haired guy, are sitting directly behind Luke’s row. Two of the guys have a little of that aura that swirls around Declan, but I obviously can’t be trusted to recognize a public figure, considering I slept with Declan and didn’t know who he was.
I force my gaze away from all of these strangers and say to my father, “Go sit down. We’ll take it from here.”
Dad kisses me on the cheek and then takes his seat next to my uncle.
I turn back to the front and look up at Declan. “You ready to get hitched?” I ask him with a smile.
An emotion crosses his face, but it’s gone too fast for me to pin down what he’s feeling.
He shifts his attention to the justice of the peace and gives him one of those practiced smiles famous people seem to have mastered. “We’re all set to get started.”
As we’d instructed, the justice goes through the vows quickly and with no personalization. I’m prepared, and I’m doing just fine with all of it…
Until Declan presents me with a ring.
I’d seen our wedding bands. They’re simple white gold with no ornamentation. I approved of them, and Declan did too.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the engagement ring he pulls out of his pocket.
I barely suppress my gasp.
“You okay?” he murmurs so only I can hear.
I nod quickly. Too quickly. I can’t take my eyes off the ring in his hand.
From the antique-style setting to the square-cut diamond and delicate diamond-encrusted platinum ring itself, I don’t want to admit how well he seems to know me.
“I…” I watch as he gently slips both rings on my finger.
When he raises his gaze to meet mine, the vulnerability in his dark gaze slays me. In that moment, I want to give him far more than a fake marriage. I want to get to know him. I want to hang out with him and go on real dates and give whatever this is between us a chance.
“Ms. Carroll?” The justice prompts me. “Do you take this man to be your husband?”
I look into Declan’s eyes, and as I say the words, they feel far too real. “I do.”
My hand is visibly shaking as I slide Declan’s ring onto his large finger. His hands are so masculine and so strong. And I remember what they felt like all over my body.
“And Mr. Wild, do you…”
“I do,” Declan says so fast he cuts the justice off.
Behind him, I hear Cam cough out a choked laugh.
“By the powers vested in me by the state of Montana, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
And before the justice even mentions kissing, Declan sweeps me into his arms and covers my mouth with his.
We had planned this. We knew his parents would need to be convinced on some level, and we didn’t want anyone to derail our plans. So, I was anticipating a kiss to seal our marriage.
But I wasn’t expectingthis.
Because Declan doesn’t let me go quickly like I thought he would. His kiss is soft but intense, and I meet him more than halfway. His hand tangles in my hair and he angles my head so he can slide his hot tongue into my willing mouth.
