“Yes,” He confirms, “And if you want to spend all your time in it when you’re here, you can. Or you can spend time out with the horses or read in the living room. For the twelve months, this will be your home, and you are free to do as you please.”
I should reject this whole thing, leave and run like hellhounds are on my heels. This is utterly ridiculous. Reckless.Insane.
But it isn’t refusal that leaves my lips, and I don’t high tail it out of there either.
“Okay,” I say on a breath, “I’ll do it.”
Chapter 7
I watch Niamh as she reads over the changes and additions the lawyer added to the contract, and then she releases a heavy breath before she picks up the pen, the nib pausing over the line where she’s supposed to sign.
Truthfully, I thought she’d change her mind overnight after agreeing yesterday, but she showed up as promised, her hair still wet from her swim this morning.
For a few long seconds, the pen hovers, a slight tremor in her hand making it shake, but then she releases a breath and the pen scratches over the paper, and she signs her name.
But I can’t relax yet, not until it’s official.
I scribble my name beneath hers and then stand. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” Niamh rushes after me.
“We need to get a marriage license,” I say over my shoulder, “And then we can go to the courthouse.”
“Today!?” She squeaks.
“I have limited time, and so do you.”
“Don’t we need a witness?” She calls, and I come to a stop. Shit. Silas is busy with his kids today, and Remy isn’t around.
“Do you have anyone?” I ask.
“I can ask Ashley, but she’s going to have a lot of questions.”
“Will she believe our story?”
“No.” She winces.
“Then will she keep the secret?” I really don’t like anyone knowing my business, but I need this settled today.
“Yes, she will,” Niamh answers confidently. “I trust her with all I have.”
“Tell her whatever you need to, but we have to go.”
Nerves rattle through her, they’re clear in every line of her body, in the shake of her hands and it makes me a complete asshole rushing her like this and not giving her a moment to breathe but the quicker this is done, the easier everything will be for the both of us. This is necessary.
She follows me out to where her truck is parked beside mine, but instead of following me to the ranger, she tries to get into her own truck.
Yeah, that’s not happening.
My hand slaps against her door, stopping her from opening it.
Her head whips toward me. “What the hell are you doing!?”
“We’ll take my truck.”
“Or we can take mine.”
“I’m not getting in that thing.” I scoff, cringing at the duct tape around the wheel arch.
