Ash gave a sigh. “I sing a little.”
Skye snorted with Marge’s excited departure. “You know she’s probably texting her best buddies right now.”
Ash ran his fingers through his hair. “I know. That’s what has me worried. She texts a few friends, and then they text a few…” He gripped her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Ash pulled out his phone. A long expression tugged at his face as he texted. “I didn’t want the crazies barging in on our time. I just wanted you.”
“I want you, too.” Now that she’d said it, she couldn’t deny the truth even if she’d known him for only two days—three, if she counted the day they’d met.And how could she forget that toe-curling first kiss?
Ben wrapped his arm around Edna. “You two make a really great couple.”
A flush heated Skye’s face.
Marge returned with the paperwork. She slid it halfway under the counter and then collected the fee from Ben.
Her eyes devoured Ash. “You need to sign here and here.”
Everyone signed the papers.
Then, Marge waved them to a set of double doors. “The justice of the peace has to make it official, but I already had the papers signed. You won’t have to come back and stand in line again.” She winked at Ash. “But you need the official ceremony to make it legal. The marriage certificate will be mailed in six to eight weeks.”
Ben tilted Edna’s chin and kissed her. Skye’s stomach clenched as she watched how in love the older couple was. She was not envious of their bond but more hopeful about one day having even a slice of the magic they shared.
“The justice is waiting. I told her you wanted to keep things quiet.” She put her fingers to her lips. “She thinks it’s so romantic. Down that hall, second door on the left.”
Ash clutched his cell phone in his hand, head bowed, while he followed Ben down the hall. He chewed at his lower lip.
“What’s up?” Skye asked.
“I texted my manager, but I don’t know if we can get security here fast enough.”
She cocked her head. “What do you mean, security?”
“Let’s just hope Marge’s job keeps her too busy to keep up with her social media updates. If she lets it slip that I’m here, the paparazzi will descend on us. You have no idea what that’s like.”
They followed Ben and Edna into the justice of the peace’s chambers, coming to a stop before the woman’s mahogany desk.
“It’ll be fine,” Skye said softly. “We’re almost done. We finish this, drop them off, go back to the hotel…”
“You don’t understand. We need to leave.”
Ben cleared his throat.
Skye looked up. Their conversation was holding up the festivities. “Sorry.”
A woman in a business suit sat behind the massive desk. In her late forties, she had her hair swept back in an elegant and immaculate French twist. She stood and came around the desk, hand extended in greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said to Ash. “My son is a huge fan.”
Ash smiled and inclined his head. “Thank you very much, ma’am.”
She looked uncertain. “I know it’s unprofessional to ask, but he would kill me if he knew I’d met you and hadn’t asked. Would you mind?” She held out a pad of paper.
“What’s your son’s name?”
“Adam. He’s sixteen.”
