Jack wanted to marry her, but he didn’t want to be heartbroken.
Before he could tell her that she was likely the only woman he’d ever marry, she added, “We can annul our union once this errand is over, okay?”
Boom. Crash.His heart fell to his feet. Again.
Jack considered her offer. She was likely being sensible by telling him they could annul the marriage once she didn’t need him any longer.Wow. That hurt more than it should have.
Then something occurred to him. She was honor-bound by some sacrifice she’d made five years ago to a group hellbent on ruining her life and his by enforcing their separation and keeping them incommunicado. Had that group sanctioned this marriage?
Didtheyknow she needed a husband for her errand? They must.
“Please, Jack,” she said, ruining his line of thought. “Please do this for me.”
“Marry you? Sure. Temporarily, not so sure aboutthat.” His heart apparently needed to be beaten down by rejection at least one more time.
Madelaine straightened her posture. She seemed surprised. “I don’t want to mislead you.”
“Just like I don’t want you to misunderstand me. The thing is, I’ve always wanted to marry you, Madelaine. Further discussion of an annulment would be a dealbreaker for me.”
A whole range of expressions crossed her face as she processed what he’d said.
He added, “I know it seems foolish, given your constraints, but make no mistake—if we get married, I will not willingly annul it. Ever.” His heart really was a glutton for punishment.
Madelaine stared at him as if weighing her options. “All right. We’ll get married and discuss annulment at a much later date.”
He started to protest, but she lifted her hands in a conciliatory way. “And yes. I understand that you will never willingly annul the marriage, but keep in mind that I might try to persuade you.”
He snorted. “Good luck with that.”
She nodded as an odd smile shaped her lips. “We need to get to the Justice of the Peace in downtown Alienn. Once the ceremony is complete, the JOP will give over the next package of information for this errand I must complete.”
“With a husband,” he added.Me. She wants to marry me.At least temporarily.
She nodded again. “Yes. With a husband who can pilot a ship and never forget that time is running out.”
“Understood.” He straightened, ready to be serious and take on this odd task. It might be foolish, and he was sure to get his heart broken. However, he and Madelaine would be together, working for what he was certain was the greater good.
She looked him up and down, not for the first time since she’d come back into his life. He found it interesting that she still seemed to have feelings for him and his optimistic heartcheered. The kiss she’d delivered at the bank didn’t seem either dispassionate or repulsed. His heart gave another little cheer.
Something important in regard to this marriage crossed his mind.
“On the way to the courthouse, we need to stop at my house.”
“Why?”
“To get the rings.”
“You have rings? Wedding rings?” Her expression was set to incredulous.
“I do,” he said with a smile. He’d purchased an engagement ring for her long ago and two wedding bands a month before she left that last time for Alpha-Prime.
Somehow, he’d never returned them in all these years. His heart really was way too optimistic, as it turned out. He had always planned to marry Madelaine. No one he’d dated even came close to being a “let’s walk down the aisle together” contender. Not even close.
“Okay. We stop at your house and then on to the courthouse in downtown Alienn.”
Jack couldn’t help the jubilant feeling trying to bubble up and make him laugh with giddy joy. He needed to quash it and adopt a more sedate, reasonable attitude or he really would get his heart stomped on and it would be his own fault.
Before they moved to leave, Seraphina came through the front door carrying several to-go bags of food and a drink carrier. Jack could smell coffee from where he stood.
