Page 45

“Lennon, do you promise to take Easton as your lawfully wedded husband, to honor and cherish, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?”

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “I do.”

“And do you, Easton, take Lennon as your lawfully wedded wife, to honor and cherish, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?”

I fight to keep a neutral expression on my face because inside, my heart is hammering so hard that I can hear my pulse in my ears. Instead, I take the ring out of my pocket that I purchased yesterday after consulting Elodie on Lennon’s ring size (which she luckily knew), before sliding it onto Lennon’s finger, surprising her and my brother. “I do.”

As soon as I saw the emerald-cut ring, I knew it belonged on Lennon’s finger.

I tried not to read into that too much, and instead justified the purchase because it would make our arrangement look more real.

Look, or feel real, Easton?

Owen clears his throat behind me, but I ignore him.

“Great. By the power vested in me by the state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Easton.”

Lennon’s eyes widen as I slowly grip her waist and pull her gently into my chest. She’s clearly as nervous about this kiss as I am, but not kissing would raise suspicion from Judge Hamilton.

My pulse is wild, thinking back over every fantasy I’ve ever had about kissing this girl.

Kissing her in high school.

Kissing her at prom.

Kissing her the night we went out when I was home for her dad.

And even months ago when we fought at The Charming Bull, I thought about kissing her just to shut her up.

Lennon is clearly nervous, so I cup the side of her face, stroking her cheek while never breaking eye contact. When I lean forward and gently brush my lips against hers to feel her out, her eyes close and that’s when something sparks that I can’t ignore.

I need to give her a kiss she’ll never forget.

I push our mouths together more and inhale the sweet scent of her as the sensation of kissing her takes over my body.

My hand moves from her jaw to behind her ear, burying my fingers in her hair as her soft lips nip at mine. Her hand is clutching my shoulder like a lifeline, so I pull her closer. And even though I had no intent on taking the kiss deeper, when I feel her tongue dart out, I take that as an invitation to do just that.

One slow pass of our tongues over one another, and I almost lose control. Instead, I pull her against my chest and bury my tongue in her mouth, swallowing the moan that crawls up her throat. My body wants to keep going, but my head interjects and reminds me that this is not the time or the place.

So, reluctantly, I end the kiss just as quickly as it began—but that kiss just shifted everything.

When Lennon’s eyes flutter open, I see a look in them I don’t think I’ve ever seen directed at me before—lust.

I damn sure know that’s what I’m feeling.

The question is though, is she going to want to do anything more about it?

“Congratulations, you two,” Judge Hamilton says, cutting through the sexual tension lingering between us.

I grip Lennon’s waist tighter and turn to face him, pulling her into my side as my body shakes from the thunder in my chest. “Thank you, sir.”

He closes the book in his hand. “I always wondered if you two would end up together. Seems life just needed to work out a few obstacles first, huh?”

Owen clears his throat again. “Uh, we need to get going, right?”

Elodie nods in agreement. “Yes.”

“Well, I just need you two to sign the marriage license.” The judge rushes over to his desk and brings the paper over for my brother and Elodie to sign as our witnesses.