Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Sutton wanted to keep it simple, so I’d worn dress pants and a button-down shirt with a tie. She had on a cream-colored dress that hugged her body in ways that had me fighting an erection the entire drive over here.
We’d parked a couple of blocks away and walked to the municipal building. The entire time, Sutton kept glancing around to make sure no one was watching us.
“If you keep looking so suspicious, someone’s going to think we’re up to something, Sutton.”
“Sorry! I just don’t know who’s a spy for that damn column. I don’t want to read that we got married in this Thursday’s edition.”
“You won’t.”
She exhaled. “I wish I had your confidence.”
Once inside, Mindy quickly pointed out that Sutton needed to have some flowers to hold. After all, it was our wedding day. Sutton tried to tell her it was okay, but Mindy insisted. It was, it turned out, why she kept fresh flowers in the office at all times.
I could see the small cluster of flowers shaking in Sutton’s hands as Mitch read through our vows. Not going to lie: I had never pictured my wedding day like this. I wanted a wedding with my parents there and with Gannon standing up next to me. Though I’d always envisioned Sutton as the bride, even when she’d been married to Asshat.
But to sneak into the JP’s office and do it in secret in an effort to keep Sutton’s ex from harassing her…yeah, that wasn’t how I’d wanted it to go down.
“Do you have a ring?” Mitch asked me.
“Um, yes.”
Reaching into my pocket, I took out the ring box that held the engagement ring as well as the wedding band that my mom had given to me for my future bride. As I opened the box, I heard Sutton inhale sharply.
“Brody,” she whispered.
I met her questioning gaze. “It was passed down to me.”
Something subtle changed in her expression, but it was gone before I could read it. This had been my grandmother’s ring. It meant the world to me, and if another woman was standing here, I wouldn’t be using it. But it was Sutton. And every part of me screamed to tell her that.
Sutton gave me a wobbly smile, then handed Mitch the silver band I’d picked up when I was in Portland a few days ago. Mitch’s hand was steady as I shakily put the ring for Sutton into his palm. I wasn’t even sure what he said after that until he told me to pick up the ring and place it on Sutton’s finger.
I took her hand in mine and slipped the ring on. A look of panic crossed her face as she stared down at the ring. It was pretty damn clear Sutton didn’t want to do this. The thought of marrying me must repulse her because she looked as if she was going to be sick.
After I said my vows, Sutton slipped the band on my finger and somehow managed to get her vows out. She was blinking rapidly, fighting to hold back tears as she looked up and met my gaze.
She truly didn’t want to marry me—and I wasn’t sure how that made me feel. A small part of me had hoped that maybe we could use this as a way to grow closer. To maybe actually have a relationship. But it was clear from the look on her face that this was the last thing she wanted.
When she finished saying her vows, she withdrew her hand from mine.
“I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Brody Wilson.”
We looked at one another in a way I was pretty damn sure two people who had just gotten married shouldn’t be looking.
Mitch chuckled. “Um, this is where you kiss her, Brody.”
I snapped out of my stupor. “Oh, yeah…right.”
Placing my hand on the side of Sutton’s face, I leaned down and softly kissed her on the lips. For a second, I felt her lift up to deepen the kiss, but then she pulled back. I slowly drew away and our eyes locked. For the briefest of moments, I had a glimpse of the young woman who had given herself to me and whispered the words that scared the living shit out of me.
I love you, Brody.
But the woman standing before me didn’t utter those words, even though I would have given everything to hear them again. Instead, she took a step back.
“Are you sure you want to keep this marriage under wraps?” Mitch asked.
We both nodded, though neither of us said a word.
Mitch sighed. “I won’t ask any questions, but you’d tell me if anything was wrong, right?”
Sutton pulled her gaze away from me, shook her head, and said, “Everything’s fine.”
I fucking hated the words coming out of her mouth. Nothing was fine. It hadn’t been for years, and it was my fault. I was the one who had caused all of her heartache.