After going over a few other minor details, Rex left the room for a few minutes, and Gus shifted to face her. “So, you’re happy with everything in the agreement?”
She let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not happy with any of this.”
“But I thought we ironed everything out how you wanted it. I thought—”
“I mean, I’m not happy that I’m about to agree to this insanity.”
I won’t be bought. Her own words echoed in her mind and made her feel like a total sellout.
He reached over and lay his hand on hers, giving it a squeeze. “You won’t be sorry. I’ll make this the best year of your life.” He leaned closer, his fresh, ocean-y scent overtaking her. “Heck, you might like being married to me so much, you won’t want to leave when the year’s up.”
She slid her hand out from under his. “Oh, I’ll leave. You can count on that.”
NINE
Gus stood in front of the bathroom mirror at the courthouse with his hair combed back and face clean-shaven. He brushed a piece of lint from the shoulder of his best Tom Ford suit then looked at his reflection.
This was happening. He was marrying a complete stranger. This was crazier than Sebastian pretending not to be a Schultz when he first met Genevieve. That charade had turned out just fine for his brother, so why wouldn’t his plan work as well?
The door to the bathroom opened and in snuck Adelia.
“This is the men’s room,” he said as he turned toward her.
She lay her palm over her heart. “You look so handsome.”
He stepped closer. “Are you going to cry?”
“No.” Her chin quivered a little as she blew out a breath.
“This isn’t a real marriage, Deals.”
“I know, but it’s still your wedding. I always get teary at weddings.”
He hugged her. “Thanks for doing this.”
She nodded as she straightened his tie.
Adelia hadn’t exactly been on board like Gus had thought she would. In fact, she’d had some pretty compelling arguments as to why this wasn’t a good idea—lying to his family being the biggest. But in the end, she had agreed to help them.
“We should get out there. Your bride is waiting.”
The moment those words left her mouth, his chest tightened. My bride?
As they walked along the hallway, a surge of panic shot through his body, and his forehead broke out in a sweat as the reality sank in. They were about to get married. Were they insane for doing this? He looked down the hallway toward the exit. It wasn’t too late. He could still back out.
But then he turned and caught sight of Merritt. She was wearing a simple cream-colored lace dress that fell just below her knees. Her hair was twisted loosely at the nape of her neck with a white flower tucked in the middle, and in her hands was a small bouquet of the same flowers. Her eyes met his, and his heart stuttered in his chest. She was breathtaking. And suddenly his nerves calmed and he was ready to marry this girl. Even if it wasn’t real.
At that moment, he half-wished that it was.
He shook off the thought and stopped a couple of feet from her. “You look beautiful.”
She gave him a shy grin and a once over. “Thanks, you clean up nice too.”
It might have been the first nice thing either of them had ever said to each other.
They made their way into the courtroom where another couple was finishing up with the Justice of the Peace.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The nerves were back. Kiss the bride? The thought of kissing her sent a thrill through him, but he knew it was just for show. He glanced over at Merritt, who was now at his side, and she looked surprisingly calm. Either that or she was a very good actress. He couldn’t believe how his nerves had amped up in the past two minutes.
This was definitely not how he envisioned his wedding, not that he’d really thought about it much. Getting married had never been one of his life goals. But now that they were here, about to face the justice, about to vow to love each other in sickness and in health, things felt strangely real. And he had to keep reminding himself that they weren’t.
“Schultz Wedding,” a woman said as she directed them to the judge’s bench.
“Here we go,” Gus said as he took Merritt’s hand in his.
TEN
The Justice of the Peace was a stout, balding man with glasses and a warm smile. He greeted each of them and their witnesses in front of the judge’s bench, and Merritt felt perfectly fine … until he began the ceremony.
“Augustus and Merritt, today you have chosen to celebrate the beauty of love as you join together in the vows of marriage.”
Merritt’s hand shook involuntarily, and Gus gave it a squeeze. She gripped his hand tightly, needing to hold onto something to combat her sudden nerves.
In her periphery, she saw him glance at her, but she stared straight ahead at the justice. If she looked at Gus, she was certain she would crack and be a mess of tears. So much for trying to appear calm and collected.
Her gaze moved past Gus to Adelia, who was giving her a sympathetic smile. She looked lovely in a navy blue belted-waist sheath dress, perhaps more appropriate for a courtroom appearance than a wedding, but they were in a courthouse. Giovanni was photographing the ceremony for them, while Whitney stood to Adelia’s side, looking as stunning as always in a long pale blue gauzy maxi dress. But rather than pay attention to the ceremony, Whitney was watching Giovanni with moony eyes, like she wished it was the two of them getting married instead. At this moment, Merritt wished the same thing.
The justice then asked them to face each other for the vows. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned to face him. If ever there was a time to back out, this was it.
“Augustus Paul Schultz, do you take Merritt Elaine Christianson to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”
Gus looked into her eyes. “I do.” He looked calm and certain of his answer.
She felt anything but, though the surety in his words had taken her fear down a notch.
He gave her a reassuring smile, and she gave a weak smile in return as the justice addressed her.
“Merritt, do you take Augustus to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”
Her chest rose then fell as she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her eyes flickered to his for an instant before staring at his tie. “I do,” she finally said.
“The wedding ring is a symbol of unity, a circle unbroken, no beginning and no end. The exchange of these rings today is a demonstration of your unity as a couple, your love whole and unbroken, and a love without end.”
The lump in her throat was back again.
“Augustus, please place the ring on Merritt’s finger and repeat after me.”
Adelia handed him the ring, and he took hold of Merritt’s hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. As she glanced down, she couldn’t help but think that it looked good there.
Gus repeated after the justice. “This ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness.”