Chapter 11: Chapter 12

Ten dollars plus a few muttered words later, and Sloane and I would be husband and wife.

“Please join hands.” The district court judge smiled and gestured for us to face each other. Sylvie and Bug silently stood behind us.

I shifted in my shoes as I took Sloane’s delicate hands in mine. Her eyes were a riot of greens and browns, melting into an intoxicating combination of hues. She stared into me, her gaze unwavering and unafraid.

Inside, I was a fucking mess.

Was I ruining her life?

Are we making the right choice?

How am I ever going to let her go?

“We are gathered here in the presence of these witnesses to join Sloane Robinson and Abel King together in matrimony. The contract of marriage is a most solemn one, and one not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. If anyone can show just cause why this couple should not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

I glanced at my sister and aunt, who only offered supportive half smiles.

The judge continued. “Do you, Sloane, take Abel to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

My heart tripped when she smiled brightly and without hesitation.

“I do,” she said.

“And do you, Abel, take Sloane to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

I cleared my throat. “I do.”

The judge smiled and asked, “Are there rings?”

Sloane laughed and held up her hand, flashing my mother’s ring to the judge.

The judge nodded. “Very well. Abel, please repeat after me. ‘I, Abel, take you, Sloane, for my lawful spouse, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. With this ring, I thee wed.’”

My hands clasped hers and I repeated the words, never looking away from Sloane’s beautiful eyes.

The judge instructed Sloane to repeat the same, minus the ring part. To my shock, she did it all with a bright smile.

“By the power and authority vested in me by the State of Michigan and as the district court judge for Remington County, Michigan, I now pronounce you lawfully married.” She gestured between us and took a single step back. “You may now kiss your bride.”

The room tilted. I had known this moment was coming. I’d craved it even. Without hesitation, I stepped forward, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into me as I lowered my mouth to hers.

Seconds dragged on as I was overwhelmed and intoxicated by her. Sloane melted into me, accepting my kiss with soft lips as her arms wound around my waist. I cupped the side of her face and let my fingers thread into her soft brown hair.

My heartbeat throbbed in my skull as I savored her plush, full lips. Her perfume surrounded me and threatened to pull me under completely.

Bug gently cleared her throat, snapping me back to reality, and I immediately broke the connection, stepping back and blinking down at my wife.

Her face was flushed with a mixture of desire and slight embarrassment. She glanced at my sister, whose wide eyes spoke volumes as to the lack of appropriateness of that kiss.

“Congratulations, you two.” The judge offered a simple shake of our hands, and we shuffled out of her small office.

Back in the waiting room, I looked at my aunt. She smiled at me, patted the side of my face, and sighed. “I’ve got to get back to the library, but thank you for allowing me to be here.”

My lashes lowered. “Thank you for coming on short notice.”

Her hand gripped mine and she nodded.

“Hey, Bug?” Sloane called out. “Tillie and Ben are at camp at the library. Could you pop in and see that they’re okay?”

She offered a kind smile. “I can do that.”

“I’ll walk out with you,” Sylvie called to Bug. My sister wrapped me in an awkward hug. She shook her head and smiled at me before shaking my shoulders. “What am I going to do with you?” Her playful tone helped to unfurl the knot of dread in my gut.

I watched the twosome leave as Sloane stepped up beside me and leaned her head on the side of my arm. I stiffened at the subtle, carefree gesture. “Wow. We actually did it.”

I looked down at her. “We sure did.”

Sloane sighed. “Well, I should get going. I have work today, and my boss is a real pain in the ass.” She shot me a pointed look over her shoulder as she took a step toward the door. I forced myself to not look at how her ass filled out those tight black jeans.

“I think if you asked him, he’d give you the day off. I mean . . . since it’s your wedding day and all.” A tiny spark that our playful banter remained intact warmed my chest.

Her face scrunched. “I don’t know. He’s a real grouch. He’ll probably dock my pay.”

“Go home, Sloane,” I demanded. “Pack your shit. You and the kids are moving in.”

I didn’t miss the sly smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth. I also didn’t miss the way my cock enjoyed the flirty bat of her lashes.

“Yes, boss.” She offered a playful salute. “I’m going to tell the kids this afternoon and break the news to Granddad. We’ll be at your place around dinnertime, if that’s okay?”

I nodded and stuffed my hands in my pockets.

Tonight couldn’t come soon enough.

“Whoa! Are you freaking kidding me?” Ben’s voice echoed from the end of the hallway when he opened the bedroom door.

“Benjamin. Language,” Sloane admonished. She sheepishly glanced my way and mouthed, I’m sorry.

I shook my head to let her know it was fine. After following her down the hall, I stood in the doorway to Ben’s new room. The space was painted a soft green. It was open and bright. A large window provided a view to the side yard, and there was more than enough for the bed, dresser, and room in the middle for Ben to spread out with his belongings. It was a far cry from the cramped quarters of the cabin.

His butt bounced on the bed. “This is all mine?”

Sloane smiled. “Mr. King is letting us stay here for a while. Isn’t that kind of him?”

Ben flopped on the bed. “It’s amazing!”

Sloane reached out to pat Ben’s knee. “What do we say?”

Ben sat up and smiled. “Thanks, Mr. King.”

I crossed my arms. “Abel. Just . . . call me Abel.”

“Mom! You have to see my room!” Tillie burst past me and into Ben’s room. She grabbed Sloane’s hand and tugged her past me and out the door.

Sloane laughed. “I’ve seen it. Isn’t it nice?”

I followed as Tillie stood by the bedroom window that faced the backyard. “The yard is so big. I can see the garden and the open grass and the trees, and there was a little squirrel that ran right up that tree!”

Her excitement was infectious. I assumed it would be strange and uncomfortable having Sloane and her two kids move in with me, but in the few minutes they were there, I found the noise and chaos a welcome break from the unrelenting voice in my head.

A soft thud against my leg jolted me back to reality. Tillie had slammed into me, hugging me tightly. “Thank you so much.”

I awkwardly patted her back. “You bet, kid.”

She giggled and flounced back into her new room to unpack. Sloane exited, and I followed her to the kitchen like an obedient dog. “They love it, Abel. Thank you.”

My throat was dry and tight, so I only nodded. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Sloane stopped and stared up at me. Her eyebrows pitched down as her face scrunched. “My room?” When realization dawned on her, she shook her head. “No, no, no. I’ve got the couch. It’s more than fine. I promise.”

I shook my head, ignoring her ridiculousness, and headed to the primary bedroom. I wrenched open the door but stayed in the hallway. “My clothes are still in here, but the room is yours. You’re not sleeping on the couch.”

Sloane hesitated, but I knew she was tempted. Her eyes lingered on the king-size bed, and she’d already had a peek at the en suite bathroom. “I don’t know, Abel. I⁠—”

“It’s done. I’ve got the couch.” Hoping to divert the conversation, I headed toward the kitchen and was surprised when she stopped in front of the hallway bathroom.

She pointed into the room and looked at me. “You keep your shower curtains closed?”

My brows scrunched. “Yes . . . ?” I didn’t know what she was getting at.

Sloane smiled. “That’s perfect.” She moved toward me, walking past and heading toward the living room. “My ex and I used to fight over shower curtains and closet doors.” She laughed in dismissal, but my gut coiled. “Well, not really fight, I guess. He’d open them all up, and I would quietly close them when he wasn’t around. He used to say he liked them open because you never knew who was hiding behind one. I thought he was just being paranoid and nitpicking me. We waged a silent war over the shower curtains and closet doors. It’s the silliest thing, but it irked me so bad.” I watched as she dismissed her own feelings so easily.

I shrugged. “You can keep the shower curtain however you want it.”

Her beaming smile stopped me in my tracks. After staring too long, I finally asked, “So how did Bax take the news?”

Sloane sighed and hiked herself onto the kitchen island. “Granddad is solitary by nature. I think maybe it’s because his wife died so long ago. He all but shuffled us out the door.”

My forehead creased. “He wasn’t worried about . . .” I gestured inarticulately at myself. “You know.”

Sloane braced her hands on either side of her legs and tilted her head. “You mean about my new husband?”

Her eyes flicked over my shoulder toward the hallway. She still hadn’t told the kids we were married, but I suspected her grandfather knew the truth. At least, most of it anyway.

When I stayed planted on the floor, she continued, “He claims he saw our connection months ago.” Sloane laughed and made air quotes, and a knot tightened in my chest.

I had started to dismiss her grandfather’s implication when her phone rang. “Speak of the devil.” Sloane hopped off the island. “Hey, Granddad, what’s up?”

She looked at me and frowned. “Um . . . I don’t know about anyone installing a security system. Hang on, let me ask him.”

Her eyebrows popped up, and she shot me a pointed stare.

I stuffed my hands into my pockets and shrugged. “It’s for his safety.”

She shook her head and smiled. “Yeah, it’s okay. We just wanted to be sure you’re safe out there all alone.” I could hear the old man arguing with her through the phone. “I know, I know. I’m sure it won’t take long and they’ll be out of your hair. Just . . . be nice, okay?” She laughed at something he said before hanging up.

I swallowed hard when her mossy eyes shifted my way. “You arranged to have a security system put in at the cabin?”

I shrugged it off. The hopeful, wide-eyed look she was giving me was making me uncomfortable. “It’s fine. I knew you were worried about him being there alone. Plus, if your ex does try something, it’ll be on camera.”

Worry overtook her face as her eyes flicked back toward the hallway. “Do you think he will?”

I shook my head. “Only if he’s reckless or stupid.”

I knew Sloane was worried, but until the police could locate her ex, a security system was the best we could do . . . at least for now. I hadn’t told them about Sloane and me getting married yet, but I did rally my brothers and ask them to be on the lookout for Jared too.

This is our goddamn town, and no one was going to come here and scare my wife when—shit.

I scraped the heel of my hand across my chest. Thoughts like that had been popping into my head all damn day. Sure, Sloane was legally my wife, but somehow my subconscious didn’t get the message that it was strictly business.

I needed space to think. “Are you hungry? I could cook or pick something up?”

Sloane didn’t mention or pay any mind to my total one-eighty in conversation topics. “I’m spent after today. Maybe we can grab takeout or something?” She tossed a thumb in the direction of the hallway. “I’ve got one that will try anything at all and another that thinks plain white rice is a delicacy.”

I offered a flat-lipped laugh to acknowledge her, though I didn’t really know a damn thing about kids or picky eating habits. All I knew was that my own upbringing was a far cry from healthy and stable. Dad had employed a full-time chef until we hit our teens, and then we were pretty much on our own. “How about Uncle Mao’s in Pullman? I can run out and grab it . . . let you three get settled in here.”

Sloane paused, looking at me like she was about to say something, maybe about me offering to drive somewhere. Instead, she only smiled softly. “That’s perfect. Anything is fine. And . . . thank you.”

I nodded, swiped my keys off the counter and hurried out the door before my mind could think of anything else—like how I had kissed her before and how badly I wanted to do it again.