“So. Really engaged,” she said, desperate to lighten the mood.
“Looks like.”
“Well, I definitely didn’t expect that when I left the house this morning. I didn’t even catch my cousin’s bouquet.”
“Second thoughts already?” His tone was wry and joking, but there was something else beneath it. Regret? A sense that this whole scenario was too good to be true?
“No.” Realizing she’d sounded less than convincing, she took his hand, waiting until he looked her in the eye to repeat it more firmly. “No.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll understand. It’s a pretty snap decision.”
Piper shook her head. “All of the best decisions in my life have been snap decisions. I’m good with this.”
His eyes searched her face. Evidently he saw whatever he needed to see because he relaxed and leaned back, tucking her into his side. “Okay then. Let’s finish our movie.”
Did he honestly think she’d be able to focus on a movie now? “Don’t we kind of have a lot of details to figure out?”
“Yeah, but they can wait for tomorrow. The countdown will begin soon enough. Tonight, let’s just get used to the idea that we’re about to jump into the deep end of the pool.”
Settling against him and tucking her head against his shoulder, she said, “Okay.” As long as you’re with me to help tread water.
Chapter 4
“Are you sure they shouldn’t at least meet me first?”
From the driver’s seat, Myles glanced over at Piper. “Why on Earth would I subject you to my family before the wedding?”
“Apart from the fact that it’s kinda the way things are done?”
“Since when do you care about tradition on that front?”
“Okay, fair point. But it would add to the legitimacy. If we just show up married, they’re bound to be suspicious. Whereas, if they’ve met me, gotten a chance to see that we’re besotted with each other and know we’re planning to get married, we can play off the elopement as a grand, spontaneous adventure and it’ll be less of a surprise.”
“Besotted?” He shot a glance at her, not sure whether he was offended by the term or not.
“What do you call spending every waking minute we’re not at work either together or on the phone or texting?”
“Strategic planning?” he suggested.
She arched one perfect brow and pursed those kissable lips. “Strategic planning does not involve copious fondling of my ass.”
“Well it should. It’s a very fine ass.”
“So’s yours, as it happens. And yes some of this last week has been planning and filling in the gaps in our knowledge about each other. But mostly we’ve been making up for that lost time in spectacular fashion. And loving every minute of it. Admit it.”
“You got me there.”
Piper grinned at him. “If the shoe fits, sweetheart.” She leaned across the center console to lay a smacking kiss on his cheek.
Her easy affection helped ease something in his chest. Since their engagement—Jesus, he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around that—Myles had worried some that she saw this whole thing as a giant, long-running role. But during the show, he’d learned the difference between when she was acting and when she was being herself. This vivacious, relaxed woman had really hitched her metaphoric wagon to his. He’d been splitting his time between enjoying the hell out of the ride and worrying it would blow up in their faces any minute.
“Fine, I’ll concede besotted. But I’m not bending on the rest. Not only because I don’t want any of the blowback to hit you, but also because my family is one of the ones that does tradition and all that pomp and circumstance you dislike about weddings. If they get wind of
it, my grandmother and mom will take over everything.”
“There’s this little two letter word. You might’ve heard of it. No.”
“You don’t know my grandmother. She’s a force of nature. It’s just simpler all around if we stick to the plan.” He pulled the car into the Wachoxee County Courthouse parking lot. “Okay, if you’re having second thoughts, now’s the time to back out.”