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“Colton J. Lawe, with an E at the end.” She still remembered that from his license…how pathetic was that?
The woman paused in her typing. “And the J?”
“Spell it out,” Colton’s deep voice instructed from the doorway. “Same as hers.”
Kendra swung around in surprise
. Wow. He looked great in a black suit and crisp white dress shirt. No tie, but somehow it made the outfit classier. A classy Colton—definitely not what she’d expected.
She couldn’t look away as he approached the counter, not until the secretary cleared her throat and asked them to sign the application.
Moments later, Michael came in from parking the car. “Oh, good, he’s here. How’s the paperwork coming along?”
Colton made a noise and Kendra slid her gaze sideways without turning her head. She saw him take a controlled breath as a muscle ticked along his jaw. He was still pissed, something she didn’t understand. Casual Colton had nothing to be angry about—“Marriage doesn’t figure into my plans. Ever.”
Yeah, well, you could’ve said no. Besides, he was making out pretty well for a marriage in name only. It wasn’t like she’d demand he fulfill the role of husband and give her a happily ever after—no matter how much she wanted one.
“Almost done,” she finally told Michael. He nodded before heading out toward the courtroom.
With the license in hand, Colton held the door for her a few minutes later. Kendra risked another glance and nervously commented, “You look nice.”
He inclined his head, guiding her through the doorway with a hand on the small of her back. The warmth of his touch through the silk of her dress sent a frisson of awareness racing along her nerve endings. Shocked by the intensity of it, multiplied by intimate memories of last night, she stiffened, unconsciously pulling away in the process. His hand dropped to his side and his expression hardened even more.
“Appropriate color you’ve chosen.”
She glanced down. It’d taken her over an hour to find just the right dress. Simple but elegant, the scoop neckline hinted at cleavage without being improper. The silk fabric outlined her body without being too clingy, and she’d fallen in love with the light rum color the moment she’d seen it.
When she looked back up, he added, “Given the events of last night, white would’ve been hypocritical.”
Even though she flushed at his reminder, anger was her first reaction to his vindictive remark. But when she would’ve challenged his conduct, she realized she had no defense. Well, none she would voice, anyway. Because, besides the reason he thought she’d slept with him, the only other one to justify her actions was that she loved him.
She’d sure made a hell of a mess of things.
He opened the courtroom door and gallantly motioned for her to go first. His chivalrous action, however, was negated by the twist of his lips. He thought he knew the reason for her lack of response and mocked her for it. If only he really knew.
The room was empty save for Michael and a court reporter. They all sat, Colton choosing to take a seat in the row behind her.
She fought to keep her emotions at bay and wished for the umpteenth time that the trust fund didn’t exist. The money wasn’t worth the trouble she’d had to endure so far, not to mention what Noah had been through. But if she didn’t marry, Robert not only retained control of all the money, Noah’s full custody remained in his evil hands. She’d tried to explain that to Colton, but getting past his anger had been impossible.
She wanted to marry him more than anything, but not like this. God—if it weren’t for Noah, she’d hand the damn money to Robert herself!
An upward tilt of her head helped her blink away threatening tears. She thought of how she’d become a completely different person through all this. Two or three months ago, giving Robert all her money would never have crossed her mind. Besides the fact that she didn’t like her half-brother, the idea of letting that amount of money slip through her fingers was insane.
But she’d learned at the ranch that she could do what needed to be done and discovered a strength she hadn’t realized she possessed. Now she knew she could handle whatever came her way. What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger. She held back a choked, bitter laugh. If that meant marrying a man who despised her, and living with the heartbreak to keep her young brother and his future out of Robert’s murdering hands, then so be it.
She stiffened as the door opened and a robed man entered the room. A deep breath helped her stand when the courtroom was instructed to rise, and another one got her to the front of the room when the judge instructed them to approach. Colton’s expression was grim as he presented the license. After a brief perusal of the document, the judge began the ceremony.
Kendra followed his instructions in a daze…until it came time to exchange rings. Her gaze bounced from the judge, to Colton, then Michael. She hadn’t thought about rings. Were they necessary to finish the ceremony?
“Take her hand and repeat after me,” the judge intoned.
Apparently not. Colton stretched out his hand for hers. The moment she fit her fingers into his calloused palm, a jolt shot up her arm. Instinctively, she jerked, but his grip tightened, drawing her gaze.
His expression hadn’t softened, but his eyes were a vibrant green. They held her mesmerized as he spoke.
“I, Colton Jay Lawe, take you, Kendra Kay Zelner, to be my lawfully wedded wife…”
She felt his strong, sure fingers manipulate hers a second before the glide of smooth metal over her left ring finger knuckle registered. Her hand shook. She swallowed hard and dropped her gaze to see a simple diamond, flanked by small garnets on either side. It wasn’t big or flashy, and it didn’t scream money, but it was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.
