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A small part of me warms.
“I don’t think I even know 500 people,” I say in a whisper.
“We’ll invite people off the street. That’s not the point. The point is, when the time is right, when it’s safe? I’m marrying you in front of God and our family and friends and all the bastards who will be mourning you being off the market.” I fight a smile and lose. He, of course, sees the small tilt of my lips and gives me one of his own.
“You really want that?”
I’ve always wanted that. A small girly part of my belly wants the lavish flowers and the big dress and the huge church. Lola will probably elope. Hell, a municipal building would probably be ideal for her—she could renew her business license at the same time.
But me?
I want that.
“More than fuckin’ anything, Delilah,” he says, eyes burning.
“So why not wait?” He sighs, sitting back on his heels and running his scarred hand over his face.
“Because I need this, Lilah. If I get called in right now, you’re a person of interest. My assistant? A hole-in-fuckin’-one for the DA, the feds. You marry me, you walk out, and they can’t make you testify against your husband. Spousal privilege.” My heart sinks and the hint of a smile falls from my lips.
“So you want to marry me because it’s convenient? To save your ass?” He moves again, grabbing my face firmer this time.
“Fuck no. Lilah, I need to marry you because I need to know you’re mine. That if you wake up one day and it’s too much, you’ll have to work to get rid of me. I’ll have time to change your mind.” A small smile is on his lips and it’s contagious—I feel it growing on mine.
“Why would I want to get rid of you?” His thumb runs along my bottom lip.
“Because I drive you insane,” he says, that smile growing. “Because in our line of work, secrets pile up and eat at you. Calling this pre-marriage insurance.”
“Our line of work?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“Our. You want in, yeah? You wanna rule? You’ll be in deep with me. And when you’re a gorgeous queen ruling your kingdom, I want to have time in case you decide you find some other prince more to your liking.”
It’s a joke but I see it now: the honesty.
He really feels that.
He really needs this.
He’s so fucking vulnerable right now.
And so I nod.
And I let him help me out of the car.
And I let him walk me into the building.
And I become Mrs. Carmine Dante Romano Carluccio.
And I smile the whole way through.
* * *
“Delilah, I wouldn’t trade you for the fucking world. I wouldn’t trade you if someone had a gun to my head. I am not trading you.”
“Then what is this?”
“You were right.”
“About what? I’m right about a lot of things.” He shakes his head, fighting a smile, but it’s gone almost immediately.
