The clerk, whose name plate read Dotty, took the cash and did whatever recording needed doing before handing the license over in an envelope. “You’re all set. When’s the happy day?”
“Oh, we haven’t quiet set the date yet.” Piper grinned. “We’re eloping.”
Dotty beamed. “Congratulations and best of luck to both of you.”
They thanked her and stepped out into the hall.
“Well, that feels all official,” he said.
“Are you having second thoughts?” she asked, one brow lifted.
Myles tucked her hand in his arm and smiled. “Not a one.”
He made it all of two steps before someone stepped out of the tax assessor’s office into their path.
“Oh excuse me,” the woman said, turning toward them.
“That’s quite al—” He trailed off as recognition hit him. Oh please don’t—
“Why, Myles Stewart! I’d heard you were back in Mississippi after all these years. How’s your grandmother doing?”
“She’s just fine, Mrs. Healy.” Escape, escape. Must escape.
“I saw that feature Mississippi Magazine did on her gardens. They’re as lovely as ever.”
“Yes ma’am.” Myles wracked his brain for some kind of polite exit strategy before she started asking more questions.
The older women turned inquisitive eyes on Piper. “And who’s this lovely young thing?”
Too late.
Before he could think of a reply, Piper offered her hand with a friendly smile. “Piper Parish. It’s lovely to meet you Mrs. Healy. I’m so sorry to meet and dash, but I’m late getting back to work and Myles is being kind enough to drop me off.”
She towed him, politely but firmly, down the hall, even as he called back, “Good to see you, Mrs. Healy. My best to Mr.
Healy.”
Neither of them spoke again until they were in the car.
“‘It’ll be fine,’ you said. ‘Who will we run into?’ you said.” Piper shot a glance back toward the courthouse. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“No. They were friends of my grandparents forever ago. They moved from Madison around the time I left for college, and I don’t think she and my grandmother have been in touch since.”
“And yet she’d heard you were back in Mississippi.”
“That’s probably because of the feature article about it in Something Southern.”
“Something Southern did an article on you?”
“Despite my black sheep status in my own family, the rest of society seems to think I’m an eligible bachelor.”
“Were,” she corrected.
He liked the possessive gleam in her eye. “Were, indeed. Let’s get you back to work.”
~*~
“That’s the eighth victim of this particular brand of cold in the last two days. I think we’d better get ready for a streak.” Dr. Miranda Campbell scooped a hand through her thick blonde hair.