“She isn’t. She was totally shocked, and then when her father told her the name of her fiancé, she looked like she was going to puke. Can you have someone check into his assistant pastor, Jerald? I’ll get more information from her, but from the way she acted, there’s something slimy about the man she’s supposedly going to marry, and she called him a pervert.”
“On it. I’ve got a suggestion,” Darian said.
“I’ll take it.”
“I’d say marry her as soon as possible, and that way, he has no leg to stand on. I know there’s probably nothing he can do since she’s an adult, but I wouldn’t take the chance. Since he’s her next of kin, he can go through a court and get her charged as mentally incompetent or something.”
Patrick thought about the idea.
“Unless you aren’t ready for that or aren’t sure she’s the one.”
“Oh, she’s the one, and I’m defiantly ready. I’m just a little nervous she’ll say no.”
“Hey, it’s worth a try. If she’s determined to have a wedding, you guys can have one later.”
“Good idea. I’ll talk it over with her.”
“If she says yes, I can get the paperwork run through and have you married by tomorrow late morning.”
Patrick laughed. “Of course, you can.” Darian knew a lot of people in high places and could get about anything done.
“I know a judge who’s an old family friend.”
“Call him and make the arrangements. We can always cancel if she’s totally against it, but I’d like to be ready to go in the morning.”
“I’ll call him right now. Then I’ll call you in the morning with the specifics. We can have Larkin and Brylee there to stand up with her and go out to a restaurant after to celebrate. We’ll make it special.”
“Great. Talk to you tomorrow. Night.”
Patrick made his way up the stairs after making sure the security alarm was on. Even though the bedroom was shrouded in shadows, he was able to see her in the middle of the bed facing him.
He brushed his teeth and shed his clothes. Then he slid into bed beside her and pulled her into his arms.
“Are you sleepy?”
Eve nodded as she trailed her fingertips over his chest. “A bit.”
“I want to ask you…”
She looked up at him with a concerned look on her face at the worried tone of his voice.
“What?”
“I wanted my idea to happen when you were ready, but now I’d like to get you protected in all the ways I can.”
“I’ll do whatever you think is best,” Eve said.
“I want us to get married tomorrow.”
She gasped and levered herself up onto her elbow so she could see his face clearly.
“Married?”
“Yes. We can always have a real wedding down the road if you want, but I want it on paper that you’re my wife, and no one can try to take you from me.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked.
“Absolutely.”