"You wanted to teach me a lesson," she says in a low voice.
"I didn’t mean to hurt you."
"You didn’t. What if I told you what you did took me by surprise… but it was weirdly erotic?"
"I’d say you were lying."
She turns to me. "It pushed me out of my comfort zone."
"That’s putting it lightly."
"It was like Keanu Reeves had suddenly decided to get married."
"Eh?" I glance at her, then back at the road. "You have a way of bringing Keanu Reeves into conversations when I least expect it."
"But it’s always appropriate. Keanu has a gif for every mood." She nods.
"If you say so." I can’t stop my lips from twitching. "Still doesn’t answer my question."
She blows out a breath. "It was unexpected, what you did. And a little scary; I won't lie. My heart was in my mouth, but the danger inherent in these situations seems to turn me on even more."
I shoot her a quick glance, then focus on the road.
"I’m not sorry I did it. I won’t make excuses for my actions, Elsa. That’s the kind of man I am. I live by the gun, will probably die by the gun and—"
"It seems you fuck by the gun, too," she says in a wry tone.
"If you don’t want to marry me, now's the time to back out." I come to a halt in front of the steps to City Hall, turn off the ignition, and turn to her. "I can’t promise it won’t happen again, but I can promise I’ll never hurt you."
"Not physically, at least," she murmurs.
"I’m going to ensure you get full custody of your daughter, so I’ll be taking care of you emotionally, as well," I point out.
She chuckles. "Tell me about it."
"You can still leave."
"And watch as that asshole wins the case in court and takes my daughter from me?" She squeezes her fingers together in front of her.
Something hot stabs at my chest. Why is it that seeing her get upset makes me want to protect her from whatever is causing her pain? In this case, me. Do I have to protect her from myself? I’ve never felt so protective about another person before this. But watching her with her daughter was an eye-opener. Once I saw that, I knew I could never let anything or anyone hurt either of them. And the only way to ensure that is to find a way to tether her to me. It’s the only way I can safeguard her from her ex, and from this world we live in.
"I will never let that happen," I say in a low voice.
She stills, then searches my features. "Somehow, I believe you. It’s why I’m here. Because you are the only one who’s been able to promise me the one thing that’s more important to me than life itself."
You are more important to me than life itself.
I push open the door, then walk around to open hers. She steps out and wobbles a little on the stilettos she’s wearing, before she rights herself. I shut the car door and hold out my arm.
"Shall we?"
Ten minutes later, we're standing in front of the mayor in his office at City Hall.
Adrian and Massimo flank us. I had informed thesestronziabout my plan to get married today for two reasons. First of all, we need two witnesses. Secondly, and more importantly, I needed Massimo’s help in tracking down the mayor and calling in this favor, and I needed Adrian’s help to ensure that City Hall opened for us. Sometimes, family can be useful, apparently.
The mayor himself is a short man with jowls and a stomach that strains his shirt, which he seems to have hurriedly donned, given that his buttons are all done up wrong. He rubs his fingers over his head, displacing the long strands of hair that he’s combed over to hide the balding spot on the top.
"Uh, are we expecting anyone else?" He glances between us.