“Done, of course.” She knew that one was a long shot. The lack of disappointment on her face told me as much.
“We need witnesses,” she offered with even less enthusiasm.
“Shall I call Emma and James?” I cupped my hands around my mouth like I was going to shout up the stairs.
“He's not still up there, is he?”
I shrugged. James had effectively set up camp outside Emma's room, waiting for her to come out.
She glared at me with blatant suspicion. “Do the two of them know about this?”
“James does, Emma does not. If you want either of them there, you will have to invite her since he refuses to leave her alone,” my voice sounded indulgent even to my ears. I found James' continued absence extremely irritating, but I appreciated his devotion to winning Emma back.
“This is an awful time, Mason.” Her brown eyes dropped to the tan couch, watching her finger pick at the linen.
I grabbed that hand, stopping her nervous picking and forcing her to look at me. “City Hall and the library are closed. Both places are under comprehensive surveillance. I have men following several leads, and right now, there's nothing I can do beyond fucking you until you relax and marrying you tomorrow.”
Her pretty lips parted in shock and interest, but she shook the heat out of her expression. “Mason, it's not a good time.”
I held up my hands, “Just humor me, okay?” She stared back but said nothing. “I love you. My heart beats for you.”
“I love you too,” she answered breathlessly.
“There are a lot of people who want me dead or want to use me in a way that would make death preferable. The fact that no one has put a bullet in my head when I walk down the street lends to that theory.” She opened her mouth to argue, and I covered her lips with my hand. “I know it's scary, and you don't want to hear it because it's true. I could die, Claire, and if I did, I never would have lived to be your husband. I can't risk that.”
“I,” tears sprang into her eyes, “I want to be your wife, but I want a beautiful wedding. I want it to be special. I don’t want to be married in a courthouse.”
I would have laughed if it wasn't for her tears. “Tomorrow is New Year's Day. The courthouse is closed.”
She sniffled, “Don't tease me. This isn't funny.”
“Baby, what did I promise you?” I slid closer to her on the couch, pressing my body against hers.
“I don’t know.”
I gripped her chin in my hand and turned her gaze to mine. “When did I say I was going to marry you?”
Her brows puckered as she thought about it. “As soon as you could give me the wedding I deserve.”
I nodded in approval, “Did you think I meant an ugly, meaningless wedding?”
“I'm not sure what you meant, Mason. The whole thing was a little overwhelming, and you didn't give me much of a choice.”
“You wanted to leave me, Claire. Overwhelming isn't a word I would use to describe my feelings.” She tried to look down, but I tipped her chin until she would look at me. “You have nothing to worry aboutifthat's the reason you're afraid to marry me. If it's because you've changed your mind, that's another issue.”
She looked at her feet, “I’m not afraid to marry you, and I haven’t changed my mind. Do you promise it will be beautiful?” She peeked up then, her chocolate brown eyes looking especially sweet.
“I thought you told me not to promise you anything?” I ran my thumb along her lower lip.
She melted into my touch, “Well, I guess if I’m going to marry you, I’m going to have to let that go.”
“I promise you that our wedding will be beautiful.”
She smiled, “Okay, I'll marry you tomorrow. It's fucking insane, but everything about us is, I guess.”
I pulled her lips against mine and kissed her until we were both panting and delirious.
“I think it’s time for me to make good on my promise to help you relax.”