Page 29 of Cautious Love

I slide the ring over her finger and she disappears down the hall.

I get dinner cleaned up and wait by the door.

When she walks out of her room, my heart flips before I can stop it. She’s wearing a white sundress with lace around the edges, and her hair down, with a gold necklace around her neck.

“You look nice.”

“Is this bridal enough for you?” she asks.

“It’ll do,” I rasp.

“Awesome, let’s go,” she says, strutting out the door into the garage.

Chapter 9

Ledger

“Anddoyou,LedgerHayes, take Shiloh Sullivan to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the judge asks.

I swallow thickly, a little overwhelmed by how small her hands are in mine.

“I do,” I rasp.

He asks Shiloh, and she’s staring at me, and it’s not hate. At least she’s not mad at me for this. At least we’re on the same page.

“I do,” she says.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

I glance at the judge, and he smiles encouragingly at me. I’ve kissed a woman before, but for some reason I’m more nervous about kissing Shiloh than marrying her.

She smiles softly, and I lean in gently, taking her chin between my finger and thumb, pressing my lips to hers. It’s a brief peck, but it was enough to shake me — rattle me to my core.

We walk out of the courthouse hand in hand.

We don’t say a word. I think we’re both processing the fact that we’re married.

Shiloh is my wife. I’m her husband, and I’m not entirely sure what happened.

By the time we get back, it’s about 10:30 pm and she brushes past me to her room. A few minutes later I’m still standing there, not sure what to do next. She’s changed into cut-off shorts and a black tank top.

“I’m going to work,” she says, gathering her hair into a ponytail. Her ring catches my attention, reflecting in the light.

We’re married.

“Okay,” I mumble.

“Just so you know, I probably won’t be back until one or two in the morning. I don’t want you to think someone is breaking into the house and you shoot me.”

I lick my lips, concealing my smile. “Okay, not a problem. Thanks for letting me know.”

She hums and I glance at her, but our eyes hold together. Her cheeks turn pink, and I pull myself away to dig a key to the house out of the drawer and place it on the counter.

“My wife should probably have a key to her house.”

Her cheeks puff. “Yeah, that’s going to take some getting used to. Thanks,” she says, pocketing the key while our eyes hold together.

“No problem.”