Hot Shot (Hot as Puck Book 2)

36. Branton

“We can get married today?”

“You said you wanted to as soon as possible.”

“I did, I do. I’m just shocked that it can happen that fast.”

“We just need to apply for a license. Once we have that, it can be used any time in the next ninety days.”

“And we can get a license today?”

“Yes. If we hurry. Mom knows someone who works in the municipal offices and can get us in on the quiet this afternoon to apply. Or tomorrow. Up to us.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I thought if we got it today, we could maybe have Landon and Corbin as our witnesses.”

“Who would officiate?”

Grinning, Blake says, “Mom knows someone who can do it.”

“Of course she does.” I look at my watch. It’s just after noon. “Okay, let’s do it.”

“Dad will drive us to get the license and Mom will stay here to get everything else organized so we can have the ceremony before the twins need to leave to go back to New York.”

“Wait. We’re getting married here!”

“Ah, yeah. What did you think I meant?” Concern wrinkles her brow.

“To be honest, I don’t know. That we’d go somewhere maybe.”

“I thought it would be nice to have it somewhere we’ve spent a lot of time together. Down on the pond or on the rink downstairs…”

Slowly my mouth curls into a smile. “In our skates?”

“Fitting for us, don’t you think?”

Pulling her close, I lower my forehead to rest on hers. “You undo me.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“It’s the very best thing.” Dropping a quick kiss on her lips I pull back and grab her hand. “Let’s go. We have a license to get.”

“Hang on. We need our IDs for the application.”

“Anything else?” I ask as I turn, tug her toward my room where our luggage is.

“No. Just two forms of ID.”

“Passport and driver’s license?”

“Yes, those will work.”

I might have cut myself off from the world, but I kept things up to date. Thankfully.

It takes us a few minutes to collect what we need and check everything is valid. I knew mine were and I assumed Blake’s were too, but I want all our i’s dotted and t’s crossed before we leave the house. I want no delays.

“Where’s your dad?”

“Waiting in his office. Mom’s in there making some calls. She wants us to have a nice setup even if we insist on getting married on ice.”

“Like what?” I don’t need any fancy decorations. All I need is to say my vows and hear Blake say hers.

“Flowers I think.” Glancing over my shoulder I see her shrug. “She’ll probably put some sort of carpet on the ice too.”

“She still won’t go on it?”

“No. Slipping while pregnant with the twins really spooked her. As far as I know she hasn’t been on it, with or without skates since.”

“That’s a shame. She was good.”

“She was. Dad still tries to get her out on the pond every Christmas. But she never does, won’t even let him carry her out there.”

“Hmm…”

As long as I’ve known Larissa Watts, she’s never walked on the ice without something laid over it. Cardboard, carpet, plywood sheeting. Doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s not bare ice. And I only know she can skate because of all the home videos Andrew has shown us over the years.

The year Mason signed his first NHL contract, he wanted to commemorate the occasion with photos on the pond. We had to pull a sled with Larissa on it out to the middle because she refused to take part any other way.

“She can do whatever she wants for her to feel okay joining us.”

“You don’t mind having them there? At the ceremony?”

“C’mon. Talk while we walk.” I slip my hand in hers and pull her close. “And just so we’re clear, all I want to do is get married to you. I don’t care who is or isn’t there to watch it happen.”

“Are we going?”

We both turn to find Andrew in the doorway of his office.

“Yes.” “Yes.”

Looking back at Blake, I grin. We’ve been doing that more each day. It seems the longer we spend together, the more in sync we become.

“Then let’s get out of here. Your mom has a list of things as long as my arm she wants me to pick up while you two deal with the paperwork. I’ve also been given strict instructions to drop you off in the underground garage near the staff entrance where Maggie will meet us. She’ll usher you into the building with as little exposure as possible.”

“She thinks we need the secrecy?” I follow Andrew through the house. “Surely there won’t be any reporters waiting around in case they spot someone worth printing about in the media.”

“Now days it isn’t about reporters or photographers getting the scoop. It’s the public with their smart phones and social media. One pic, a few words of where you were spotted, and it’ll be all over the internet before the ink is dry on your license and the place will be swarming with fans and media.”

“Ah, true. I forgot how exposed social media has made everyday life.” I shouldn’t have. It’s how the story of my marriage to Celeste broke. It’s how the news of Laura’s death was revealed to the world.

Blake’s hand squeezes mine. “It’s fine. We’ll keep our jackets and tuques on. Keep our heads down. I’d say we should wear sunglasses but that would be like a red flag to a bull.”

“Definitely no glasses. And after the ceremony you two can choose which pictures you want to share with the world and post them yourselves. Or let me or one of your brothers post.”

“I’ll call Cami when we get back. Get some ideas, put together a plan so we beat them, whoever they are, to the punch.”

“Do you want them here? Cami and Oakley? Nat?” I know we’re rushing. I’m rushing. Except now that we’re here, with my ring on her finger, heading out to get a marriage license, I don’t want to slow down.

“No. We’ll video call with them, Mason and Sutton too. Mom said she’d organize it.”

“As long as you’re okay with doing it, getting married this way.”

“Bran, I just want to get married. It doesn’t matter to me how we do it. I told you, my only request is doing it in Canada.”

Smiling down at her I’m struck by how quickly things have changed. How much I’ve changed. “I can’t believe I get to call you wife by the end of the day.”

“Believe it.”

Andrew’s phone beeps, drawing our attention. Looking at it he scowls. “Damn woman. Can’t I at least get out of the house before you give me more things to do?” he grumbles while tapping on the screen.

“Is that Mom?” Blake grins, obviously knowing the answer.

“Yes. I have another list of things to get.” Glancing up he says, “You two be okay if I leave you at the municipal offices while I go pick up everything your mom thinks we need?”

“Of course.”

“You should be fine. It’ll take a bit to get the paperwork filled out and approved, although Maggie said she’ll put a rush on it, walk it through the process to make sure it doesn’t sit waiting on anyone’s desk.” He looks at his phone again. “It should only take me an hour or so to get everything on Mom’s list.”

“All right. Let’s get going. The quicker we get there, the quicker we get back.” Blake leads the way to the attached garage, her hand gripping mine tight, not that I’m letting go or going anywhere she isn’t.

Andrew slaps my shoulder. “Best learn to follow the wife. Smartest thing you’ll ever do.”

“I would think the smartest thing is convincing her to be my wife in the first place.”