Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
RYAN
“I’m curious. What’s Jo short for?” I asked on our drive to the registry. In a few hours, she would be my wife, so I figured it was time she finally fessed up. I had asked before, and she always changed the subject.
“Ugh,” she groaned. I looked over, and her smile evaporated as she puffed out a frustrated sigh. Her silence hung in the air for so long, I thought she wasn’t going to answer.
“My father really loves my mother.” Jo picked at an invisible string on her dress.
Uncertain of where she was going with that admission, I remained silent.
“And my mother is a huge Dolly Parton fan.”
As the pieces fell into place, I thought, Oh, no wonder she kept her full name under wraps. Although I worked to suppress my laughter, a smile tugged at my lips.
“Don’t you dare!” Jo ordered.
“No one else told her?” I asked because naming your child after the subject of that song had to have repercussions. Jo must have been teased throughout her childhood. We would have to be conscious of that when we selected our child’s name.
“My aunt said she tried, but my mom was determined. Momma insisted the name was beautiful. Who cared if your daughter had to bear the name of a notorious man-stealer?”
“Now, to be fair, Jolene was simply asked not to steal Dolly’s man. There’s no proof she actually did,” I explained, holding back laughter.
“Shut up, Ryan,” she grumbled.
“Ah, come on, Jolene, be nice.”
“Don’t call me that!” she hissed, her voice sharp and cutting, as she turned her body to the side, twisting awkwardly in the cramped space of the truck's front seat.
When I got into the city, I planned to trade the truck in for an SUV. Jo didn’t look very comfortable climbing into the truck.
Silence enveloped the cab, making it feel heavy and awkward. In hindsight, my attempt to break it probably wasn’t the best choice. “Your hair does have a hint of red.”
“It does not! And no one is allowed to call me that. Why did I even tell you?!” Jo adjusted her body so she was facing me.
She was furious, and I realised maybe I had taken the joke too far. “You hate the name that much?”
“Yes, when I was eighteen, I went to city hall and legally had it changed to Jo. It took forever to live down the name Jolene, and having people sing that stupid song when I entered the room.”
“Kids can be cruel.”
“That’s just it; it was mostly grown folks.”
The last thing I wanted was for her to be in a sour mood before we got married. I tried to change the subject to put her in a better mood. “Have you thought about baby names?”
“Not really. I figured I’d start once we find out the sex of the baby.”
“It’s going to be a girl.” I couldn’t explain how I knew; it was an unshakable certainty, a gut feeling that had been with me for a while. I had mentioned it to her before, but she dismissed it, not taking my intuition seriously.
“You don’t know that. Besides, we’ll find out in a couple of weeks.”
The time at the registry went faster than I thought it would. It only took all of thirty minutes to receive our marriage license. Then we located an authorised officiant who agreed to perform the ceremony in the city park. They weren’t available until one o’clock.
I tried to convince her we should have lunch before the ceremony, but she hesitated, her voice trembling slightly.
“I couldn’t possibly eat before…” she said, her words trailing off as she glanced away.
“…you know, we exchange vows. I promise I’ll eat after.
” Her eyes held a mix of nervousness and anticipation, as if the weight of the moment was already settling in.
The only reason I let it go was because I knew she had had a full breakfast. I made it myself and insisted she eat before we headed off.
Jo was pensive as we waited in a café across the street from the park. I left her alone with her thoughts. Her face was fuller and more radiant, a testament to the life growing inside her, and each change only made her more beautiful.
I marvelled at the transformation, savouring every new curve and glow, and eagerly awaited the future changes that awaited us.
It had been a challenge keeping my hands to myself over the last few weeks when all I wanted to do was explore each curve.
The task was made more difficult because my mind flashed with memories of our time together.
I missed how our bodies joined so perfectly.
The feeling of her skin under my fingertips was irresistible, soft and inviting like the finest silk.
I remembered how she would arch her back slightly, an undeniable invitation as I stroked into her tight warmth, her body welcoming and responsive.
I missed touching her, but I had made a vow to myself not to claim her body again until I had made up for disappearing on her. Now that I had secured our future, I was eager to remind her what we were like together. After the ceremony, we would have a talk, so we could move forward.
“Everything will work out,” I assured her, patting her hand.
Jo quickly withdrew her hand, her expression unreadable, yet a subtle tension lingered in her posture, hinting at her unease.
“Sorry.” She looked at my hand and placed hers over it. “I was lost in my thoughts. I’m fine, and I know everything will be okay. We should head over to the park. We don’t want to keep the officiant waiting.”
An hour later, we slipped plain thin gold bands on each other’s fingers.
I had an engagement ring with a matching band, but I knew Jo wasn’t ready for it.
If I had suggested it, we wouldn’t have exchanged vows in front of the two witnesses provided by the officiant because Jo would have bolted.
Instead, it took only ten minutes for us to be declared married.
The moment the officiant said, “You may seal your marriage with a kiss,” I was overwhelmed by the weight of nearly five months without her touch.
It was as if every unspoken word, every missed opportunity, and every longing I’d felt had culminated in that single act.
I didn’t hold back as I cupped her nape and pulled her close, our lips meeting in a kiss that felt like both a beginning and a resolution.
Jo kissed me back; her grip on my shirt was tight. Her lips were soft, yet urgent, as if she too had been waiting for this moment. The kiss deepened, and for a fleeting second, the world around us faded.
The officiant’s throat-clearing broke the spell, and we both pulled apart, becoming acutely aware of being in the gazebo in the middle of the park.
On lookers, were staring at us. Jo pressed a hand to her cheek, then buried her face in my shirt.
I couldn’t care less what anyone thought of our display of affection.
No, I was too busy grappling with the realisation that the kiss wasn’t just a resolution—it was a promise of everything yet to come.
“You two make a beautiful couple,” one witness commented as we were all getting ready to part ways. “Would you like us to take some photos?”
While Jo hesitated, I quickly took them up on the offer. The suggestion was welcomed, somehow between the two of us, we hadn’t thought of memorializing our wedding day. She used Jo’s phone to capture images of my new wife and me.
We stood in front of a blooming garden, and I gently wrapped my arms around Jo from behind, pulling her close.
Jo leaned back against me, her hands resting softly on mine as we both smiled brightly at the camera.
Our poses felt natural and intimate. One day, when we looked at the photos and our temporary arrangement that began our marriage was a distant memory, the photos would bear witness to the fact that we had made the right choice.
We hadn’t realized how much of the day getting married would take up, so we decided to spend the night rather than drive back to Willowridge.
Jo wanted to check into our room at the Lancaster and freshen up before she ate lunch. It was already late, and I didn’t care for the idea at all. I couldn’t have my pregnant wife walking around on an empty stomach. My job was to look after our baby. I took that responsibility seriously.
I could go for hours without eating. Most times, after having a hearty breakfast, I wouldn’t eat again until my day was done.
Rounding up cattle or mending fences required my full attention and left little time for breaks.
The vast landscape and the constant movement of the herd meant there was always something demanding my focus.
With so many tasks at hand, there was little time to think about food.
I wasn’t hungry, but I still used it as motivation to get Jo to eat.
“Are you trying to starve me?” I asked, appealing to her nurturing side.
“No, of course not. Let’s go get you something to eat.”
I chuckled inwardly because her words mirrored my thoughts exactly.
Jo wasn’t ready for anything too big or fancy. Now, I’m not overly sentimental, but I was hoping our first meal together would be a little more festive, something more than chicken salad on a kaiser roll and a bowl of Three Sisters soup.
Seeing Jo so content after her first bite brought unexpected warmth to my heart.
The simplicity of the meal suddenly seemed fitting, and I appreciated the moment more than I had expected.
It was the shared experience, not the fanciness of the meal, that made it special.
On any other day, I would be more than content with a simple, so it wasn’t a bad meal to start off our lives together.
Besides, by the time she took her last bite, an idea had formed. We would have a celebratory meal another time… soon. For today, lunch was perfect.
Although we had discussed it before the wedding, it still stung to see Jo remove the wedding band and place it in a small jewellery tin. She looked up and caught me staring at it.
“This entire thing is so unorthodox.” She frowned. Her big brown eyes, usually so full of certainty, now seemed clouded with concern.
Seeing her unhappy made my heart sink. I didn’t want my reactions to make her upset, and it reminded me how much I cared about her well-being. It was just a ring, and as far as I was concerned, her putting away her ring was temporary.
“It doesn’t matter if our marriage is unorthodox as long as we make it work for us.”
“And you really think we can make it work for us?” Her voice sounded unsure but somehow hopeful.
“Yes, of course…” I closed the space between us. “…otherwise, I wouldn’t have suggested it. This is best for me, you, and our baby.”
My hand cupped her rounded belly. A feeling of possessiveness washed over me. A smile spread across my face.
“You know, we still have more to do to make our marriage legal.”
“The officiant will file the paperwork with the registry,” Jo explained.
“Yes. She will take care of that part of things. But we still have to do our part.”
Her brows furrowed. “Which part?”
I grinned at her. “We need to consummate our marriage.”
Jo gave a sharp bark of laughter. “Oh, really.” She placed her hand right beside mine on her belly. “I don’t think anyone would challenge the idea of our marriage being consummated.”
“They might, because you were already pregnant when we got married. Besides, we should follow the letter of the law.”
“I did not know you were such a law-abiding citizen.”
“I am.” I nodded.
“So, Mr. Kay, did you do all of this so you could get me back into bed?” Her smile was cheeky.
“You know better than that, Sunshine. Although I see no reason we shouldn’t enjoy each other.” And because it bore repeating, “Especially since we are the only ones allowed to touch each other.”
Jo sighed dramatically. “Well, I am an officer of the court. I shouldn’t entertain suborning perjury.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. Cupping her face, I kissed along her jawline. My lips traced a path down her neck, savouring the warmth of her skin. I moved my hand from her belly to cup her breast. She moaned as my thumb rubbed circles on her hardened nipple.
The barrier separating my touch from the warmth of her skin was all I wanted to erase. “I’m going to get you out of this dress.”
Stepping back, I lifted the hem of Jo’s dress, my hands trembling slightly with anticipation.
The soft fabric slid through my fingers as I pulled it up, revealing her skin inch by inch.
When the dress reached her shoulders, I paused, my breath catching at the sight of her.
Then, with a gentle tug, I guided the dress over her head, letting it fall to the floor in a quiet rustle.
Seeing Jo in just her panties and bra after five months was a revelation; her body had transformed in beautiful ways.
Her already full figure had become even more voluptuous, with gentle curves that told the story of new life growing within her.
There was a glow about her, a radiant warmth that seemed to emanate from her very being, leaving me in awe.
I could only imagine how intense I must have looked, taking in her body like that. My gaze lingered, drinking in every detail as though trying to memorise the sight of her.
Jo misinterpreted my silence. Her explanation came softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “I haven’t ordered anything nice in my new size. I’m sure they must have them, but—”
“Hey,” I called softly, cutting her off. There was nothing unappealing about the plain beige cotton set.
“Huh?”
“You look…” My greedy eyes swept over her body again, taking in the beautiful recent changes. This was what carrying my baby was doing to her body. A sense of pride surged through me.
When my eyes met hers, she seemed to sense the storm of emotions brewing within me. She whispered softly, her voice barely a breath, “Oh.”
“Yeah, Sunshine,” I murmured, my gaze lingering on her. “You look good enough to devour.”