Chapter 6
MARCUS
Today was a day for the record books.
Not only did he call his father and explain what was happening, but the laughter that ensued was a little unsettling.
The last thing he needed to hear was ‘Your mother is gonna love this’ followed by a crack at how ‘September babies are a blessing’.
That comment got his brain thinking because his birthday was September tenth… which meant that – oh noooo.
Things you couldn’t undo:
Yelling ‘NO’ at your father.
Imagining your parents having sex on New Year's Eve - or Christmas Eve. Or both.
Recognizing that you were getting married to a perfect stranger - for a job.
Noticing the date was December 21st, and Christmas was right around the corner, and it was less than ten days to New Year’s Eve.
Yelling once more that ‘I’m not you!’ before ending the call with his parents.
Meeting your soon-to-be wife at the courthouse.
Looking up, he saw the tall woman with the blonde hair and brown eyes from last night… and swallowed. She was looking at him in the most possessive manner, making him feel like a piece of meat on a platter – tied up with a bow.
Harper.
“Hello,” he managed to get out. “Didn’t recognize you without all the blue fur.” And that smile she gave him was brighter than the sun.
“I adore the fact that you are teasing me and oh-so charming,” she beamed and immediately reached for his hand, causing him to jerk back for a moment.
Her smile faltered, and the pang of unexpected guilt was staggering.
She had just as much to lose in a bad relationship as he did – and they were both putting their heads in the proverbial noose.
The problem was – he was sweating buckets in that ‘noose’…
and she was grinning like all brain cells had been long ago abandoned.
“Sorry,” he began nervously – and then nodded to her, holding hands with this stranger once more. If they were married and talking about ‘public displays of affection’, he was going to have to keep from freaking out every time she touched him. “I’ve gotta get used to this.”
“I understand,” she said gently. “It’s not every day you get married.”
“Boy, you aren’t kidding…” he muttered, turning to walk further inside – only to feel her grab his arm, stopping him. Looking at her, he saw the rampant concern in her expressive gaze.
“This is not torture,” she whispered softly to him, looking into his eyes with obvious worry. “If we go into this with dread, then we’re only going to end up hurting each other. You need a wife – and I’d like a moment at your side. I think we could both enjoy the next few months together.”
“I said I’m not having sex with you,” he hissed in a hushed voice, immediately on the defensive.
“I’m not referring to that,” she replied quickly, her eyes searching his.
“I’d love the companionship that this marriage could bring us both, your friendship would be a blessing, and to be a part of your world for a little while…
when this is over, I’m still going to want you as my friend.
I hope you could consider me one, Marcus. ”
He swallowed, feeling himself falling into those large brown eyes that stared at him with such openness. What would they look like if she actually cared about him?
“Have you done this before?” he hesitated, asking something like that, but he had to know. It wasn’t uncommon to have women chasing hockey players – but they usually went for the big names, not a benchwarmer like him. “You’re not a puck bunny who’s been married to another player – are you?”
“No,” she flinched and looked away. “You would be my first husband ever. I’ve not dated much because guys think I’m too tall. I’ve never slept with anyone… and I sure haven’t been married before.”
“Good,” he said gruffly and then nodded. “And you’re not too tall.”
“Five-foot-ten says otherwise.”
“I’m six-foot-four, which makes you short in my book,” he shot back, but the bite wasn’t there in the slightest. He offered her a slight smile at her shocked look before it melted into a grin as she gave his hand a slight squeeze.
She was right – this could go either way; they just had to make a few steps in whatever direction they chose.
“I like you teasing me,” she whispered softly. “We’ll be fine.”
“Keep lobbing little tidbits and facts at me - and I’ll keep teasing you,” he replied in a hushed voice, nodding. “We should go in and get this done. People are starting to look, and while I’m not a starter for the team, I’ve been on the news before.”
“They’re looking because my new husband is hot,” she chuckled, tugging his hand forward in the most outrageous way that had him smiling unexpectedly at the compliment.
Him? Hot?
Maybe marriage could mean friendship like she mentioned – because it sure as heck was awfully flattering.
It was almost an hour before they had a chance to exchange their vows, and Marcus couldn’t help but be aware of people now taking photos with their cell phones or videotaping this whole farce.
He knew Harper was aware too, because she had a nervous look on her face as she glanced around…
and then fell into her role when she said her vows.
“I promise to love you, cherish you, obey you in just about everything… and bug you every evening to tell me good night,” she said emotionally and he felt a lump in his throat at her words.
This was fake.
This was all pretend, wasn’t it?
It sure didn’t feel like it right now as he stared into her eyes, feeling something unfurl in his chest. They were exchanging promises, committing to be each other’s partner in life for the time being, and this meant something to him that he didn’t expect nor could he put into words.
It was his turn to say his vows, so he was going to have to attempt it, but everything he was thinking felt flat.
This was so much more – and he recognized it.
“Harper,” he began hoarsely and saw a few people reach for tissues out of the corner of his eyes, dabbing at their own. “From the moment I met you, our life has been a whirlwind…” and Harper smiled at him, chuckling softly like it was some mysterious shared secret.
Ha! If they only knew…
“And we’ve never looked back, have we?”
“No,” she whispered, adjusting her clammy hands in his own sweaty ones. Goodness, he was nervous!
“Since we’re renewing,” he said openly for the audience as she winked at him.
“You already know how I feel, what I think, in fact, you know everything about me – the simple man before you… but, if you need to hear it again, I’m yours,” he whispered thickly, a little surprised at how easy the words were to say to her.
“And if you need me to tell you good night, then I will.”
“I do,” she whispered tearfully, nodding.
“I do too,” he replied, just as equally emotional, because this was it.
Married.
They were married on paper and for the whole world to see.
A hockey player for the Quebec Wolverines had literally just married the fill-in mascot of the team to secure his job – and if that wasn’t the most insane thing in the world?
He kept thinking about Harper’s rules, her requests for PDA, and breathless whispers between them, plus all the other tiny details of such a strange arrangement between them.
“Mr. Shaw – you may kiss your bride.”
Kiss?
Kiss Harper?
Wait a sec…
Marcus did a double-take just as Harper took matters into her own hands – and his cheeks.
She splayed a hand on either side of his face and pulled it to hers, sliding her mouth across his like a leech that had just been granted its final meal.
Goodness, she was kissing him with every ounce of passion that her tall body could possess… and he was responding.
It was like he’d been possessed by another person, because within seconds his arms were around her, pulling her close.
It wasn’t until someone tapped him on the shoulder that the whistles and catcalls hit him as he dragged his mouth from Harper’s reddened one, noticing the sultry acknowledgement in her eyes as she stood there eyeballing him like he was dessert.
Man, she was doing good things to his ego…
“PDA,” he said huskily, reminding her of one of the ‘rules’.
“SMH…” she whispered back – and he had no clue what that meant. Marcus was still focused on that kiss and what it could mean for them.
They walked out of the magistrates’ office – hand in hand.
Marcus felt like he’d been hit with a ton of bricks and was clutching the marriage license like a drowning man would cling to a life preserver.
Beside him, looking starry-eyed and in a blissful daze was his new bride – correction, his wife, with whom he’d renewed his vows as far as anyone knew.
The sight of her happiness struck him… as wonderful.
Normally, he would have said ‘odd,’ but it was kinda flattering to have someone knocked silly by just kissing you or simply knowing they ‘belonged’ to you now.
He wasn’t a guy known for beating on his chest, but dang it – she made him feel that way with a singular look.
“I don’t suppose you’re hungry – are you?” he asked simply, and that starry-eyed look turned to him and went supernova.
“Are you asking me out?”
“I am.”
“Oh-em-gee,” she breathed, laying a hand over her heart in excitement. “Yesss…”
This kind of admiration was really feeding something in his soul that was desperately starving for attention and drinking her in.
Marcus might not get the glory on the ice like the starting team, but that fandom and majesty were there shining in Harper’s eyes for the world to see was really something.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I’m gonna need sunblock,” he chuckled, getting out his keys. “You wanna ride with me? I’ll bring you back to your car when we’re done.”
Harper nodded and whispered something under her breath like ‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ and he couldn’t fight back his smile or the rush of happiness that came with doing something to make her feel good.
Yeah, for a moment, he thought he’d been tricked into marriage, but honestly, it had been his idea after grasping onto her proclamation.
He could have called her a liar, tossed her out of the event, or any number of things…
instead, he’d taken a look at the blonde bombshell wearing a Wolverine’s uniform, with the furry mask propped under her arm, and had literally been struck dumb.
Never in a million years would he have pictured someone like her under that mask.
It sure as heck wasn’t Toby’s grizzly face.
Opening the passenger side of the car, he saw Harper fan herself and chuckled at her excitement. “Where to?”
“Anywhere you want…”
“Wife,” he tested and heard her make a little noise in her throat as she sat down, that did weird things to his psyche. “Where would you like to go for breakfast?”
“Tim’s, I suppose,” she said simply. “I’m a very easy girl and never really go out much, so I guess Tim Hortons?”
Nodding, he shut her door and walked around to his driver’s door – and paused when it hit him. Opening the door, he slid into the seat and looked at her once more.
This might have been a huge mistake, an incredible blessing, or fate… whatever it was, he had just bound himself to this woman for the rest of the season – or life – if he chose to stay there.
Their marriage would be what they made of it – and he already felt like a million bucks seeing the stars in her eyes.
And then she turned to him.
“Is everything all right?” she asked softly, her whole being thrumming with happiness so potent he could see it.
“I think it might be,” he replied openly, realizing maybe Christmastime was really a time for miracles – because he might be looking at one right now. “I really think things are going to be okay… wife.”
Harper made a little noise, her expressive eyes widened, and that smile?
That smile was everything.