Chapter 7
HARPER
That evening, Harper was sitting on her couch on cloud nine, and nothing could bring her down right now.
At breakfast, Marcus insisted on taking a photo together to text his family – and had put it on Instagram.
He publicly claimed her, putting his stamp of approval on her as his wife…
and she was living in a fairytale of pink fluffy clouds, happy little birds singing, and if a unicorn strutted past her in the next few minutes?
She couldn’t care less.
She was married to Marcus Shaw – her biggest crush and the hottest hockey player to ever hit the ice. That shaggy black hair, those pale green eyes… yeah, her heart was mincemeat the moment they were saying their vows.
Then came the kiss.
There was no way she was missing that chance – and what a kiss it was!
She knew he’d balked at public displays of affection when she’d lobbed it out there between them, but boy-oh-boy did he take it to the next level!
They’d been married for eight hours, and she was still reeling from that single kiss.
Her phone rang.
Seeing his photo pop up, she answered it immediately, trying to keep the silly sighs and sing-song voice from spilling out of her.
“Hello?”
“Hey – are you home?”
“I am,” she agreed nervously. “I just finished my TV dinner and…”
“Oh.”
“Why? What’s up?”
“You need to get a bag together, and I’ll text you my address.”
“You want me to come over?” she whispered, closing her eyes in sheer happiness at his words.
“Um, you’re my wife, remember?” he said huskily over the phone, and she nearly drooled on herself. “My wife lives with me, so grab your things and come on over so we can talk about schedules, work, and life in general privately.”
“Marcus…”
“You’ve got slim fingers – can you wear a seven?” he interrupted – and she shot to her feet, racing to the kitchen to grab a tote bag that she used for groceries. She didn’t own a suitcase because she never traveled.
“Finger? No, I wear a size ten shoe.”
He muttered something under his breath – and her eyes grew wide as it finally clicked in her head.
“DID YOU GET ME A WEDDING RING?”
“Apparently, I should have gotten a set of hearing aids too – sheesh,” he exclaimed. “Can you warn a guy before you go supersonic or cross a thousand decibels? I think my eardrum is bleeding…”
She was speechless.
Marcus got her a ring, was asking her to move in, and all of her craziest wishes were slowly coming true.
“Hurry up,” he began again, ignoring her silence. “I ordered us a pizza, and I’m going to need to get to bed soon because I’ve got practice early tomorrow.”
“B-B-Bed?” she squawked brokenly – sounding almost like a chicken on crack, whatever that would sound like.
Hearing his chuckle, her heart jump-started as she began shoving things in the tote bag frantically.
Toothbrush, hairbrush, shampoo, socks, underwear, clothing…
shoes. Oh gosh, she’d need shoes and her daily vitamins.
“I just sent my address, and the code is to get in the front gate. See you in a few minutes.”
Less than that, she thought excitedly, unable to wipe the smile from her face.
Pulling up to his place, Harper grabbed her bag from the back seat where it sat – and hesitated. Apparently, she was chunking all sorts of things in the bag because she’d grabbed her pepper grinder and an open box of Ziploc baggies.
Maybe ‘excited’ was putting it mildly.
The front door opened, and Marcus was standing there in a Wolverine’s T-shirt and some gray sweatpants. Her kryptonite… well, technically anything this man wore was her kryptonite. He could be wearing a frilly tu-tu, and she’d still think he was the hottest man on earth.
“Do you need help?” he asked politely.
“Mental? Probably,” Harper tossed as she hefted up the bag and then paused, looking at him as he began to laugh. “Oh, you meant to help with this?”
“Yeah, I did…” he chuckled as he jogged over to her car, taking the bag immediately from her. “It’s cold out, let’s get you inside.”
“I’m at a loss for words…”
“Same,” he volunteered. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” he began gingerly and glanced at her. “Why don’t you come to practice with me. I mean, it would give you a chance to see the team on the ice, see what things will be like for us – for the next few months – because sometimes I’ve got away games or…”
“I know. Toby is going to be out for a while, and I was told to be ready to travel to the games with the team. I’ve got everything cleared already with management for hotel rooms and… wait…” she hesitated and looked at him as he stopped walking – staring at her.
“Oh my gosh…”
“Oh my gosh is right…”
“They're gonna cancel my hotel room because I’m married to you…”
“You’re coming to all the games – and staying with me…”
They both stared at each other at the sudden realization of just how wrapped up and entangled their lives actually would be. This wasn’t going to be a one-and-done moment, but instead, they were going to be living, acting, and traveling as spouses – at work and at home.
“You’re gonna need a suitcase,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve got an extra for you.”
“Marcus, I never thought…” she began, the apology bubbling forth, and he stopped her with a nervous smile.
“I guess we’re gonna find out what marriage is like after all – aren’t we?” he murmured with an expression she couldn’t read. “Now, go inside. The pizza arrived a few minutes before you did, and we should probably eat while it’s hot.”
Nodding, she walked inside and stood there awkwardly because she had no idea where to go.
It was a large place, much larger than her little frame house that she was renting.
He had a lovely leather sofa off to the side, a simple coffee table, and a television that was shockingly massive along the wall.
“I like to watch the games,” he volunteered as if he was watching her, already aware of her thoughts.
“The bedroom is off this way, and I’m going to set your bag down.
The kitchen is over there – and that’s the powder room,” he began tossing over his shoulder as he took off with no hesitation in his step… and she – she couldn’t move.
This was impossible.
Incredible.
Enchanting… she thought silently. He’s so relaxed and seems at ease about all of this, and I’m completely over the top at every little thing. His house! I’m in his freakin’ house! We’re married – and he mentioned a ring… oh my gosh, I might actually cry because I’m so stupidly happy right now.
“Hey,” he said beside her – and Harper jumped. She hadn’t heard him walk up to her because she was lost in her own thoughts. “Breathe,” he offered in a hushed, understanding voice as if he knew how intense this was for her.
“Marcus…” she began helplessly.
“Harper,” he interrupted softly, tugging her hand toward the kitchen. “Let’s eat first because I’m starving and we can talk.”
Even though she wasn’t really hungry, the pizza smelled amazing and she grabbed a slice. He quickly grabbed three of them, a bucket of ranch dressing, and pepper flakes, before heading toward the living room like this was nothing at all.
When he plopped down on the lovely leather sofa, she realized that he was very informal at home – and relieved to see it.
Sitting gingerly beside him, she couldn’t help but stare as he took a bite, began chewing, and then paused.
He slowly turned to look at her, chewing once more, before swallowing.
“Are you watching me eat?”
“Sorry,” she whispered and looked away.
“Harper, hang on…” he began and drew in a breath before letting out a heavy sigh. “Look, I had some thoughts that I needed to kind of get out there between us – and I realized you’re right.”
“I am?” she started and then squinted at him. “About what?”
“This marriage, while it started out fake and a lie, it’s going to be what we make of it… and I’d like for us to get along. You mentioned friendship, affection, and a bunch of other stuff – and I think I’m in,” he finished nervously, looking at her.
Her mouth dropped open.
“I’m not going to say it’s love,” he blurted out in the gentlest way possible, giving a slight shake to his head as he held her gaze. “We’re strangers, and I’ve never believed in love at first sight or things like that – but I’m also not a fool.”
“What does that mean?” she whispered breathlessly, her heart slamming in her chest. He put his plate down on the table in front of the couch smoothly. Fear, anxiety, excitement, adrenaline… all of it was thrumming within her at his words and the wisp of hope his words were creating in her soul.
“I believe in something greater, in miracles, that sometimes you’re led down a road in order to find where you’re meant to be…
and I think we can make this marriage into something we both enjoy,” he paused – and then reached for her hand while the other dug behind him.
“And at the end of the season, if you decide you need something more or you’re done with me, then so be it… But until then – you’re my bride.”
He pulled out a tiny box, staring at her as she had a silent meltdown before him.
In fact, she was shaking so badly that she had to put her pizza down on the sofa table nearby, or it was gonna fall onto the carpet.
As he slid to one knee beside her, she sucked in her breath hard enough to make a snorting sound that broke the moment.
Marcus chuckled – and she grimaced before giving him a sheepish smile.
“Nerves and excitement,” she volunteered helplessly.
“I figured,” he smirked – and then opened the box to pull out a simple diamond cocktail ring that had a cluster of stones in a particular pattern that glistened beautifully.
“It’s a snowflake,” he offered gently as he slid it onto her trembling finger.
“I thought it was fitting since it’s almost Christmastime. ”
“Oh, Marcus…” she began tearfully, her heart slamming wildly in awareness of how sweet this was and how much it meant to her.
“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed and looked up to see him watching her, waiting.
“This is… I’m so… this is perfect,” she finished, only to feel him tug her hand gently, pulling her to him slightly.
“Is this okay?” he whispered just before his lips brushed hers with such tenderness that she melted.
“I keep seeing your eyes every time I close my eyes – and I really like the way you look at me, Harper. I want the next few months to be the start of something beautiful, something neither of us expected… and I’m here,” he swallowed, waiting.
“I’m here. I’m here for all the whispers good night you need, the good morning kisses, and I’ll be that partner in this marriage, if we want to give whatever this is a shot… together.”
That nervous snort she made earlier was followed by a whimper of longing she couldn’t hold back as she saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes mixed with awareness.
He was offering himself up as her husband – not on paper like originally planned, but as a spouse for the next few months, almost like a test drive.
He was going to give this his all, and she couldn’t be happier at his words.
No, it was everything she could have ever wished for and everything she could have dreamed about.
She took her hand from his, where he’d just slipped the ring on her finger, and immediately curled her arms around his shoulders, moving to kiss him fully.
“It’s more than okay,” she admitted as he broke the kiss a few minutes later, holding her just as tightly.
They were both breathing like they’d run a race – hand in hand…
and maybe this was the start of one. A new path, an unknown step forward on a trail neither expected but couldn’t wait to explore.
“It’s a miracle – our very own Christmas miracle… ”
“I like that,” he murmured, moving to kiss her again. “Our very own Christmas miracle… indeed.”