It wasn’t long before they were guided into the judge’s office, where introductions were made. The judge and his secretary fawned over Maddie, who ate up the attention while still clinging to Jasper.
The office was richly appointed with an ornate walnut wooden desk with matching bookshelves behind it, filled to the brim with books on the legal field. A pair of leather chairs were positioned in front of the desk. And off on the right was a loveseat in a rich mocha leather, with end tables on either side.
Judge Bert Cartright was on the upper end of his fifties, with a full head of gray hair and a slight paunch. Intelligence radiated in his eyes as he assessed their small party.
When they tried to hand Maddie over to Sophia, she clung to Jasper, not wanting to leave the safety and security of his arms. She didn’t blame her daughter one bit. While she’d gotten to know Jasper over the last few days, the others were still strangers in Freya’s book.
“She can stay with me. I doubt Judge Cartright minds if I hold my stepdaughter.” Jasper turned a quizzical gaze toward the judge, as if he were asking permission.
The judge smiled. “Of course, she’s fine. Shall we begin? I’ve got another meeting at eleven that I can’t be late for.”
Jasper glanced her way with a question in his eyes. He was giving her an out if she wanted to take it. That, more than anything, calmed the butterflies flying around in her belly. He’d given her a choice. And she knew if she said no, that she couldn’t do this, he would honor it. Because he was a good man. She nodded yes, giving him the silent signal to proceed.
“We’re ready, Judge Cartright,” Jasper told him.
“Perfect. The ceremony of marriage in which you come to be united is one of the first and oldest ceremonies in the world. Marriage is a gift in that we give ourselves totally to one another. I believe that marriage is a gift given to comfort the sorrows of life and to magnify life’s joys. Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of two hearts, the union of two lives into one, and your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the State, nor by the seal on your wedding certificate, but by the strength and power of the faith and love you have in one another.”
While Jasper might believe he could fall in love, at the end of the day, he was honorable and loyal to a fault. He took care of Maddie as if she was his own. And part of her wanted to be with him simply for that reason alone.
Jasper took her hand in his as the judge began speaking about love and commitment. Energy sizzled through her veins at his innocent touch. And as the judge spoke about spending a lifetime loving one another, she wondered what it would be like to be loved by Jasper. He was already a fierce protector that was spoiling her and Maddie rotten.
“Do you have the rings?” Judge Cartright asked Jasper.
“I do.” Jasper pulled two matching rings from his pocket. They were identical platinum bands; one was smaller and had a tiny row of diamonds circling it.
He’d thought of everything, if the diamond ring on her right hand was anything to go by. He’d given it to her this morning before they left the cabin. She did not know when he had the chance to purchase an engagement with a princess-cut diamond large enough to poke someone’s eye out, but he had.
“Good. Now Jasper, will you please take this ring and place it upon the third finger of Freya’s left hand, and holding her hand in yours, please repeat this promise to her, saying it after me: With this ring, I seal my promise to be your faithful and loving husband.”
Jasper lifted her left hand. He slid the ring on her third finger and stated confidently, “With this ring, I seal my promise to be your faithful and loving husband.”
“Good, now Freya, will you please take this ring and place it upon the third finger of Jasper’s left hand, and holding his hand in yours, please repeat this promise to him, saying after me: With this ring, I seal my promise to be your faithful and loving wife.” Judge Cartright’s gaze landed on her.
She picked up the ring and took Jasper’s hand, sliding it on his finger. “With this ring, I seal my promise to be your faithful and loving wife.”
Judge Cartright smiled. “Freya and Jasper, you have come here before us today and expressed your desire to become husband and wife. You have shown your love and affection by joining hands and have made promises of faith and devotion, sealing these promises by the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore, it is my privilege, by the authority given to me by the State of Colorado, I now pronounce that you are husband and wife. Jasper, you may kiss your wife.”
Jasper’s eyes lit, burning with heat that had her blushing as he reeled her in, still holding Maddie in his right arm. He leaned down and sealed his lips over her mouth.
Her head spun as he kissed her. He kept it brief for their audience, but when he lifted his head, there was a promise in his eyes that there was more to follow when they arrived home that night. Strange how she already considered the cabin home after a few days.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell.”
Everyone clapped, including Maddie, who thought what they were doing was oodles of fun. And she smiled, even though she questioned her sanity over what she’d done. She’d married a man she barely knew to save her from another man who would kill her if he found her.
Had she damned them both?
But she didn’t have long to ponder the question. They signed the marriage certificate. And for the first time, she signed her name Freya Campbell. She prayed her false identity would be missed by their system. If it wasn’t, she’d have to figure out another avenue and come clean with Jasper.
They were ushered out of the judge’s office, her head still reeling because she was married to Jasper.
“We’ve got a small lunch set up for you guys back at our penthouse,” Gabe offered. “To welcome Freya into the family.”
Jasper clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s kind of you. We’d be delighted, but we can’t stay long.”
“It’s just a small reception. A few of Gabe’s brothers and their wives,” Sophia explained, threading her arm through her husband’s as they headed toward the building exit.
Why did she feel as if she’d just been tossed into the fire?
Jasper watched his wife interact with his cousins and their wives. She was a natural with them. Smiling and talking with women especially, but then his cousins’ wives were all baby crazy. And everyone simply adored Maddie. His cousins kept trying to get her to go to them. And his stepdaughter would shake her head and run back to his side.
They were married. His head spun over that tidbit. She was his wife. Legally. And it felt right.
God only knew why. They hardly knew one another. What he knew could fill a thimble. But after last night, he was eager to explore her depths, to push her boundaries.
And he already wondered if, when the year was up and the terms of the contract were met, they would want to go their separate ways.
Time would tell.
But he’d have to call his mum soon and inform her of the wedding. That was a conversation he wasn’t looking forward to. But it would keep for now.
Gabe came over and stood beside him. “You really went through with it.”
“I told you I would. Why are you so surprised by it?”