Chapter 22

Hudson

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked for what had to be at least the tenth time since Mia had brought it up Saturday night.

She’d woken me at the ass crack of dawn on Monday morning and told me we had to get moving, tapping the screen of her phone to show me it could take hours for the license to be issued and ordered my “fine ass” out of bed. Her words. Not mine.

Humming her way through her morning routine, she fixed her hair in a neat bun and dressed in white jeans and a flowing top, shrugging when I told her we could wait at least another day and find her something more appropriate to wear.

I followed her lead, dressing in dark jeans and a black button up shirt.

It felt surreal, standing on the steps of the municipal hall wearing jeans and carrying a marriage license.

Mia reached up and cupped my cheek. Her thumb traced the outline of my jaw, and she stared into my eyes like she could see all the way to my soul. Then she slapped my ass lightly and flashed me a smile.

“No, I’m not sure I want to do this,” she said. “I dragged you out of bed, made you wait in line for the license to be issued, and filled out the paperwork because I think this idea is crazy town, and I’m not going through with it.”

“This is a big deal for you, Mia.” My hands dug into her hips, and my gaze burned into hers. “What about your family?”

The playful expression slipped from her face. Fear ran up my spine. This was my one chance. My last chance, and I’d walked away from her once. I had to be sure she was ready. Especially now that I knew her. “We’ll deal with them when the time comes.”

Her tone was insistent, final. Her eyes determined. I took it as a good sign that she stayed in the circle of my arms, resting her head against my chest.

“Hey, you’re not getting any arguments from me, I just need to be sure that you are.” I lowered my head, pressing a kiss to her hair.

She drew away from me slightly, turning her eyes towards mine again. “I’m sure, Hudson. I want to do this.”

“Why?” I needed to understand. We’d had mind blowing sex twice, and even I had to admit there was plenty of chemistry between us, but that couldn’t be enough.

Sure, I felt things for her I needed to make sense of, but I knew marriage meant something to her that it had never meant to me.

“Why?” She tilted her head at me like I was an idiot. “I want you to come back to America with me. I want to help you, Hudson. This is how I can help you.”

“You’re willing to risk the wrath of your family, of the United States government, to help me?” I asked, my tone incredulous.

“Yes, I am. Besides, you spoke to agent Benson earlier, right?”

“You know I did,” I confirmed.

“So, I’m not risking the wrath of the government.” She rolled her eyes. “As for my family, they’ll have to deal with it. This is my choice. Helping you is my choice.”

I tightened my arms around her and crushed her in a hug. I tried to pour everything I felt into that hug, even if I didn’t know exactly what those feelings were.

“Woah there, Mr. Blake. I assume you want your bride alive.” She wheezed, laughing.

“That would be preferable.” I grinned, taking her hand in mine and leading her to the justice of the peace that would be tying our fates together.

Mia beamed at me all through the short ceremony. Then she signed the paperwork with a flourish and jumped into my arms when the man pronounced us husband and wife, smacking a loud kiss on my lips.

I caught her, my hands digging into her thighs, and deepened the kiss. Our tongues danced and stroked and explored until someone started a slow clap behind us and a familiar laugh filled the air.

“Glad I was in time for the show,” Dakota said when we came up for air. I was thoroughly confused by his presence.

“Kota,” Mia exclaimed. “You came!”

“Of course, I did. It’s not every day your big brother ties the knot.” He grinned and pulled Mia in for a quick hug once I set her down. “Or that you gain a sister.”

“Thanks for coming, Kota,” I said, surprising myself when I found I meant it.

“Someone had to be here to witness the great playboy Hudson Blake getting tied down,” he said solemnly, mischief in his eyes. I was grateful he didn’t mention anything about the reason why we’d tied said knot.

There was pure joy in Mia’s eyes. It was the same strange elation I felt in my gut, and I didn’t want anything ruining the moment. I tugged Mia closer me and dropped a kiss on her head. “Agent Benson said it could take a day or so before we can head back. You two want to go celebrate?”

Mia wrapped an arm around my waist and hugged her agreement.

Dakota shrugged. “I didn’t take the day off to watch you two make out and fill out paperwork for five seconds.”

On the way out of the building, Dakota ordered us to a stop, insisting we needed at least one photograph of the momentous occasion.

I grabbed Mia’s hand and wrapped an arm around her, dipping her low and kissing her neck. “Thank you, Mia.”

She smiled at me. “You got it, Mr. Blake.”

“You’re the best, Mrs. Blake.” I returned her smile.

“Perfect,” Dakota yelled. I’d forgotten about the photo, though it looked great.

Mia’s brand-new ring shone on her left finger. We’d picked it out together on the way over to City Hall, and while I wanted big and obnoxious, she opted for small and intricately designed.

My own ring felt heavy and unfamiliar on my hand, more so since I’d never worn a ring in my life. Mia assured me I’d get used to it, and Dakota said real men wore their wedding rings with pride. Like he even knew.

I wasn’t sure I believed either of them, but I was in no position or frame of mind to argue.

Dakota took us out to celebrate, snapping pictures and buying shots and food. By the time we got home, Mia collapsed in bed, and I thanked Kota before joining her.

***

Later that week, we received the all-clear from agent Benson, and I had the jet fueled up and waiting for us within a matter of hours.

The agent surprised me by saying he’d been rooting for us all along. He even called us two crazy kids that would be seeing a lot of him in the time to come, but he was happy for us.

“I’ve been to a lot of sham weddings in my time, but yours was the first I’d hoped would happen,” he’d said. “There’s just something about the two of you.”

I looked over at Mia’s sleeping form and agreed with him.

“God, it’s good to be home.” I breathed in the Portland air and squeezed Mia’s hand.

“It’s good to have you back, Hudson,” Mia agreed, smiling at me.

“Thanks in no small part to you, Mrs. Blake.”

“Just doing my part,” she said, as if she’d simply brought me coffee. She followed me to my favorite sports car I’d arranged to have waiting for us at the airstrip.

“You thought about how you want to handle this at the office?” I asked her, pointing the nose of the car toward the building. I was itching to get to the office. Thankfully, Mia felt the same way.

“Let’s play it by ear?” she suggested.

“Or we could blow them all out of the fucking water,” I argued. “If you’re comfortable with that?”

“No use hiding it, I guess.” She lifted her hand to show me her ring.

I grinned. “Absolutely not.”

“Let’s do it then.” She slid her sunglasses over her eyes and sang along to a song on the radio all the way to the office, not seeming to have a care in the world.

***

The air in the office shifted as soon as we stepped off the elevator. Chaos surrounded me. The noise level was deafening.

Slowly but surely the noise level reduced as every eye on the floor turned toward me. People scattered, scurrying to their desks and avoiding my glare.

Mia and I strode to my office. We stayed near one another but didn’t touch. I was certain someone would notice the matching rings we wore, but that could wait.

Henry nearly burst into tears when we entered my office. He rose from my chair and welcomed me back with a firm handshake. “Hudson, thank God.”

“Good to see you, Henry.” I clasped his hand and pulled him into a one-armed hug.

“You are a welcome sight, my boy,” Henry admitted. “Coffee?”

“Sure.” I glanced at Mia, and she nodded. “Make that two.”

Henry barked at Jenny to bring us three coffees and motioned me towards my seat. “Please, take that damn thing back.”

Mia laughed. I grinned at her but sank into my chair, feeling like the world was righting itself at the feel of the soft leather under my ass.

Henry and Mia took up the two chairs on the opposite side of my desk, both looking more than a little relieved to have me back.

Henry was first to voice his relief. “I am beyond thankful to have you back in that seat, Blake. I cannot express to you how happy I am that you got everything worked out. I couldn’t handle another week doing what you do.”

“You’ll never have to,” I assured him.

“Well, in that case, please cancel my coffee. I need to get home for what will feel like the first time since you left.” He smiled at me, then looked at Mia, favoring her with a grin the likes of which I hadn’t seen before and an over-exaggerated wink.