The man she’d just met, yet was going to marry in a matter of days had been quiet for the last fifteen minutes and Sabrina wondered what her fiancé was thinking. The longer Sean remained silent the more nervous she got. Maybe he was having second thoughts? Maybe he had gotten one look at her and decided this wasn’t what he wanted to do. She’d hoped he’d speak up and send her back before it got this far if that was how he’d felt after seeing her, but it hadn’t happened, at least not so far. She wished again she’d looked up the marriage laws in Texas, but it was too late now. If she looked it up now it would look like she didn’t trust him, and that was no way to start a life together.

Sean pulled the full-sized pickup, which had surprised her a little only because it was used and worn looking, as well as the only truck in the lot. Considering this was Texas — and that he was in construction — it shouldn’t have been a surprise. He found a parking spot and together they went into the single floor, generic government looking building with the words Harris County Court House Annex on the side. It didn’t take them long to find the right office, then they took a number and waited their turn. She wanted to ask him more about his place and about him, but hesitated. She didn’t want it to look like they were strangers while buying a marriage license. It just seemed…wrong. Not to mention indiscreet.

Instead, she sat with one ankle tucked behind the other and her hands folded on her bag in her lap, aware of the man sitting beside her in a way she wasn’t sure she’d ever been aware of anyone, except maybe Billy MacPhearson. He’d been a senior while she was a sophomore in high school. As home-coming king, captain of all the teams, not to mention prom king, there was no way he’d even known her name. He was too involved with Tiffany Drennan. But Sabrina knew his. He was her first crush and she had mooned over him for months. Her heart had fluttered every time he’d even looked in her direction, much like it did now when Sean looked her way. Somehow, even the butterflies in her stomach knew this was different. This time the other person, Sean, not only knew who she was, but was planning to marry her — and more. If only she could keep him from changing his mind in the next three days.

“Have you thought about what you want in the way of a wedding?” he asked after they’d been sitting, waiting for about twenty minutes.

“I don’t want anything big.” She shook her head, hoping he wouldn’t push.

“Small is doable. Do you want your family to come?”

Her face heated under his gaze. “No. They don’t know where I am or what I’m doing.”

“Why not?” He frowned and tilted his head to one side, as if that worried him.

“They don’t understand me. They think I should find a job and a man there close and have the same life they’ve always led.” Her face flamed. She knew she was blushing bright red. “I could do that, but then nothing will change. I want something different, not just for me but for my children.”

Sean nodded slowly. He was surprised to find someone who wanted basically what he did. Every woman he’d dated that he’d told what he was after had accused him of being archaic and a cave-man. Basically, they’d told him he wanted a woman who would stay barefoot and pregnant, chained to the kitchen and that wasn’t it at all. “Wow. Thank you for telling me. I think you’re the woman I’ve been searching for, in all the wrong places, for years.” He looked away, scanning the room before looking at her again. “What about the ceremony? Do you care if it’s a religious or civil one?”

“I hadn’t considered it.” She fell silent for several long seconds, then spoke again. “I suppose since it hadn’t crossed my mind, then it doesn’t matter to me. Would you be able to find a clergyman willing to marry us on such short notice without classes or something?”

It was his turn to fall silent.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said after a little while. They sat a little while longer, then their number was called. They filled out the paperwork, showed their ID’s and after several minutes, walked out, license in hand. Sean unlocked the truck with a remote as they approached the truck then opened her door for her. That was something she would have to get used to, but it wasn’t something she minded, then went around and got in the other side.

“Now I’ll show you my place.” He started the truck and she wondered how long it would take to get there. Somehow, she imagined he lived in a small cottage with an old west decor, more authentic than designed. He’d said he grew up in Dallas, otherwise it would probably be a family home. Not sure what to expect, she settled in, but her mind wouldn’t let her fully relax. What would his home be like and would she be able to stay fully separate from him for three whole days? She cut a glance at the handsome man next to her and licked her suddenly dry lips. Only time would tell…