Her heart raced as Lisa tried to listen to the somber words of Teague Roberts. Something about the sacred nature of the vows they were about to take. She wasn't particularly religious, but now, when it was too late, she wondered if God was going to strike her down for treating marriage so cavalierly.

Her hand was tucked into Jeff's arm, and she felt him give a slight squeeze with his biceps. She looked up and found him watching her.

"You okay?" he mouthed.

She smiled as best she could and nodded even while her heart pounded so hard she was surprised the whole room didn't hear it.

"Before we recite the vows, Jeff asked to say a few words," Teague announced.

Lisa's gaze swung back to Jeff. They hadn't discussed the ceremony except for when, where, and who. She had no idea he'd planned on saying anything other than the standard vows. She swallowed, her breath held as he turned to face her, taking her hand from his arm and holding it in his own.

He cleared his throat, looking adorably nervous as he began to speak in that solemn, quiet way he had.

"I know this is an unusual situation," he began, "but I wanted to make sure you understand that beyond any legal agreements, I have a pledge to make to you." He smiled softly, and Lisa swore every cell in her released a breath as if she'd just swooned tiny piece by tiny piece.

"Lisa, I promise to always respect you and listen to your wishes. I promise to stay faithful to the agreements we have written down as well as those we've spoken to one another in the last few days. I promise to do everything in my power to give you the things you need and make sure your world is better for me being in it. I'm grateful for you and hope that a year from now you'll feel the same about me."

Behind them, Lisa heard a simultaneous sigh from Deanna, London, and Nell, as well as a small exclamation from her mother. She blinked, her eyes stinging, dangerously close to tearing up.

"Thank you," she whispered, and he nodded at her, before looking back to Teague who seemed momentarily speechless. Then it was all starting back up, and they were promising to honor, protect, care—all the things that made a real marriage, the things Lisa had never expected to give or get from a man again during her lifetime.

"By the power vested in me by the United States of America, I now pronounce you husband and wife," Justice Roberts said. "You may kiss your bride."

Oh hell, Lisa thought for a split second as Jeff's hand came up to cup her jaw. Maybe they should have rehearsed this part. But then his breath was fanning across her face, his lips were angling over hers, and he was kissing her. It was warm and soft, and he made a low sound deep in his throat that sent a shockwave straight to her core.

Her breath caught, her hands fluttered to his chest, splaying across the lapels of his fancy jacket with all its medals and ribbons. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, delicate, like a butterfly, then he was pulling away, and she was short of breath, momentarily disoriented, her hands still clutching at his uniform and the firm, warm muscles underneath. Applause broke the spell, and everyone was congratulating them, the women were hugging her, the men slapping Jeff on the back, and through it all, he kept ahold of her hand, grounding her, letting her know he was there and he wasn't going anywhere.

It wasn't until an hour later after mimosas and cake in the Justice's chambers that Jeff helped Lisa into a waiting town car and they were finally alone.

"Well, that wasn't too terrible," Jeff said as they settled into their seats and the driver pulled out into the Saturday afternoon traffic.

"It was lovely," Lisa said, suddenly very aware she was now supposed to go home with this man. They'd discussed living arrangements extensively. In his new position, Jeff would need to entertain at his home several times over the next year and it had to be clear to everyone that Lisa lived there too, that the hostess actually was the lady of the house. Having just moved into her townhome, Lisa's things weren't even completely unpacked, so she'd agreed to move into Jeff's guest room and work to decorate his somewhat sterile Arlington home.

They drove in silence for a while, Lisa's mind spinning with everything that had happened in the last week. As they sped across the Potomac, Jeff finally turned to her where she sat twisting her skirt with nervous fingers.

"If it's too much, you don't need to stay the night. I mean, we can wait a couple of weeks. Maybe spend some time together other ways. You could come over and start the decorating but not move in. I know we talked about doing it right away, but I really understand if it's too soon. I want you to be comfortable. I realize living in my house could be—awkward—for you."

She looked at him, all hard planes and precise movements. But beneath was a kindness she was only beginning to realize. A heart that was steadfast and genuine. Inside a package that was decidedly sexy.

And when she was honest with herself, the package was as much the cause of her nerves as anything. The fact was Lisa wasn't sure how to share space with such an attractive man and keep things all business. After the wedding kiss she could tell she had a definite reaction to him, and it was anything but neutral.

"No," she said abruptly. "It's fine. I'm exhausted, but fine, really. My things have already been delivered, I'm ready to go to my new home."

"If you're sure."

"I am," she told him, her tone much more firm than she felt. "It's going to be fine."

He grinned. "Good. Then I'll help move your things where you want them and maybe we can order in, eat some dinner together?"

"I'd love that," she said, surprised at how much she meant it.

Welcome home, Mrs. Thibedeux, a voice in her head said as they arrived at the brick colonial home. Welcome home.

* * *

Disappointment had coursed through him when she'd announced she was going upstairs to change out of the wedding dress. She looked amazing, and the urge to touch her—velvet skin alongside velvet fabric—had him agitated, pacing his living room like a caged animal. He needed to get whatever it was—the yearning—under control. He'd sworn to the woman he would treat her with respect, this wasn't a marriage in any traditional sense, s.e.x. was not part of the arrangement.

Yet, here he was, fantasizing about all her soft skin, those big eyes, that thick hair. He wanted to dig his fingers into the wavy mass and cup her skull as she wrapped those ruby red lips around his aching cock.

He stopped pacing and adjusted himself quickly. Aching was right. He ached. His cock, his chest, his very bones. He didn't know why, but something about this woman made him hurt. Made him want to wrap himself around her and never let go. Ever since he'd first seen her standing in front of a bunch of tiny humans—her eyes so sad, her movements so tender—he'd only wanted to be closer to her. Any way he could. Any time he could.

And now he had her, right here in his very own house. And he couldn't risk doing anything to mess that up. No sudden movements that might scare his wild beauty away. No, he had to focus here, stick to the plan, get his promotion, take care of her, solve her problems, launch her into a new life...one where she'd no longer need him.

He stopped pacing and looked out the window at the fading light. Jeff knew he wasn't enough for a woman like Lisa Scotch. She deserved a home, children, love. He was a man married to the military, with questionable ethics, and fifteen years of no home, no relationship longer than the blink of an eye, no permanence of any kind. Hell, even the Pentagon's most notorious rank-climbing opportunist didn't evidence any desire to be near him except when he could take her to high-level events. In all honesty, he wasn't even going to miss sex with the woman it had been so tepid.

No, Jeff Thibedeux was no catch, and certainly not for the likes of a woman like Lisa. He'd keep his hands and whatever these damn feelings were to himself. It was only a year. He was a soldier for Christ's sake, he'd been through a lot tougher battles than keeping his attention off one small woman.

"Jeff?" Her voice was tentative as he turned to see her enter the room. And all his most honorable intentions flew the fuck out the window like so many scattered dandelions in a brisk wind.

She'd removed all the makeup, so she looked even younger and more innocent. Her hair was still upswept, but it was in a messy bun now, pieces falling alongside her face and over her brow. She'd put on a tight t-shirt that advertised a favorite local breakfast spot—The Sunrise Eggery—and a pair of jeans molded to her ass and thighs in a way that brought obscene pictures into his head. Images of biting his way up those plump thighs and grasping that round ass in both hands as he pumped into her warm, wet—

"Jeff?" she said again, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Shit. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, uh, can I offer you something to drink?" He began striding past her toward the kitchen, eyes down, struggling to focus on something other than her ass in those jeans.

"Maybe you can show me where you keep everything?" She followed behind him. "I'll need to learn if I'm going to be living here. I certainly don't expect you to wait on me for the next year."

He stopped as they entered the kitchen and pivoted to face her. "I wouldn't mind," he said, his voice rough.

"What?" She cocked her head inquisitively, not understanding his meaning.

"I wouldn't mind waiting on you for the next year. I told you, I'll do whatever you need, and do it gladly. I don't ever want you to think this was a mistake."

Her gaze softened, and she started to lift a hand toward him, then pulled it back to her side as if remembering some unspoken rule. "I don't. I'm not worried about it being a mistake at all, so you can stop worrying about that too. You're—" She looked down for a moment and lightly cleared her throat. "You're being wonderful about all of it, and I'm happy to help you out. I want to help you, I mean."

Relief swam through his blood, and he dropped his head, chin to chest for just a second before lifting it and smiling at her.

"Good. That's good to know."

The next few hours were spent giving Lisa a tour of the house, eating Chinese carry-out, and helping her move boxes to her room. He told her she was welcome to put any of her things anywhere in the house, and finally a little after nine pm, their long wedding day came to an end, with a polite good night in the hallway outside her room, and the beginning of a long, sleepless night for Jeff, who was discovering marriage was indeed every bit as hard as he'd been warned, but for entirely different reasons.