The snow drifted around Evie as she locked the door to the restaurant. She pulled a scarf closer to her neck. Her eyes were still fixed on the blinking Bella’s sign. I couldn’t tell if she was getting ready to back out of the deal, or taking a second to say mental goodbyes.

This wasn’t a time for either of us to change our minds. The more we sobered up, the more we would realize how risky everything had become. We had to keep riding this impulsive high.

“Ready?” I asked.

She nodded. Snowflakes landed on her lashes. “I am. But do you think we could stop by my place on the way out of town? I need a few things.”

“I can buy you what you need,” I offered, holding the car door for her. She slid inside where the heat was on full blast. The quicker we got out of Newton Hills, the better.

“I’d like to at least get something. Personal items. We can’t possibly buy everything at once. Don’t we have time?”

I checked my watch. “Ok. A five-minute stop. Will that work?”

She bit her lip. “I can pack quickly.”

“Good. I don’t like to keep the pilot waiting.”

She gave the driver the address.

“What do you mean keep him waiting? Don’t we have to be at the airport to board at a certain time? What does your ticket say? And are you sure I can get on the flight? What if it’s booked?”

We turned onto a street in an older part of town. I couldn’t say I remembered ever driving through this section of town as a kid.

“We aren’t flying on an airline, Evie,” I explained. “You don’t need a ticket for the private jet.”

“What? But I thought it was a red-eye. You said you had to make the last flight of the night.”

I nodded. “It is the last one the flight crew can take. Something about FAA regulation and crew hours. I don’t get into the details. The jet was being used by one of the other executives today. I had to snag it when I could.” I paused. “And I might have stood a few pilots up in the past. So if I’m not there on time they get pissy with me. I don’t need that.”

Her pretty mouth fell open. “That’s unbelievable. You’re ok using the company jet? As much as you hate the company, I’m a little surprised, that’s all.”

I didn’t like the way her words made my ribs tighten in my chest. I didn’t want to be reminded that I was using something that had belonged to my father. There were five jets in the fleet. They were used throughout the company, and sometimes the family. I hopped on one when I could. I had expected to fly into Newton Hills a man with fumes in his bank account, and fly out a billionaire. Those plans had been smashed this morning and resurrected by a beautiful Italian girl. I was leaving town exactly the way I wanted. With Evie by my side, that was now the reality. Our reality.

The driver pulled in front of a row of townhouses.

“We’re here,” he announced. “I’ll keep the heat going for you.”

“Thank you.” Evie smiled.

I followed her out of the car and up the stairs.

“This will only take a few minutes.” She turned on the light and I waited by the front door while she slammed drawers in the bedroom.

“Need help?” I called from the hallway.

“No, I’ve got it.”

I looked around me. There were more pillows on the couch than I had ever seen. Was she part-cat? Pillows, blanket, books scattered everywhere. There was a row of pictures on a table behind the couch. I picked up the first in line. Evie was surrounded by three children.

I studied the grin on her face. The genuine happiness in her eyes. There were more pictures of the kids next to that one. Only, they were each babies in the other shots. She held them against her chest. The expression was different. Maternal and loving. I closed my eyes and it was as if a flash of electricity had snapped through my veins. I could see her holding our baby. My baby. She looked at him with that same kind of love. With a love so strong it could heal. It could protect. It could bring me to my knees. I shook my head. I placed the photo down. Damn. I was drunk.

I cleared my throat. “We need to go.”

“Ok, I think I have enough for a proper elopement,” she announced.

She appeared at the end of the hallway. I could make out her curvy silhouette, but that was about it. She hauled the bag over her shoulder and walked into the foyer. She had changed out of her waitress clothes. She was wearing a pair of leggings, boots, and a long soft sweater. I thought about pulling her against me and drinking in her lips, but we didn’t have time for detours. We needed to make it to the airport.

“I don’t know that there’s anything proper about it.” I chuckled. “But you look cute.”

“Really?” She blushed. “Cute enough to create a scandal?” she teased.

I’d never been worried about how something looked. How it played to the media. How it could hurt or help the Hartwell name. I left that up to my parents. As soon as the press heard about my marriage to Evie, there would be a firestorm of paparazzi. I hadn’t prepared her for that part of our arrangement.

“You and your nieces and nephew?” I asked, tapping the table.

“They’re cute, aren’t they?” She paused in front of them.

“If you like kids.” I pulled the front door open.

“I do like kids,” she reminded me. “Very much. Enough to go along with this insane plan of yours. That’s how much I like kids.”

“Then I’m glad you’re the one having mine.”

“Is there anything else I need before we leave?” she asked.

I tapped on the link I had googled about marriage licenses in North Carolina. “Actually, do you have your birth certificate?”

She nodded. “I can get it. It’s in a safe in my closet. I’ll be right back. Anything else?”

“No. That’s it.”

A few seconds later Evie returned. She folded the paper in half and slid it into her purse.

“Let’s do this. Come on, let’s go.” I held the door and we walked outside.