Temporary Marriage (Complete MATCHMAKER BOOK 3)

Chapter 4

“ GARRETT POV ”

I waited on the courthouse steps for my “bride” to arrive, glancing at my watch impatiently.

She’d had a detail on her for the few days it took to get everything ironed out,

File the necessary paperwork, and get an appointment with a judge.

I knew she was safe, but I was eager to finally take over.

In order to have a genuinely surprised response to the marriage from her father, I’d kept the details to myself.

The other reason was to keep him from derailing my plan.

It helped that her tool of a father was out on the campaign trail until the end of the week.

The car I’d sent for her pulled up to the curb, and I jogged down the steps, waving away Jack and opening the door myself.

His laughing eyes met my serious ones over the hood for a second, and he smirked before sweeping his hand out as though to say,
“all yours.”

I tipped my head to the side, confused about why he seemed to find this so amusing.

I’d hired him as my personal driver over a decade ago,

Having met him when I needed to hire a car service with drivers who had security clearance to transport high-profile clients.

His personality and background in the military impressed me.

I hired him the next day to head up our own internal car service, but he still insisted on driving me personally.

Over the years, we’d grown close, and he’d proven his loyalty time and again.

He had become my best friend, despite his being my employee.

His clearance level was as high as mine, so he was privy to all of my business.

Which meant he knew very well that this was a business deal and nothing more.

A means to completing a job and satisfying the client.

His smirk grew into a full-blown grin at my reaction.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, ignoring him.

Returning my attention to the passenger in the car, I reached in to help her out and when a small,

Soft hand pressed against my palm, a jolt of electricity shot to my groin.

My eyebrows shot up to my hairline, and my cock sprang to life.

Been a long fucking time since that happened.

That could make things much more complicated.

I tried to suppress the desire building inside me, but that was shot to hell when I felt the sparks between us at our first touch.

Her skin was pale with a pinkish hue, and I almost laughed when I noticed her sparkly, blue nail polish.

It was undoubtedly a very tame “fuck you” to her father, who demanded a conservative image.

I gently pulled, and as she stepped from the car, I was distracted by a pair of bright pink, strappy shoes with tall, spiked heels.

They were attached to slender legs that had my mouth watering as I pictured them wrapped around my head.

The next thing to emerge was a mass of wild, light brown curls that ended near her jawline.

She climbed all the way out, then looked up, and I was momentarily paralyzed.

I stared into dark, coffee-colored eyes, fringed with thick black lashes.

Her high cheekbones, straight nose, and pink lips made her look like a fragile doll.

As she took in the sight of me, her eyes widened, and her pretty mouth opened slightly.

I could only imagine how intimidating I must have seemed to her.

She had a trim figure, with small but perky tits and a tiny waist.

I was built like a fucking linebacker, and at six-two, I towered over her small frame.

I was almost afraid that I would break her.

But when her espresso gaze slid down my body and back up, it held a spark of fire that betrayed her attraction.

It was more than fucking mutual. I took a deep breath to try and control the urge to throw her back into the car and ravish her delicious body.

Her ragged inhale mirrored mine before she squared her shoulders and stood to her full height.

She disengaged our hands, and it left me feeling empty.

Then her mouth widened into a bright smile, warmth filled my body, and I felt as though I was bathed in the warmth of the sun.

“I assume you’re Garret?”

I grunted an affirmative response. She waited for me to say more and shifted awkwardly when I stayed silent.

I wasn’t much of a talker as it was, and at the moment I’d found myself fucking speechless.

“Okay, um, well, I’m Nathalie, your um…wife-to-be, I guess?”

—she let out a nervous little laugh—

“I suppose we should get going? We have an appointment, right? Do you know where we’re supposed to go? I’ve only stood on the steps with my father while he droned on about something or other. But I’ve always wondered what the inside looked like, since it’s a historical building. It’s kind of a cool place to—”

I cut off her adorable rambling by grabbing her hand once more and towing her behind me

As I marched up the steps, inside the doors, and to our designated courtroom.

We signed the marriage license and then stood side-by-side as the judge performed the ceremony.

I snapped out my “I do” at the right moment, restless at how long it was taking and ready to get Nathalie home, where we would be alone.

When it was her turn, she looked at me uncertainly, probably put off by my tone.

I should’ve reassured her, but a growl rumbled from my chest, and she promptly turned back to the judge and said, “I do.”

The ceremony concluded, and I ignored the judge’s “kiss the bride” comment, knowing once I tasted her lips, I wouldn’t be able to stop.

I kept a firm hold on the hand I hadn’t let go of and guided her out to the waiting car.

I wanted to drag her into my lap, but I settled for keeping her close to my side, our legs pressed together.

“So, you’ve got yourself an old ball and chain. For the next year, at least,”

she teased, trying to lighten the tension-filled atmosphere.

That may have been what I’d intended, but now she had it all wrong.

I’d known that things had changed the moment she’d taken my hand.

It had taken me a few minutes to accept it, but I wasn’t one to shy away from my instincts, and every part of me knew the truth. She was mine.

This was no longer a temporary situation. I was keeping her forever.