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Gus looked into her eyes. “I do.” He looked calm and certain of his answer.
She felt anything but, though the surety in his words had taken her fear down a notch.
He gave her a reassuring smile, and she gave a weak smile in return as the justice addressed her.
“Merritt, do you take Augustus to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”
Her chest rose then fell as she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her eyes flickered to his for an instant before staring at his tie. “I do,” she finally said.
“The wedding ring is a symbol of unity, a circle unbroken, no beginning and no end. The exchange of these rings today is a demonstration of your unity as a couple, your love whole and unbroken, and a love without end.”
The lump in her throat was back again.
“Augustus, please place the ring on Merritt’s finger and repeat after me.”
Adelia handed him the ring, and he took hold of Merritt’s hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. As she glanced down, she couldn’t help but think that it looked good there.
Gus repeated after the justice. “This ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness.”
Merritt did the same, taking the ring from Adelia, sliding it onto Gus’s finger. “This ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness.”
She didn’t look him in the eye when she said it. Instead, she held his hand in hers, rubbing her thumb over the ring. Tears burned her eyes, fighting to escape. Had she really gone through with this?
“Augustus and Merritt, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, I now declare you to be husband and wife. Congratulations! You may kiss your bride.”
Oh my gosh! This is it. Gus reached out and lifted her chin until she looked at him. He brushed away a lone tear that had escaped from her eye and focused on her lips. It was him swallowing hard this time as he leaned closer and pressed his mouth to hers.
His lips were soft and gentle as he kissed her with the perfect amount of pressure to get the blood pumping through her veins. She unintentionally moved closer, resting her palm on his chest, tilting her head as she returned his kiss. And when he pulled away, she was disappointed his lips hadn’t lingered on hers a bit longer.
His gaze remained fixed on her mouth as he leaned closer again, like he might go in for another kiss, but she came to her senses and stepped back just in time.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Schultz.”
Merritt tried not to cringe at that, but she couldn’t help it.
They all signed the marriage license to make it official, and the two of them walked toward the exit of the building as husband and wife.
The moment the doors opened, cameras flashed, and the small gathering of paparazzi threw out questions left and right.
“Gus, is it true you’re married?”
“Where did you two meet?”
“Will you live here or in Michigan?”
Merritt had gone places with Adelia plenty of times, so she was no stranger to how this usually went, but she’d never been the one the cameras were focused on.
Gus wound his fingers through hers and squeezed.
“Give us a little privacy, will you?” Gus asked politely. “It’s an important day, and we’d like to enjoy it. So, take a few pictures and then be on your way.” He was firm and levelheaded, like he’d dealt with them plenty of times before.
Gus stopped halfway down the steps and slid his arm around behind her, drawing her into his side, and put on a smile that looked sincere. Merritt tried to smile in the same way, but she wasn’t sure she pulled it off.
Giovanni walked past them then with Adelia on one arm and Whitney on the other.
“Adelia! How do you feel about Gus’s marriage?”
“Fans will be disappointed that it wasn’t the two of you getting hitched.”