Page 19 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

“Thought you’d never ask.” Then she grinned at him, and for a moment, he forgot it was all a show for Amelia’s sake. Forgot Goldilocks was just a fable, a way for Zoey to torture him with porridge.

Forgot that this marriage scenario wasn’t supposed to fit just right.

He turned to Judge Morrow. “Let’s do it.”

* * *

This was really happening.

Zoey was grateful for the excuse to stare at Linc as they grasped hands in front of Judge Morrow, repeating vows as the scent of roses and Linc’s spicy aftershave permeated the small room.

The man looked too handsome for his own good with his slicked-back hair.

Linc rarely wore it that way, but a little piece of Zoey’s heart always rejoiced when he did.

Linc’s gaze held hers, the steady eye contact doing all kinds of things to her heart. “For better, and for worse…”

Zoey swallowed. Please, God, let there be some better on its way.

“For richer, or poorer.”

Well, she had that part covered.

“In sickness and in health…”

Amazing Grace played softly in the background, Zoey’s request when the courthouse admin asked if she’d like any music. A thoughtful touch, even though she’d panicked and blurted out the first song she could think of.

I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.

She certainly felt found in this moment. Safe, for the first time in…well, years. Like maybe someone could take care of her, instead of only ever having to take care of herself.

Like maybe God had been a little more involved in this impromptu decision than she’d thought.

There had been that email that came through late last night.

The insurance company had pointed the blame to the fryer manufacturer, who agreed it was an error but not theirs—rather, that of the supplier who had issued a part recall.

In other words, the investigation was still going, and Zoey was still indefinitely homeless and broke.

Talk about a finger writing in the sky after all.

“…’til death do us part.” Linc finished his vows, his voice deep. His dark brown gaze still held hers, a life preserver in an ocean.

The vows were standard, but Zoey meant them with her whole heart as she took her turn reciting after the judge.

“In good times and bad…” It wasn’t hard to promise to be there for Linc.

Wasn’t she always? Wasn’t that why she was even standing there in the first place, wearing a strapless bra of all things?

And she had no doubt Linc meant his vows too—just in the most platonic way possible.

With a grand gesture and a little bow, Judge Morrow beamed. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Mrs. Zoey Fontenot. It certainly had a ring to it.

And now so did Zoey’s finger. She held up her hand, admiring the simple gold band Linc had procured from a pawn shop on the mainland. She’d never been much of a diamond girl, so this simplicity suited her perfectly.

But would anyone suspect what they were up to without a big engagement ring to go along with it?

“Good news, Linc.” Judge Morrow smiled at him. “You may now kiss your bride.”

Um. Zoey’s hand fell back to her side, and she cast a look at Linc, whose widened eyes revealed the same panic—they’d forgotten this part.

How had they forgotten this part?

Judge motioned to them with a chuckle as he leaned against the podium. “Come on, now. Don’t be shy.”

Amelia groaned. “I’ll cover my eyes.” She clapped her hands over her face.

“Okay.” Linc raked his fingers through his hair with one hand, tugged Zoey closer with the other.

Okay? They were doing this?

Her breath caught, and she licked her suddenly dry lips. She’d forgotten lip gloss in her rush that morning, but maybe that was for the best, because Linc didn’t seem like a Frosted Pink kind of guy.

She breathed in the familiar aroma of Linc and his balmy cologne as he drew nearer. He always managed to smell a little like saltwater and sun, even when he hadn’t been on his boat.

His hand let go of hers and moved to her waist, warm against the thin fabric of her dress. They’d stood close before, but never like this. Never with the pressure, the expectation, the anticipation…Her chest heated, and she risked a glance into his eyes.

Linc, nervous? Now she’d seen everything.

Then, before she could begin to decipher why, he bent down and brushed a quick kiss against her lips. So light, he barely touched her. So quickly, she almost missed it.

Her stomach rolled.

He straightened immediately, looking back at Judge Morrow instead of at her.

Zoey schooled her features into a smile as her mind raced to process. She and Linc weren’t the physically affectionate kind of friends. She knew that going into this arrangement—there was no reason to be sad. Nothing had changed, just like he promised.

Didn’t he always keep his word?

Zoey squeezed Linc’s hand, then chuckled at Amelia’s still-hiding posture. “It’s safe now.”

The girl slowly lowered her hands, her scowl back in place. “Finally.”

Well, at least Amelia assumed the kiss had been a good one.

After they settled up with Judge Morrow and retrieved their signed license, they made their escape outside, the sun a welcome relief as the courthouse doors closed behind them.

Zoey inhaled a deep breath of air, ribs straining against her dress and that horrible underwire.

Birds chirped from the nearby pines, and somewhere down Village Lane, a horn honked.

They’d done it.

They were married.

They filed down the courthouse steps, Linc’s hand grazing Zoey’s back as if protecting her from tripping in her low heels. Her heart skipped a little. See? He cared. Just because he didn’t want to kiss her didn’t mean he didn’t care .

She had a feeling she was going to have to learn to be content with those kinds of gestures. After all, low expectations meant less room for disappointment. More room for sunshine.

And this family was going to need all that Zoey could possibly generate.

Linc jerked his head toward Amelia. “By the way, we’re going to keep this just between us three for a bit. Keep the town busybodies out of it.”

Amelia stopped walking. “That might be hard to do.”

“Why do you say that?” Zoey frowned. “I mean, I know it’s Magnolia Bay, but I figure we have a few days at least before word spreads.”

Ugh. To that point, Elisa might kill her, but she’d deal with that later. Or maybe she could just tell Elisa, and make her promise not to?—

“Because look.” Amelia pointed.

Zoey followed her gaze to a limo parked in front of the courthouse, pink streamers and cans tied to the bumper. The back windshield read JUST MARRIED.

Uh-oh.

They all stopped short. Linc bumped into Zoey’s hip. “Maybe it’s not for us?” Hope pricked his tone. “People get married at courthouses all the time.”

“Guess again.” Amelia pointed again—to the chauffeur climbing out the driver’s side, holding a sign that clearly read LINC AND ZOEY FONTENOT.

“Was this you?” Zoey asked. Then realized there was no way Amelia could pay for something like that. But who?—

Amelia scoffed. “As if. Probably one of your mushy friends.”

Zoey met Linc’s eyes, which had widened with a slight panic. Amelia was probably right. How would their friends have known?

“This way, please. There’s a reception waiting for you.” The smiling driver in a black hat grandly opened the back door of the limousine. “Ladies first.”

Zoey slowly slid into the limo after Amelia, forcing a polite smile as the driver shut their door and Linc headed around the vehicle to the other side. She clenched her hands in her lap, staring at the glistening ring on her finger against the white fabric of her sundress.

She’d gotten everything she’d ever really wanted. Marriage to her best friend. A family. Even a surprise party.

So why did her natural sunshine feel so thoroughly blocked by clouds?