Free Her Enemy Protector by Cindy Dees Page A

marriage license you’re worried about, I’ve got it right here.”
    Cabot’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He looked more than a little annoyed. But, interestingly enough, he continued to address himself solely to her and ignored Joe. “Actually, I’m more worried about what your father will think of this, Carina. You don’t want to deprive him of the pleasure of seeing his baby girl become a bride, do you? It would break his heart.”
    She waved an airy hand. “Oh, he’s been telling Joe to make an honest woman out of me for weeks now. He’ll be thrilled.”
    Cabot looked skeptical. “Well,” he drawled, “if you’ve already got the license and you have your father’s blessing…” He took a step toward the door. “Wait here. There are several things I’ll need to get if we’re going to do this wedding tonight. I’ll be back in a moment.”
    Joe and Folly exchanged significant looks as the judge left the room.
    She muttered under her breath, “There goes the bet.”
    Folly flashed her a brief smile. But then Joe startled her by taking her hand in his. “How are you holding up?” he murmured.
    “So far, so good,” she mumbled back, as aware as he apparently was that there could be microphones hidden in this room. She plucked at her red dress. “I can’t believe I’m going to get married in this outfit. I always imagined I’d wear some outrageously expensive designer gown—white, of course, and covered in lace and pearls.”
    Joe glanced down at her attire and fire blazed in his eyes. “I dunno. You may start a fashion trend. A sexy red dress seems just right for the occasion if you ask me.”
    She laughed. “And that’s why the groom doesn’t pick the dress. If men had their way, brides would wear lace teddies down the aisle.”
    He grinned widely. “Now you’re talking.”
    She heard a noise in the hall and quickly leaned into Joe, plastering herself blatantly to him from chest to ankle. She purred, “That’s why I’m marrying you, darling. You always know what to say to make me feel better.”
    The judge walked in just then, and when she drew away from Joe, his arm came up, trapping her against him. Good point. It probably was a good idea for the judge to see them crawling all over each other like cats in heat. All the more reason for him to get them safely married as soon as possible.
    Cabot cleared his throat. “My wife will be down in just a minute. We’ll need two witnesses for the ceremony, and if your driver will consent to be one of them, Josefina will stand in as the second.”
    Carina answered carelessly, not even bothering to glance over at Folly. “Of course he’ll do it.” Servants in this country, particularly her father’s, were expected to do what they were told and not ask any questions about it.
    An attractive woman of middle years came into the room, patting her hair in place. A giant diamond glittered on her hand, impossible to miss. Cari’s gaze narrowed. Josefina Cabot was an extremely well-turned-out woman, compliments of Eduardo’s bribes to her husband. She supposed she shouldn’t blame Josefina for being married to a crook, but she still didn’t like seeing the woman wearing thousand-dollar sweaters and hundred-thousand-dollar rings paid for in other people’s blood.
    Cari exchanged air kisses with Cabot’s wife, who gushed, “How exciting this is! So romantic. To elope with a handsome young man. Ah, to be your age again, Carina.”
    The most exciting part for the woman was going to be all the attention she got when she called everyone she knew to gossip about this secret ceremony two minutes after it was over.
    “Are we ready, then?” Judge Cabot asked. “Come stand over here in front of me, you two.”
    A rush of heat swept over Cari and she actually felt light-headed. Great. That was all she needed to fuel Josefina’s rumor mill. Fainting at her own wedding. But then Joe’s magical hands were there again, one in the small of her back and the