Free Her Enemy Protector by Cindy Dees Page B

other at her elbow, steadying her and guiding her forward to stand beside him in front of the judge.
    Her body didn’t feel like it belonged to her. She listened in mild disbelief as the judge droned through the wedding ceremony, lecturing them about the sanctity of marriage, how it was a sacred oath unto death.
    Unto death. She prayed fervently that this harebrained scheme wouldn’t end up with Joe—or even her—dying at her father’s hands. She ought to call this off. Tell Joe to save himself and forget about helping her.
    But as surely as she was standing here, going through with this insanity, so would he. She might not have the slightest idea who Joe Smith was beneath the mask he always wore, but she knew one thing about him for sure. He’d never walk away from her. Not after he’d promised to rescue her from her father.
    She gulped as Judge Cabot turned to her and said, “Repeat after me. I, Carina Inez di Ortolo Ferrare, do take thee—” a pause while Cabot glanced down at the marriage license in his hand “—Joseph Chavez Smith, to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
    Emotion was so thick in her throat that she could hardly breathe. What was it? Fear? Sentimental sappiness? This wasn’t a real wedding, after all. It was just pretend. But darned if her throat didn’t clench up around the familiar phrases “to have and to hold” and “in sickness and in health.”
    In minor shock, she listened to herself promise to love, honor and cherish Joe until death did they part. Lord, that felt really real!
    And then it was Joe’s turn. She looked up at him, not sure if she was more stunned or frightened. And then, of course, there was the whole question of whether she ought to be more afraid of God’s or her father’s reaction to this farce.
    But then Joe’s hand tightened on hers and his gaze captured hers with mesmerizing intensity.
    “I, Joseph Chavez Smith, do take thee, Carina…”
    His voice rolled over her and through her, compelling in its quiet certainty. Conveying reassurance. A promise that he would not let her come to any harm. And then he did something odd.
    The judge intoned, “I vow to love, honor and cherish thee all the days of our lives….”
    But Joe repeated, “I vow to love, honor and protect thee all the days of our lives….”
    And darned if her eyes didn’t start to burn. Tears filled her eyes until Joe was little more than a dark blur before her. And then the tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks in hot tracks. She couldn’t reach up to brush them away since Joe had a death grip on her hands. But just as well. Josefina Cabot could tell all her friends that the bride had cried with happiness.
    Surprisingly, it was Joe who reached up with his fingertips to catch her tears and press them to his lips. How romantic. If she’d truly been in love with this man, the gesture would have melted her heart. She glanced up at Joe in gratitude and was riveted by the passion shining in his gaze. Lord, he was looking at her like he was completely enthralled. Her heart flip-flopped.
    And then she remembered. It was all an act. But, Lord, what an act it was. If he’d felt that way about her for real, she’d be blown away. Behind them, Josefina gave a sappy sigh. And the tabloids would report that the groom adored his bride, who worshiped him in return.
    She blinked as she realized Judge Cabot was asking for the rings. Oh, God. Rings. Rings hadn’t even crossed her mind. But Joe calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out two gold wedding bands. His, an unadorned ring of plain yellow gold. But hers was the surprise. It looked like an antique. It was definitely not new, for it bore the dings and scratches of many years spent on someone’s finger. She didn’t have time to examine it closely, but at a glimpse, it looked carved in an intricate pattern of vines, leaves and flowers in different colors of white, rose and yellow gold. “It’s lovely,” she breathed.
    “My