by Bru Baker
“All right, then,” the justice of the peace said. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the renewal of vows between Crawford Hargrave and Mateus Fontes. I have to say, I’ve presided over dozens of weddings, but none that are quite this unique. These gentlemen were married in Vancouver almost a month ago, and they’ve chosen to renew their vows here in front of their friends and family. I’m honored to be a part of it, since it’s obvious how much love there is between them.”
Bree sighed dreamily from her spot next to Duarte, and Mateus had to bite back a hysterical laugh. This was all surreal. From the twinkling fairy lights that crisscrossed the barn to the sweet-musty scent of the hay that lingered in the air, it was all perfect. Battery-operated candles flickered in the Mason jars he and Duarte had painstakingly hung from the rafters an hour earlier, though that felt like a lifetime ago. He’d been worried about getting through his vows without all of his emotions written across his face, and now he was beaming so hard it hurt, his happiness radiating out of him and reflecting right back at him from Crawford. Mateus hadn’t realized it was even possible to feel this happy.
“Crawford and Mateus, marriage is a sacred rite. It joins two people together to walk the same road. It’s a very special thing to find two people who will vow to see each other through life’s challenges and joys. We celebrate that love and commitment with you here today.”
The words weren’t that different from the ones they’d heard in the clerk’s office in Vancouver, but this time Mateus felt them resonate in his bones. He and Crawford might’ve already been married on paper, but this, this was their wedding day.
The justice of the peace held his hands out. “Bree, Duarte, and Adam, would you please step forward?”
Both Mateus and Crawford had been hesitant when they’d talked about including this family blessing in the ceremony. Mateus hadn’t wanted to drag their families deeper into the lie, but both Bree and Duarte had been so excited at the prospect of being included that he hadn’t been able to say no. Now he was glad they’d allowed themselves to be railroaded into it.
Duarte reached out and clasped his hand around Mateus’s elbow, and Adam did the same with Crawford’s. Bree’s belly bumped against Mateus’s hip as she placed her hand over top of Mateus’s and Crawford’s joined hands. It felt right, like his niece was part of things.
“A marriage joins not only two people but two families,” the justice of the peace said. “Bree, Duarte, and Adam, do you promise to support these men and their marriage, providing comfort and support when they need it, and welcoming Crawford and Mateus into your families?”
“We do,” they said in unison. Duarte squeezed Mateus’s elbow before stepping back into line behind him with Bree and Adam.
Mateus swallowed hard, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. He’d never thought of himself as particularly sappy, but apparently he’d been wrong.
“Crawford, a month ago you vowed to take Mateus as your husband. Will you continue to have him as your lawfully wedded husband?”
Crawford’s voice was hoarse as he answered. “I will.”
Mateus’s knees wobbled as the justice of the peace turned his gaze on him. “Mateus, a month ago you vowed to take Crawford as your husband. Will you continue to have him as your lawfully wedded husband?”
Mateus’s throat was as dry as the Sahara, but he managed to croak out his affirmation. “I will.”
“Crawford, do you reaffirm your love for Mateus? Will you continue to honor, love, and cherish him as your partner and your equal, forsaking all others and promising your faithfulness as long as you both shall live?”
Crawford pinned Mateus with a heated gaze that had Mateus trembling with more than just nerves. “I will.”
“Mateus, do you reaffirm your love for Crawford? Will you continue to honor, love, and cherish him as your partner and your equal, forsaking all others and promising your faithfulness as long as you both shall live?”
This had been the part of their original vows that Mateus had felt the guiltiest about in Vancouver, but he wholeheartedly pledged himself to it now.
“I will,” he said, his lips quirking up into a smile when Crawford’s fingers tightened on his where they were still joined.
“You exchanged rings as an outward symbol of your love and as a reminder of the promises you made on your wedding day. Please join your left hands together now.”
It was an awkward shuffle, and they ended up with Crawford’s hand on top.
“Crawford, please repeat after me: Mateus, I wear this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
Crawford’s fingers twitched, and Mateus flicked his gaze between the ring Crawford had bought for himself and his face. “Mateus, I wear this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
“Now, please switch your hands, with Mateus’s on top. Mateus, please repeat after me: Crawford, I wear this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
Mateus cleared his throat. His voice was stronger than it had been a moment ago. “Crawford, I wear this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
“Marriage is a conscious choice, one you must reaffirm every day of your lives. May these rings serve as a reminder of your love for each other and the love that joins you together,” the justice of the peace said. “Crawford and Mateus, today you have reaffirmed your vows to each other. You have joined yourselves and your families together, and you leave here today greater for it. May you have a happy, love-filled marriage.”
He put a hand on both of their shoulders, and Mateus shifted a step closer to Crawford. Crawford’s eyes followed him hungrily, his attention centered on Mateus’s mouth. Mateus had to fight the urge to lick his lips, knowing what was coming next.
The justice of the peace patted them both on the back and flashed them a huge smile. “Thank you for allowing us to bear witness and celebrate the occasion of your vow renewal. The ties that bind you are stronger than ever. If you so choose, you may mark this milestone with a kiss.”
Mateus didn’t think there was any power on earth that could have stopped them from doing just that. He leaned in, and a shiver ran down his spine when Crawford’s warm lips touched his. They were chapped because Crawford bit his bottom lip when he was nervous. He’d probably chewed it nearly raw working himself up to the proposal. It was endearing.
Their left hands were still joined, which made Mateus’s shoulder twinge when he pushed even closer to deepen the kiss. He kept it chaste, mindful of the audience, but he couldn’t resist running his tongue along the seam of Crawford’s lips, soothing over the rough skin.
Everyone broke into raucous applause when they pulled apart. Crawford let go of his hand, but Mateus didn’t have much time to worry over the loss before Crawford was pulling him into a tight embrace and pressing another soft kiss against his neck. “I love you,” he murmured, just loud enough for Mateus to hear him. “I do. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s true.”
“Crazier than marrying me a few hours after you met me?” Mateus whispered as Crawford pulled back and grinned at him, his entire face shining. “Well, I love you too, so I guess we’re both crazy.”
Crawford twined their hands together, and they made their way down the aisle and out the open barn doors.
They’d need to go back for pictures soon, but Mateus wanted a little time with Crawford before they had to talk to other people. He led him down the gravel drive, away from the crowd.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen earlier,” Mateus said when they’d gotten far enough away. They were still holding hands, and as far as Mateus was concerned he might never let go.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were upset until it was too late. I’m not always good with words and emotions.”
Crawford pulled him to a stop, and Mateus looked up and laughed when he realized they were under the trees they’d hidden from the rain under. It felt like ages ago, but it had only been a l
ittle less than a week. Things had been surreal lately.
“So, just to be clear, we’re married now,” Crawford said, his eyes sparkling.
Mateus couldn’t help but laugh. “We were married before too.”
“Ah, but now we’re going to consummate it. So we’ll be married.”
“Are we?”
Crawford’s smile deepened. “We are. And we’re going to do it again and again, just to make sure it took.”
“I’m not sure it works like that, but I’m willing to go along with it.”
Crawford nuzzled against Mateus’s neck.
“That was a hell of a first kiss up there,” he murmured.
“We’ve kissed before.”
Crawford pulled back, and the intense look on his face made Mateus’s chest flare with heat. “It’s not—yes. We’ve kissed before,” he said, knocking his forehead against Mateus’s as they both laughed. “But it wasn’t real. I mean, not like this. Not for keeps. So I want that to be our first kiss. The first one where it really meant something.”
Mateus swallowed hard and brought a hand up to stroke Crawford’s cheek. It was the cleanest shaven Mateus had ever seen him. He was touched how much trouble Crawford had gone to in order to look nice for their wedding, but the truth was Mateus kind of missed the stubble. A smile ghosted across Crawford’s lips at the light touch.
“They all meant something,” Mateus said. “I never once touched you without it meaning something to me. I wouldn’t.”
Crawford blinked hard and looked away for a minute. “I didn’t always give you a choice. That first time, at the border—”
“It was a comfort.”
Mateus had never tried so hard to look earnest in his entire life. He needed Crawford to know he was all in, and that he’d never felt forced. “You’ve been what I needed from the second I saw you at the airport, arguing with the clerk.”
Crawford managed a wet-sounding laugh. “I wasn’t arguing with anyone. I was very polite.”
“So polite that you couldn’t let a stranger be arrested at the border for an expired visa.”
“Well,” Crawford said, leaning in to press a kiss to Mateus’s throat. “The stranger in question was tall, dark, and handsome. He made a good impression.”
“And without you I’d have been tall, dark, and deported.”
Crawford made a hurt noise in his throat. “Don’t even joke about that. You’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.”
Mateus felt like his heart was about to beat out of his chest. “I love you.”
“It doesn’t matter how we met, or why we got married. All that matters is that I’m in love with you, and I want you by my side no matter where I go.”
This time when Crawford kissed him, there was no hesitation, no doubt. It felt like coming home.
BRU BAKER got her first taste of life as a writer at the tender age of four, when she started publishing a weekly newspaper for her family. What they called nosiness she called a nose for news, and no one was surprised when she ended up with degrees in journalism and political science and started a career in journalism.
Bru spent more than a decade writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. She now works in reference and readers’ advisory in a Midwestern library, though she still finds it hard to believe someone’s willing to pay her to talk about books all day. Most evenings you can find her curled up with a book or her laptop. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.
Website: www.bru-baker.com
Blog: www.bru-baker.blogspot.com
Twitter: @bru_baker
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bru.baker79
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6608093.Bru_Baker
E-mail: [email protected]
Coming in May 2017
#33
Stage Two by Ariel Tachna
Love has a steep learning curve.
Assistant high-school principal Blake Barnes has everything he wants: a chance to help troubled students and an outlet for his passion for theater. Well, almost everything—he still goes home to an empty apartment. Then his high-school crush explodes back into his life, the unexpected guardian of two boys in Blake’s care.
Thane Dalton has always been a bad boy through and through. Not much has changed, including his mistrust of authority figures, and no amount of institutional bureaucracy will keep him from protecting his nephews from the bullies terrorizing them. If that means butting heads with Blake, so be it.
Blake and Thane have lessons to learn: that they both have the boys’ best interests at heart, that the tension between them isn’t just confrontational, and that sparks can fly when opposites come together.
#34
Two for Trust by Elle Brownlee
American nurse Finch Mason steps beyond the comfort of his orderly life and takes a dream trip to England, complete with a National Trust Pass so he can visit numerous historical sites. At the first one his list, he’s warmly welcomed—and told he bought a pass good for two.
Finch doesn’t hesitate to offer the pass to Benedict, a handsome Brit also there on an outing. They spend a magical week touring the countryside, and while it’s too soon to get attached, Finch wishes their time together would never end.
Then Finch finds himself stuck abroad with no money, and he has no one to turn to but Benedict. Benedict is happy to help, but he also owes Finch some answers—such as who he really is and why he was at the estate where they first met.
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Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Tall, Dark, and Deported
© 2017 Bru Baker.
Cover Art
© 2017 Bree Archer.
http://www.breearcher.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63477-683-7
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63477-684-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016913744
Published April 2017
v. 1.0
Printed in th
e United States of America