Elvis also created a small sensation.
"Look at the little dust bunny," a clerk cooed. "Isn't he just the cutest thing?"
"That little cape is absolutely adorable," another staff member said.
Never one to miss a moment in the spotlight, Elvis posed on the counter.
"No offense," Kay muttered to Sierra, "but he looks better than you do."
"Well, sure," Sierra said. "He's Elvis."
There was more paperwork than she had expected, and now that the adrenaline had worn off, she was starting to feel the bruising from her fall. Her left arm and shoulder were going to be very colorful in the morning.
When she had to tear up one of the forms because she'd put down her old address in Resonance instead of her new one in Crystal, she realized she was grinding her teeth.
She could not help but notice that Fontana did not appear to be having any difficulties with his forms. No do-overs for a Guild boss.
Eventually they got to the final stretch. The judge introduced herself as Maryann Partridge and, like the registrar's staff, seemed absolutely delighted to perform the civil ceremony for the new Guild chief.
Using the buzz of conversation as cover, Sierra leaned over to whisper in Kay's ear, "Why is everyone acting as if this is some kind of major romantic event?" she asked. "These people do Marriages of Convenience day in and day out. They know better than anyone that they're nothing more than short-term affairs dignified by some legal trappings."
Kay looked genuinely shocked. "That's not true. They're real weddings."
Sierra started to argue but stopped when she realized that a hush had fallen over the room and that everyone was looking at her.
Kay scooped up Elvis and held him as though he were a bridal bouquet while Judge Partridge launched into the ceremony.
"If I may have the rings," Partridge said brightly.
Sierra started violently. She had not given any thought to rings. Traditionally, silver rings were used in Marriages of Convenience. Gold was reserved for Covenant Marriages.
"I don't have a ring," she said.
Fontana seemed briefly amused by her anxiety.
"I have one," he said.
He removed his black and amber seal ring. She watched, a little shocked, as he slipped it onto her finger. It was much too big and far too heavy. Automatically, she closed her hand very tightly so that it wouldn't fall off.
Just a Marriage of Convenience. Don't panic.
The list of vows was shorter, more succinct, and a good deal less binding than those spoken at the more lengthy Covenant Marriage service. They were also a lot more businesslike. Nevertheless, Sierra got a small chill when she listened to herself repeat them to Fontana.
"I promise to remain faithful so long as we both are bound by this agreement…
"I promise to honor and respect our commitment to each other so long as we both are bound by this agreement…
"I understand that all worldly goods that belong to me prior to this agreement are my sole possessions and will remain my sole possessions when this agreement is ended…
"I understand that if a child is born of this union, that this agreement will immediately become a full and binding Covenant Marriage agreement subject to all the laws and regulations pertaining thereunto…"
At last it was over. Sierra took a deep breath. She felt a trifle unsteady and not because of her broken heel. What in the world had she just done for the sake of the story of the decade?
"You may kiss the bride," Judge Partridge announced, beaming at Fontana.
Sierra felt all the air leave her lungs. Should have seen that coming.
It was too late to figure out a polite way to finesse the situation. The relentlessly cheerful crowd expected the traditional conclusion to the wedding ceremony. Fontana was already pulling her into his arms.
At his touch, she went still. The exciting whispers of energy that she had been trying to suppress suddenly flared into an intoxicating rush. A shiver of anticipation swept through her. This intense reaction was crazy. It was the result of the aftereffects of all the excitement. There was no other explanation.
Amusement and a shocking, mesmerizing heat gleamed in his eyes.
"Brace yourself, my dear, and think of Earth," he whispered for her ears alone.
The old joke elicited an unexpected burble of laughter from somewhere inside her.
And then he was kissing her, a slow, drugging, claim-staking kiss that slammed all of her senses into overdrive. She forgot that they had an audience. His mouth was the best thing she had ever tasted in her entire life, and she wanted more, a lot more. He responded by tightening his grip on her, crushing her against the broad, solid wall of his chest.
Sparkling thrills chased down her spine. Deliciously hot currents swirled. Liquid warmth pooled deep inside her. Somewhere out on the paranormal plane, energy flashed. Her psychic intuition did the happy dance.
Applause and cheering broke out, shattering the crystalline aura of intimacy into a million fragments. Reality came crashing back.
Dazed, Sierra opened her eyes. She was still pressed tightly against Fontana, but he was no longer kissing her.
"You can let him go now, Sierra," Phil called loudly. "I've got plenty of good shots."
Laughter splashed through the registrar's office.
She was stunned to discover that her arms had somehow wound themselves around Fontana's neck. She was holding on to him as though she were lost in the catacombs and he was her amber compass, as if she dared not let him go for fear of being lost forever.
Mortified, she released him and took a hasty step back, grabbing the edge of the counter to steady herself on her broken pump.
Immediately the hunters moved in on Fontana to shake his hand.
"Congratulations, sir," Simon said. "You're getting a real gutsy lady here. Good choice for a Guild boss's wife."
"And she can cook," Jeff added helpfully. "Wait until you try her chocolate chip cookies."
Fontana winked at Sierra. "I'll look forward to the experience."
He seemed more relaxed now that the business had been concluded. Fontana was not what anyone would call a jubilant bridegroom, Sierra thought, but he was definitely less grim. She groped for the right word and finally found it. He looked satisfied, the way a chess player would be after making an important move in a complicated strategy. In spite of the stress and the disorientation produced by the sizzling kiss, her intuition took note.
Coaxing her into this fake marriage had been important to him, perhaps even more important than she had realized. It was enough to make her wonder if maybe he had not told her everything concerning his plan for them to work as a team. The possibility that he considered her a useful pawn, not an equal partner, was disturbing. It was also infuriating.
Kay led the small group out of the registrar's office and down the stairs.
"Listen up, everyone," she announced when they reached the lobby "You're all invited back to the offices of the Curtain. It's not every day someone on the staff gets married. We're going to party. We've got cheap bubbly. We've got cheap food. We've got balloons."
"Are you inviting us, too?" Simon asked, angling his chin at Mitch, Jeff, and Andy.
"Of course," Kay said. She spread her arms wide. "You're all invited. Can't let a member of the Curtain get married without a major celebration."
Sierra glanced at Fontana, waiting for him to make some excuse to avoid the party. What would it be? she wondered. Got to get back to the office. Got a late meeting. Got a dinner engagement with the mayor. Got a date with the woman I'm sleeping with.
For some reason that last possibility robbed the moment of all amusement.