The Billionaire’s Christmas Vows: A Jet City Billionaire Christmas Romance Read Free Page B

Audacious ."
    Kelly nodded. "And unfortunate for Victoria. Vicki and Joe can't afford a big wedding on their own. A rational adult would simply tell a rational set of parents her very logical reason for doing what she did. Because she loves Joe, she wants him covered in case he gets sick. But that isn't going to fly with her family. Not after what her sister did."
    Okay. So Victoria's problems were beginning to look similar to mine. But at least she'd really married her guy.
    "Now she's scrambling to find some way to get a legal second license her mom can file. She's done a ton of research." Kelly paused, giving gravity to the situation. "It's an obscure issue. Only New York State will allow and issue a legal second license. If the authority performing the ceremony demands it.
    "Unfortunately for Victoria, you have to get married in New York to use it. Which is out. Her venue is here in Washington."
    My heart stopped. I almost choked on my coffee. Kelly kept talking but I didn't hear what she was saying. My mind was whirling.
    Kelly frowned. "Kayla? Are you okay?"
    I nodded and took a sip of water. "I choke easily these day. New York, did you say?"
    She nodded. "Yeah, if you know the right search terms to use, you can Google it. Try secret wedding. That's how she found it. There are forums that discuss secret weddings, believe it or not."
    Why hadn't I thought of that? Suddenly, I was grinning. Jus, I just found your Christmas present. And mine, too. A secret New York second—or first, as our case may be—wedding. What could be more perfect?

Chapter Three
    K ayla
    As we parted, I hugged Kelly goodbye with more enthusiasm than she expected. Little did she know she'd just solved a major problem for Jus and me. Merry Christmas, Kayla and Jus!
    I played Christmas music all the way home, listening to songs extolling the virtues of love, faith, and loyalty making great gifts. Didn't I know it! That was what I was aiming for.
    By the time I walked in the door of home, I was as ebullient as a round, jolly, old elf like Saint Nick. I hummed the latest in Christmas music and practically danced my way into the entry. The scent of fresh fir trees perfumed the air, along with a faint hint of cinnamon and ginger, giving a real feeling of Christmas to the place. Magda had probably been baking earlier.
    It was only a little after three, but Magda had gone for the day. She'd left me a note and dinner in the fridge, with instructions on how to heat it up. These solo dinners were getting monotonous. It was no use texting Jus to see if he'd be home for dinner. He wouldn't.
    I frowned. No text from him, either. I hoped he'd gotten my advent calendar delivery.
    Oh, well. Nothing dimmed my good cheer. In fact, for the moment, I relished my time alone. Now I had plenty of time to plan my surprise wedding. I pulled off my coat and boots, hung my coat in the closet, and padded off to my office to begin my research.
    Outside, the clouds had cleared and the sun was peeking out, low in the sky. The sun set before five now. It was threatening a beautiful sunset. My office faced west, like the kitchen and as much of the house as could possibly manage it. Most of the west side of the house was view windows. The views were all to the west across the lake. To the east was a hill. So not much exciting view there except for the driveway and the gardens. Nice, but not the same as lake, mountains, and cityscape.
    My iMac booted up and within minutes I'd found exactly what Kelly had promised—the forums. With links to the New York State official website with all the official rules and regulations for obtaining licenses and getting married. Why hadn't I thought of this earlier?
    I guessed I hadn't believed it was possible. And to be fair to Jus and me, like Kelly had said, it was obscure. Only one state in the country allowed for a second license when you were already married. The original mention of the second license was buried in a forum discussing problems