Stella

Seven months later …

The first day of spring. New beginnings. It was fitting that this last bit of business had to happen today. I stood at the bottom of the courthouse steps and checked my phone for the dozenth time. A hand tapped me on the shoulder and I jumped.

“Stan!” I went in for a hug as he held his arms out to me. “You’re late.”

He shrugged, his face grim. “You know, you don’t have to be here for this. He’d understand if you changed your mind.”

A breeze kicked up and I tucked a stray hair behind my ear. I looked up at the Northpointe City Courthouse. Stan was right, but this was too important.

“Did you talk to him this morning?” I asked, letting out a breath. “How was he?”

Stan shrugged. “I won’t lie, he’s nervous. And he ought to be. I’ve given him as many pointers as I can about how to get through this, but you know Mitch. He doesn’t always listen.”

“Well, I love you for being here for him. I’m more worried about the judge though. Can you promise me you won’t let Pierce anywhere near Mitch today? I mean, I know he technically has a right to be here, this is happening in his courthouse and everything, but I just hope he has the decency to stay away. He’s won. He got what he wanted. The whole town knows what Mitch did.”

I felt a gentle hand on my back and whirled around. “Huck!” I nearly squealed it. I went up on my tiptoes, teetering on my three-inch white pumps. Huck lifted me off my feet and whirled me around.

“You look stunning, Stella. I think you’re overdressed even for this.”

I gave Huck a playful slap on the chest. “That’s exactly the wrong thing to say to a girl. No wonder you’re still single, Officer Hunk.”

Huck winced. “Shh. Someone might hear you.” He looked over my head at Stan. “What time is this show supposed to start?”

Stan looked at his watch. “Five minutes. And they’ll sure as hell start on time or throw the whole thing out.” Stan held an arm out to me. “You ready to head up?”

I looped one arm around Stan’s, the other around Huck’s, grateful for the solid strength and support the two of them gave me. I knew Mitch would need it from them today too. I took a deep breath to try and settle my nerves.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You sure Mitch doesn’t want his family here for this? Or yours?” Huck asked.

I shook my head. “No. It’s fine. The less hoopla the better. That’s what Mitch said. Plus, he’s uh … going to have a lot of time off after today. We’re planning on heading down to Denver tomorrow to see his sister. We’ll go to Fort Myers over Easter break when Collingwood gets out.”

“You like the new job?” Huck asked as we started up the courthouse steps. Mitch was waiting for me up there, alone and probably scared to death though he’d never admit it. I swallowed past a lump in my throat.

“It’s perfect. I’m happy. That is, if we can just get through this last thing.”

Huck whistled low. “You’re one brave woman. You sure you don’t want to back out? Mitch would understand.”

I cocked my head and looked at him. Huck’s blue eyes flashed. “Well, it is my fervent hope that you’ll get the chance to know how much a day like today matters. Any chance that’s on the horizon for you? I know a few girls in town who’d love to meet you.”

“Oh no,” Huck said. “No chance. I like my life uncomplicated. No offense. Plus, I’m not staying in Northpointe after today. I’ve got a new assignment.”

“Is it top secret?”

Huck shrugged. “No. Babysitting a federal judge. Dreary. Mundane. Can’t wait for it to be over.”

“That’s the spirit,” Stan said as we approached the double doors. He opened them for me and gave me a courtly bow. I took a steeling breath and walked inside. No matter what happened, Mitch and I wouldn’t be the same when we walked back out.

We walked past the shoeshine stand and the flower shop.

“Oh wait,” Huck called out. “I wouldn’t be holding up my end if I hadn’t noticed.”

I cocked my head and raised a brow. Huck went ahead of us, took out his wallet, and handed a bill over to the cashier. He came back with a slightly wilted bouquet of daisies and baby’s breath. Smiling, he handed it to me. I went back up on my tiptoes and kissed him. Then we walked down the hall. My heels clacked on the marble floor. Stan took us to Courtroom Five where Mitch waited.

He swung open the doors. Mitch stood in front of Judge Langley’s bench, his hands folded in front of him. He turned to the side, caught my eye, and took my breath away. My Mitch was handsome and strong wearing the new black suit I bought him with the blue tie. As I got closer, his eyes twinkled with a hint of tears. My own eyes grew wet as well.

“Are you sure about this?” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss me.

“I’ve never been surer about anything in my life,” I said, looping my arm through his. Huck and Stan stood on either side of us as we all turned and faced the judge.

He was old with keen eyes and graying hair. Judge Langley, Mitch told me. One of the few good ones, he’d promised. Judge Langley cleared his throat and put on his reading glasses. Then he said the words that would make us man and wife.

It was fast. Just seven months. But it was really seven months and fifteen years. We knew if we kept on waiting, there would always be something in the way. Mitch got reprimanded for his run-in with Judge Pierce; because of it, he’d probably never make command. But I knew better. My Mitch never wanted it. He just wanted to keep doing the work he’d built. They couldn’t take that or his badge away from him.

We’d written our own vows and I turned to Mitch to say mine. “I promise to love you all the days of my life. In sickness and in health. I’ve loved you in some ways since the first day I met you. You’ve been worth the wait.” I said other things, but my throat felt tight as my tears started to flow.

Mitch squeezed my hand and kissed me again. We were early on that, but Judge Langley didn’t seem to mind. “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you. I was born for you and you for me. It took me far too long to figure that out and I promise not to be as dense about the rest of it. Standing here, I know I don’t deserve you.”

Huck and Stan muttered agreement. Laughing I turned to them and tried to look stern. Then I turned back to Mitch.

“I know I don’t deserve you, but I promise to spend the rest of my life trying.”

Smiling, I looked at my love. “The only promise I need is you coming home to me every night.”

Then Mitch kissed me. It was deep and filled my heart over and over again. Mitch was mine and I was his. We shared our love with the people we cared most about that day. Huck and Stan stood up with us. My new teacher friends from Collingwood came. Officers Smalls and Walling showed up. Judy Smith had even agreed to bring Tyler down. He looked so handsome in a brown suit too big for him. He gave me a thumbs up and a wide smile as we turned and faced the gallery. Ken Bardwell came too. He sat in the front row and when Mitch caught his eye, he cried the fattest tears out of any of us. And I was so happy to get to share this day with all of them.

As we took our first steps as man and wife, a hand reached out and closed around my wrist. Old Phil’s shining tears melted me. He sat next to Young Phil in a wheelchair to the side of the aisle. I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. He was thinner, his hair whiter, and one side of his face drooped more than the other. But he smiled and reached out with a trembling hand to cup my face. “You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice choked with emotion.

“Aw, let ‘em go Dad,” Young Phil said, winking. “They’ve got a plane to catch.”

“I love you,” I told Old Phil and shot a wink back at his son. Then I turned back and looped my arm through my husband’s.

“He’s right,” Mitch said. “You are the prettiest thing he’s ever seen.”

Mitch and I shared one other thing. A secret that made my heart soar as Mitch squeezed my hand and we started to walk down the aisle to the back of the courtroom. Our motley gathering of friends blew bubbles from plastic bottles as we walked by. I turned and threw my bouquet Huck bought for me. Our little crowd erupted in laughter and catcalls as Huck himself caught it and his face turned red.

Then Mitch and I left the courthouse together with the new spring sun shining in our faces. He held me close as we walked down the marble steps together. That tiny secret we shared fluttered inside my womb. New spring. New life. And we would share it all together.

A Message from Jayne Blue

Thank you so much for reading. Since the day I made the decision to commit to writing full time, I’ve had this series in mind. This story in particular is one I’ve been waiting to tell for such a long time. Men like Mitch are out there, fighting for our kids every single day and I’ve seen firsthand the toll it takes on them year after year. Some days they win, others they don’t. But these men and women are the real heroes of the world in my eyes.

Next up, you guessed it, Huck’s story! It’s called and I’m so proud of it. Our very own U.S. Marshal, “Officer Hunk” Ray Huckman gets assigned to protect a federal judge who’s been targeted in an assassination plot. Seems simple enough, until he meets her. Judge Julia Key is tough, gorgeous, smart as hell, and harbors some deep secrets of her own. The attraction between Huck and Judge Key is combustible from the get go. And Julia’s one of the most complex female characters I’ve ever written. I can’t wait for you to meet her. You can find out more about Huck, Julia and Marked by clicking .

Now, for more fun stuff! Keep reading. At the end of this message, I’ve included not one, but TWO bonus book excerpts to keep you going. The first is Ryder, the 8^th book in my Great Wolves M.C. series. If you love hot, alpha male bikers and the strong women who love them, this series is gonna be right up your alley. These books are complete standalones and can be read in any order, just like the Tortured Heroes series. So, if you haven’t taken a chance on the Great Wolves yet, now’s a perfect time. Keep reading.

I’ve also included an excerpt of one of my earlier works, Torrid. If you like erotic billionaire romance, I’ve soooo got you covered with this one.

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Jayne Blue