Epilogue
Hailey woke the next morning, a married woman, feeling satisfied. She threw an arm and a leg over Josh. “You awake yet?” They’d been at the reception late, and then Josh had gone all out to make their wedding night special with glowing candles and rose petals. He’d even arranged for Rose and Max to stay with Jake and Claire so they could have uninterrupted couple time. The dogs would fly home with Jake and Claire, where they’d stay while she and Josh enjoyed their honeymoon. Prince Phillip had paid for their airfare and hotel to Paris before the wedding as a gift, so this honeymoon would be Josh’s special touch. She couldn’t wait to find out what he’d planned.
She ran her fingers through his rumpled hair. “Josh?”
He jerked awake, his hand clamping around her wrist, his eyes flying open. “What?”
“Time to wake up.”
He released her wrist and slowly smiled, relaxing again. “You horny?”
She trailed her fingers over his bare chest. They were both still naked from last night. “Yes. But I’m also excited about the honeymoon. Where are we going? The suspense is killing me.”
He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her. “It’s this exotic place called Clover Park, Connecticut.” That was home.
She shook her head. “Try again.”
“Damn, I can’t even rile you up anymore.”
“I’m pregnant married Zen. What can I say? I have everything I ever dreamed of.” She kissed him and beamed. “The happiest of endings.”
“I guess we should just skip the trip to Italy, then.”
“Aaah!”
He waved a hand lazily. “Florence, Venice, Rome, who needs them?”
She climbed on top of him. “Josh!”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Surprise.”
She’d been a little worried if he’d come through on the planning stuff since that was normally her territory. She should’ve known he’d do it up right. He never let her down. Her steady stable husband. Her rock who rocked her world.
She peppered kisses all over his gorgeous face and felt his smile.
He rolled her under him and gazed into her eyes. “I love you, pregnant wife, my warrior princess.”
“I love you, pregnant husband, my warrior beast.”
He laughed low in his throat and nuzzled into her neck. She sighed, running her hands over the hard planes of his back. The heat and weight of him was glorious.
He settled between her legs, taking her in a slow thrust, his movements unhurried. His gaze was dark, intense, fierce on hers. She was lost in the raw desire in his eyes. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, their gazes locked, their breaths mingling. He accelerated the pace, and she rose to meet him, the intensity building, igniting between them. There was only heat and fire and so much love.
The buildup was so slow her release slammed into her unexpectedly, bringing him with her. He stayed buried deep inside her, his lips trailing reverent kisses along her throat and jaw before settling on her mouth.
“You’re mine,” he growled.
He was so good with the romantic words. She was fluent in Josh speak now. “I own you,” she informed him.
He smiled widely, his face lighting up. “Hailey.”
She hugged him tight and sighed the happiest of sighs.
~ ~ ~
Josh headed out with Hailey and a royal escort toward the palace entrance later that morning. Phillip was all apologies for the way things had gone down with the wedding blunders. Hailey, classy as ever, was gracious and reassuring. “Phillip, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We both did. Please don’t worry. My only concern is how this is going to affect your future business.”
Just then Crown Prince Gabriel, wearing his tux as if he’d never went to bed last night, and the guards stalked through, marching Bonnie out. She was subdued; her shoulders drooped. Gabriel was stiff and still looked furious. The guards escorted Bonnie outside, probably all the way to the ferry too.
The moment the palace doors closed behind her, Gabriel announced to them, Phillip, and the assorted footmen handling their luggage, “The palace is now closed to outsiders for good!”
“Gabriel, it was only one—” Phillip started.
Gabriel whirled on his brother and slashed a hand through the air. “No more weddings. No outsiders period.”
The doors creaked open, and they all turned to see who it was. Josh thought Bonnie might’ve come back for some last minute dig, but it was a woman with a mass of brown curls and huge white-framed sunglasses, wearing a tight sleeveless dress with giant pineapples on it.
She left her wheeled suitcase by the door and hurried over to Gabriel in her leopard-print heels. “I love this already!” Her voice was clearly American. She stood next to the dour-faced, tight-jawed Gabriel and whipped out her cell phone, snapping a selfie with him.
“The palace is closed!” Gabriel barked. “And hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s rude to take one’s photo without permission?”
The woman startled and then muttered, “You’re the rude one yelling at a guest. Geez, I flew ten hours from Tampa for this?”
A muscle ticked in Gabriel’s jaw. “Do not speak to me of feminine products. Now get out.”
Josh stifled a laugh. Hailey giggled.
“Feminine?” the woman asked. “Oh! Ha-ha, not tampon, Tam-pa.” She enunciated the word slowly and clearly. “That’s where I just flew in from. It’s a beautiful place.” Her brows furrowed. “I’m not sure anyone would dare call tampons beautiful.”
They all stared at her. Awkward.
The woman cupped her mouth and spoke in a stage whisper to Hailey. “He’s a cranky butler.”
Gabriel stiffened even more, if that was possible. “Who are you?”
The woman tossed her dark curls over one shoulder and thrust her hand out. “I’m Polly Lyon and that’s no lie.”
Gabriel stared at her hand and made no move to take it.
Polly finally dropped her hand. “You might be the hottest butler I’ve ever seen, but…that stick up your ass really kills it for me.”
Everyone’s heads swiveled back to Gabriel to see how he would take the pseudo-compliment.
And then Crown Prince Gabriel Rourke, that grim dour son of a bitch, cracked a smile.
~ ~ ~
Three months later, Hailey carefully edited the quotes from Luxury Weddings and Bride Special to craft the perfect marketing lines for Villroy Island if they ever got back into the destination-wedding business. It turned out Bonnie had lied and there were no other weddings planned. Her sole purpose had been to sabotage the inaugural wedding to ruin Villroy’s chances as a wedding venue. How she thought that would restore her family’s royal blood ties was beyond comprehension. The woman was certifiable.
Hailey would use these lovely quotes for Love Junkies too, which was still going strong. They’d picked up momentum thanks to her and Ally’s efforts, along with Mad’s stellar marketing plan. Hailey admired the quotes, smiling to herself. Personal experience with a deeply loving wedding could only work in her favor as a wedding planner. Luxury Weddings: “One look at this crazy-in-love couple could’ve made any wedding a success.” Bride Special: “A classy serene ceremony and reception that radiated love.”
She was much too Zen about her growing baby to dwell on the hiccups. Josh had battled manly tears when they saw the ultrasound and got the news that the baby was a girl. Her warrior beast would make a fantastic dad.
La-la-la. Please ignore the following bit of paper recycling! (If only she could shred the internet.)
Luxury Weddings
Destination Wedding or Cursed Wedding?
I’m not going to pretty it up—the debut wedding on Villroy Island was anything but glamorous. But it was full of love. And I do love romantic touches. How about a groom who works behind the scenes to pull off the reception after the caterer goes on strike? The bride who doubles as her own wedding planner right up until the vows to make up for an incompetent wedding planner, who was later banned from the island! We won’t mention the furry wedding that unexpectedly took place three hours prior to the debut wedding. (See sidebar.)
Our intrepid couple pulled it off and then some, showing love was more important than any traditional detail. Did I mention the musicians were in full Viking gear, fresh from a reenactment? Or that the gown was a replacement for one that was ruined by a freak fire? How about the “Happy Birthday Hailey” cake instead of a wedding cake?
And the bride was thrown overboard at her own bachelorette party! As if that wasn’t bad enough, the flowers were plucked from the side of the road when the florist couldn’t deliver on the promised order. Some might’ve said the wedding was cursed. Not this happy invited guest. Because one look at this crazy-in-love couple could’ve made any wedding a success.
REDACTED BY ORDER OF HIS MAJESTY KING GABRIEL ROURKE OF VILLROY ISLAND.
I say let’s give Villroy Island as a destination wedding the benefit of the doubt, provided they hire a new wedding planner. Can’t beat the location!
~ ~ ~
Find out more about Gabriel Rourke in my new standalone romance Royal Catch! The Bachelor meets Survivor royal style!
Gabriel
I am the crown prince of Villroy, heir to a kingdom, bound by duty to marry and produce an heir.
I expected a quiet arrangement through royal channels; instead I got a palace full of women vying for my hand. And how do they “win” this barbaric game set up by my crafty mother? By figuring out how to save the kingdom's faltering economy through a series of challenges. This undignified circus is beneath a man of my stature! Proof being that a saucy, ill-mannered woman wearing body-hugging clothes is in the lead. I could never love someone like that, let alone marry her.
Anna
The plan sounded simple.
I pose as my friend, pick up her inheritance, and return with the cash to keep her out of jail. (Apparently, being a princess in hiding is no excuse for identity theft.) So, yeah, I'm not exactly royal. I'm an orphan, a self-made woman, and proud of it. Suddenly I'm in a battle royale with a bunch of crazy competitive women for “riches beyond our dreams.” I'm in a time crunch, which means I need to win this competition fast. Only, that means winning over the judge, the smoldering hot grim-faced Gabriel. And now I find myself wanting to compete for more than just the money. But could a royal prince ever fall for a commoner like me?
to be emailed when Royal Catch releases!
Add it to your too.
You’ve just read book #11 in the Happy Endings Book Club series. The books in the series are (Jake & Claire), (Parker & Mad), (Ty & Charlotte), (Alex & Lauren), (Zach & Carrie), (Ethan & Ally), (Ben & Missy), (Logan & Sabrina), (Marcus & Lexi), (Josh & Hailey), and A Happy Endings Wedding. I hope you enjoy them all!
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Other Books by Kylie Gilmore
The Clover Park Series
(Book 1)
(Book 2)
(Book 3)
(Book 4)
(Book 5)
(Book 6)
(Book 7)
(Book 8)
(Book 9)
(Book 10)
(A Clover Park Short)
The Clover Park STUDS Series
(Book 1)
(Book 2)
(Book 3)
(Book 4)
(Book 5)
(Book 6)
Happy Endings Book Club Series
(Book 1)
(Book 2)
(Book 3)
(Book 4)
(Book 5)
(Book 6)
(Book 7)
(Book 8)
(Book 9)
(Book 10)
A Happy Endings Wedding (Book 11)
Acknowledgments
Thanks for reading, you awesome reader goddess! Thanks also to my family, Tessa, Pauline, Mimi, Kim, and Jenn for all you do.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks are not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A Happy Endings Wedding: © 2019 by Kylie Gilmore
Digital Edition 1.0
Cover design by Kim Killion
Published by: Extra Fancy Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the writer, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
ISBN-10: 1-942238-69-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-942238-69-0