EPILOGUE
THERESA
SIX MONTHS LATER

Aside from going back to Bar Harbor to testify at Ike’s trial, Grant and I had stayed in Boston. We celebrated our engagement and got me moved in. We redecorated a bit and spent time together. I helped Grant with the merger of the construction company he bought out and learned why it was so important to him. It showed me another side of him that cared deeper than I ever thought possible, which made me want to marry him that much more.

It had always been my dream to get married on the beaches of my home, and Grant was more than accepting of that plan. After six months of planning, we were back in Bar Harbor, and I was getting ready with Jane in the bridal suite. She was placing the veil in my hair and putting the last touches on my makeup, but there was a part of me that still couldn't believe it was happening.

I was marrying Grant Hooper.

“You look beautiful,” Jane said. “This dress is stunning.”

“You don’t think it’s too much lace?” I asked.

“Seriously? Have you seen yourself in this thing? Grant’s gonna have a damn boner through the entire wedding.”

“Jane!”

“Well, he will! I mean, look at it. The way it clings to your waist. The way the lacy sleeves fall off your shoulders. The way it swishes around your legs when you walk. And you’ve got that little push-up bra I bought you, so your cleavage is just right. Not too much, but enough to make him impatient through the reception. Do you have on the stockings?”

“Yes,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“And they’re attached to the panties?”

“Jane, yes. I have on the lingerie you were hell-bent on buying me.”

“Good. Because it’s your damn wedding night. If there’s any night for Grant to not keep his hands off you, it’s tonight.”

I turned around and took stock of my friend, my eyes falling to her stomach. I still couldn't believe it. Her and Jim.

Who would’ve thought?”

“I’m fine,” Jane said. “Really.”

“You said you were nauseous this morning. You know I won’t be upset if you sit down during the ceremony.”

“I’m only nine weeks along. It isn’t a big deal,” she said.

“Nine weeks along with Jim’s baby is five months along for anyone else. The man’s practically seven-feet tall.”

“He’s my gentle giant,” she said, grinning.

“Are you happy with him?”

I watched Jane’s eyes well with tears, and I brought her in for a hug. I’d never seen my best friend this happy before. I rubbed her back and heard her sniffle, and it caused me to tighten my grasp around her neck.

“I’m so happy for you,” I said breathlessly.

“And I’m happy for you,” she said. “Now, we need to get you marching down the aisle. If we’re any later, Grant’s going to think you aren’t showing up.”

The two of us walked down to the beach, and I paused just before the shadows of the building broke. I watched Hollis escort Jane down the aisle, and I smiled at the two of them. That was another shocker that had come at the rehearsal dinner. All of us thought Hollis would end up with Jane. After all, my brother had the biggest crush on her as a child. Hollis was a serial dater of women, constantly taking them to bed but never settling down with any one of them.

But when he showed up to the rehearsal dinner with his boyfriend, everything slowly fell into place.

The shock on Grant’s face had been priceless, but I couldn't say I wasn’t the tiniest bit curious. Hollis always boasted about the women he slept with, but we had never met any of them. He boasted of the women he dated, but he’d never brought any of them home. And when Jane told me Hollis had her alone and didn’t act on anything, it did get my gears turning.

Hollis looked almost proud of himself for being able to keep such a secret, but I’d never seen him happier.

I saw Hollis give his boyfriend a look from the aisle before he went and stood by Grant. Jane walked to her place on my side of the altar, and then I felt someone step up beside me. I looked up and into the face of the only man I could ever see walking me down the aisle.

And my father smiled back at me before he offered me his arm.

“You ready?” he asked.

I linked my arm with his and snuggled close.

“I’ve been ready for years, Daddy.”

The music began, and everyone rose from their seats. My father set the pace, and together we slowly proceeded down the aisle. The sand was smooth beneath my bare feet, and the crashing of the waves loomed in the background. The sun was hanging high in the sky, and as I looked over, I could see the oceanfront hotel room.

The room where Grant had professed his love to me.

My eyes connected with his, and I could see the fire in them. The way his eyes raked up and down my body as I neared the front of the crowd. But it wasn’t the way he licked his lips or the way he grinned, or even the way he looked in his linen pants and button-down shirt that got to me.

It was the way he offered his hand to me when my father and I reached the end of the aisle.

“You treat her right, Grant.”

“You have my word, Glen.”

My father embraced me in one last hug, and then I slipped my hand into the hand of the man that was about to become my husband.

As we stood in front of the crowd and recited our vows, I noticed something. Everyone had their happy ending. Jane had found Jim and was expecting a beautiful bundle of joy. Hollis had finally introduced us to a man who had swept him off his feet. And I was standing there with Grant. The boy I’d fallen in love with at fifteen and the man I was pledging myself to for the rest of my life. I gripped his hands, and we exchanged rings, and once the vows were over his hands flipped my veil off my face.

And sealed with a kiss that dipped me all the way to the sand, the crowd erupted in applause as I smiled into Grant’s lips.

I was officially Mrs. Grant Hooper.

We turned out toward the crowd before Grant scooped me up into his arms. My veil fell to the floor, and I threw my bouquet out into the crowd. He walked me down the aisle, over the soft sandy dunes and back to the building where we had gotten ready. He cradled me close against his broad chest, and I could feel the soothing rhythm of his heart. My arms wrapped around his neck, and the rings he’d purchased for me were glistening in the light of the beach sun.

But I still had one last surprise for him.

“Grant?”

“Hmm?” he asked as he walked me to his car.

“Are you excited for Jane and Jim?”

He reached down and opened the car door before he placed me in the passenger seat.

“I am,” he said. “I can tell they’re very excited about their next step.”

“Have you ever wondered if we’ll be parents?”

His eyes locked with mine as his fingers danced around my wedding rings.

“I can’t say I don’t think about it. But it isn’t something I want to push you into too soon,” he said.

“So, you do want kids?”

“Have I ever given you the impression that I don’t?”

I smiled at him as I took his hand, then I splayed his large grasp across my stomach.

“Then I suppose it’s about time I tell you.”

His eyes whipped up to mine as his brow furrowed.

“Really?” he asked.

“Really,” I said.

“You’re?”

“Yes,” I said.

“We’re?”

“Yes.”

His brow unfurled and a grin slowly slid across his cheeks.

His arms wrapped around me and pulled me to my feet from the car. His lips crashed down onto mine, and I threaded my arms around his massive form. The wind kicked up around us, tossing the fabric of my dress around and flapping the tail ends of his white linen pants. Our tongues danced together and my lips swelled against his, and he pressed my back into the car as the sun shone down upon us.

His hand fell to my stomach, cupping it lovingly as he pulled his lips back. Our foreheads fell together and our eyes connected, and for a split second, nothing else existed around us.

Just him, myself, and our unborn child.

“I’m going to be a father,” Grant said.

“And you’re going to be a great one.”

I could see the worry in his eyes, however, and I lifted my hands to cup his cheeks.

“You will be. Grant, our child will be so lucky to have you as their father.”

His hand cupped my cheek while his thumb traced my lower lip.

“And you’ll be an amazing mother, Theresa.”

I smiled and gripped his shirt, pulling his lips in for another kiss.

“Come on, you two! Let’s get a move on!”

I giggled into his lips as I heard Hollis yelling for us.

“A boyfriend,” Grant said with a murmur.

I threw my head back and laughed as I playfully slapped his chest.

“You have to admit, it was kind of odd that none of us had ever met any of Hollis’ ‘girlfriends.’”

“As long as he’s happy, I don’t give a shit,” he said.

“Honestly, neither do I. I’m happy he gets his fairytale ending too.”

Grant helped me into the car before he wrapped around to his side. I rolled down the window, allowing the beach breeze to flow through my hair. As we drove down the road to the cabana reception on the beach, I thought about our future. How my body would grow and change. How our lives would soon be sleepless nights and early morning feedings and dirty diapers. I rested my hand on my stomach before I felt Grant wrap his hand around mine, and it pulled my gaze over to him as we stopped at a red light.

“I love you,” he said.

The fierceness in his eyes and the strength of his grip were reassuring to me. They settled the nervousness kicking up and the swirling of my thoughts. I smiled softly at him and leaned over, laying my cheek against his shoulder.

“I love you too,” I said. “Forever.”

The End

It’s not over! I love my readers so much that I’ve included a brand new, never before published steamy romance: Accidental Daddy

Check it out on the next page…

Kara Boyer

Kara spends her days and nights caring for a drunk father. She dreams of breaking free but instead of living her dream she’s hurled into a nightmare when her father mysteriously disappears leaving his problems and the debt behind.

His problems become Kara’s and they literally come knocking on her door.

The Irish mafia can't find her father.

They’ll take her instead.

Declan O'Shea

Declan’s ex shows up unannounced and drops off a surprise baby at his door step.

He needs to care for his son and is forced to go to his brother for help.

The man wants to pull Declan back into the family drug ring he left long ago.

Declan dreadfully agrees to one job - little does he know the job requires kidnapping an innocent girl.

He has no desire to hurt her, and instead wants to help her. He needs to find a way to protect both Kara and his baby boy.

It will take a miracle – but he will walk through hell trying.