One Month Later….
I stand under an arch of white roses, hands clasped together, and my shoulders are straining at my tux. I never usually wear clothes like this, but it is my wedding, after all. We’ll only ever have one, so we decided to do it right. We went full traditional, and when the music changes and the doors open, I know we made the right choice.
Walker claps me on the shoulder, my best man, and the best possible person to stand up here beside me. One of his baby daughters is wailing in the audience, and my parents are fussing with her, bouncing them up and down and beaming up at me. I know they’re proud to be here, watching me make my vows to the love of my life.
Wavy makes a kissy face at her babies from the other side of the aisle, standing up here with us as Jemma’s maid of honor. When my bride walks up, step by step, in a beautiful white dress that sparkles when it catches the light, I see tears spring to Wavy’s eyes. I know how she feels. Even I feel emotions bubbling inside me that I didn’t know were there.
She’s only barely showing; we could have gotten away with keeping it a secret for another few weeks, but Jemma couldn’t contain it and told her sister as soon as she could. Wavy is so excited that they get to raise their kids together. One big family. It’s all they ever wanted. I think it’s all I ever really wanted, too.
We’re moving out to the city to run the family business, we decided. It was time to stop being stubborn. We’re living in Grandma’s mansion, which isn’t too shabby, and we get to keep the cabin out here next to Jemma’s sister to come back and visit any time we want. Jemma is so excited to become a mom, and I know she’s going to be the best mother ever. I’m willing to try every day to be the best father I can be, so my wife can finally settle, rest, and relax. Maybe find out more about herself. She’s been telling me how excited she is to get to stop only surviving finally and start really living.
It’s a beautiful day here. The lake glitters in the sunlight, and we’ve strung up lights that twinkle in Jemma’s eyes as she says, ‘I do.’
When we say our vows, her cheeks are pink, and the happiest smile I’ve ever seen parts her lips. We’re married, and I feel a tear spring to my eye as we have our first kiss as a married couple.
Wavy is full-on crying with happiness beside us, and when the sisters embrace, I feel like I’m right where I’m meant to be. Like everything that led up to this was worth it.
Then Jemma is back in my arms, and I kiss her again, and then one more time, and the crowd cheers and laughs. Everyone can’t seem to stop laughing. I press a hand to her stomach; I can’t help it. I’m going to be a father. I’ve never been prouder. Of myself, of my life, of anything. And I’m so proud of my wife for getting here, to me, too.
“I’m so happy,” she says in my arms as we slow dance to our first song a little later. I don’t know how else to express everything I’m feeling other than, “Me too.”
“And all our friends are here,” she murmurs into my chest, and then pulls back and looks around. “Except Julia. She didn’t make it.” Her face is scrunched, and I trace her cheek with my thumb, not wanting her to be sad today of all days.
“Sorry, Jem. I’m sure she had a good reason,” I say, but it’s hard for me to break out of my happy mood long enough to really think about it.
“I haven’t heard from her in forever. Nothing from her in, like, a month.”
Our dance is coming to an end. The happiest day of my life so far is coming to an end, but that’s alright. There are so many more to come. I can’t wait.
My phone rings and I frown, wondering who isn’t here who would want to call me during my wedding. It must be serious, I decide, so I kiss Jemma’s cheek and move to the sidelines to take it. “Yes?”
“Jameson, it’s Beam.”
“Hey.” A pause, some hissing. The line’s a little fuzzy out here in the mountains. “Why are you calling? Kinda busy here,” I chuckle.
“There’s been an accident. I’m sorry to call, but I didn’t know what else to do. It’s Julia.” He sounds panicked, rushed, and the line is still crackling. I swallow; it must be really serious.
“Julia?” I repeat, glancing around and keeping my voice low.
“She’s dead, Jameson,” Beam says. “Julia’s dead.”
The End!
BEAM: Book 3
The moment I saw her, I knew.
One day, she’d be mine.
Of course the feeling wasn’t mutual.
She was all sunshine and optimism … I was burly, broken, and hell-bent on keeping my word.
Don’t touch the girls. No matter how tempting.
And damn, how Julia tempted me.
It’s been a year since I saw her, and things are different now.
The trouble we faced in L.A. is behind us. Isn’t it?
When I hear that she’s up in Alaska, same as me, I know this is my chance.
I’ve done lots of terrible things in my life — but I have only one regret.
I never told her how I feel.
I love her. And it’s high time she knew.
Even if I have to kidnap her in order to make that happen.
I may represent everything she was running from, but I can be more than a ghost from the past.
I can be her future.
PREORDER NOW: BEAM
About the Author
Frankie Love writes filthy-sweet stories about bad boys and mountain men.
As a thirty-something mom who is ridiculously in love with her own bearded hottie, she believes in love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters.
She also believes in the power of a quickie.
Find Frankie here:
www.frankielove.net
Jameson: The Men of Whiskey Mountain Book 2 Page 9