by Jenna Brandt
“It’s also why we are here today. We want to show you we support you in what matters most, to hope with you, to be proud of you, and to remind you to cherish every moment. After all, it’s as much about the little moments as it is the big ones. Making dinner together, binge-watching movies, falling asleep next to each other. All these moments come together to create your love story, and today we get to start another chapter.”
Ethan looked over at Nicole and squeezed her hands. He was so grateful they were going to write the story of their lives together. He wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.
“Will you, Ethan, keep as your treasure, Nicole—to laugh with her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day?”
“I will,” Ethan promised, looking deep into Nicole’s eyes.
“Will you, Nicole, keep as your treasure, Ethan—to laugh with him, to grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day?”
“I will,” Nicole vowed, squeezing Ethan’s hands in her own.
“Will you Ethan and Nicole, be each other’s one and only from this day forward? Will you promise to bring out the best in each other, share your happiest and hardest moments together, and love one another unconditionally—for the rest of your lives?”
“We will,” they both declared.
Next, they performed a unity ceremony where they each poured different colored sand from a separate vase into a single empty one, filling it up with both their colors. It was Cindy’s idea, thinking Nicole would want to keep the vase on their mantle, but Ethan loved what it symbolized. They were now combined together like the two sands, unable to be pulled apart.
“Ethan and Nicole, today you have declared your love and commitment to each other in front of your friends and family. You have vowed to love each other, to share your lives with each other, and to partner in each other’s stories for the rest of your lives. By the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss…again,” Pastor Gordon shouted with joy.
The couple turned to each other and leaned in for a long, heartfelt kiss. The crowd began to clap and cheer, causing Ethan to pull Nicole even closer.
“Congratulations. Family and friends, I now present to you, officially, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop. Let’s hear it for them once again.”
The crowd went wild this time, standing to their feet as Nicole and Ethan basked in the thunderous applause.
Nicole’s surprise wedding was more than she could have ever hoped for. Ethan had thought of everything down to her favorite flowers and colors, to the lights and music at the reception.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” Nicole whispered as Ethan spun her around the dance floor for their first dance together. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Ethan whispered, starring down into her eyes.
“I do have one question. How did you get a suit that matches my dad’s exactly?” Nicole inquired.
“When I went to get your mother’s wedding dress from the storage unit, I took the picture of your parents on their wedding day. I wanted to match everything as best I could, so it would be like they were here with us. The more I looked at the picture, the more I realized I wanted to replicate your father’s suit to match your wedding dress. I had my tailor custom make the outfit, down to the brown suspenders and bow tie.”
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you. Not only did you look more handsome than I’d ever seen you, I couldn’t believe you looked just like my father. I never noticed it before until that moment.”
“I hope that’s not too weird,” Ethan stated with worry in his voice. “I didn’t want to creep you out.”
“No, it was perfect. You’re perfect, and I’m so lucky to have you as my husband. You thought of everything, down to the food. It was excellent, by the way. Was it from the new restaurant you opened on the island?”
Ethan nodded. “I had the chef make your favorite items from the menu. He also made the cake.”
After the song ended, Ethan took Nicole over to the three-layered cake. He had explained it was filled with each of their favorite flavors, vanilla and chocolate, and one marbled layer to represent them together.
They cut a small piece of the cake, and then gently placed a bite in each other’s mouths. The crowd continued to be in awe as they moved to the center of the stage to throw the garter belt and bouquet.
By the end of the whirlwind of activities, they were both exhausted, but Ethan wanted one final dance. He pulled Nicole onto the dance floor. As they swayed to the rhythm of the music, under the stars next to the lighthouse, Nicole felt like her life was exactly how she wanted it to be.
As she placed her head on Ethan’s shoulder, she let herself bask in the love she shared with her husband. Nothing felt better than being wrapped in his arms.
If she had been asked a year ago how she would meet her future husband, a fake marriage would have been the last way she would have dreamed of. Despite all the ups and downs, she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her marriage was now as real as the moon and stars in the sky. She loved Ethan, and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.
A Note from the Author
I hope you have enjoyed The Billionaire’s Hideaway and plan to continue to reading all of my books, including my other Second Chance Islands Book, The Billionaire’s Reunion, as well as my Billionaire series, Billionaires of Manhattan, where the land developer from The Billionaire’s Hideaway makes an appearance in the first book, Waiting on the Billionaire. Your opinion and support matters, so I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. Without dedicated readers, a storyteller is lost. Thank you for investing in my stories. If you would like more info, please join my newsletter and get a free novella just for signing up for my Newsletter.
Also by Jenna Brandt
Most Books are Free in Kindle Unlimited too!
Billionaires of Manhattan Series
The billionaires that live in Manhattan and the women who love them. If you love epic dates, grand romantic gestures, and men in suits with hearts of gold, then these are books are perfect for you.
Waiting on the Billionaire
(Also on Audiobook)
Nanny for the Billionaire
Merging with the Billionaire (coming soon)
Second Chance Islands Series is about billionaire’s having second chances, at love and life while redeeming their pasts on various islands around the world.
The Billionaire’s Reunion
The Billionaire’s Hideaway
The Lawkeepers is a multi-author series alternating between historical westerns and contemporary westerns featuring law enforcement heroes that span multiple agencies and generations. Join bestselling author Jenna Brandt and many others as they weave captivating, sweet and inspirational stories of romance and suspense between the lawkeepers — and the women who love them. The Lawkeepers is a world like no other; a world where lawkeepers and heroes are honored with unforgettable stories, characters, and love. Jenna’s Lawkeeper books:
Historical
Lawfully Loved-Texas Sheriff
Lawfully Wanted-Bounty Hunter
Lawfully Forgiven-Texas Ranger
Lawfully Avenged-US Marshal
Lawfully Covert-Spies (Coming Soon)
Contemporary
Lawfully Adored-K-9
Lawfully Wedded-K-9
Lawfully Treasured-SWAT
Lawfully Dashing-Female Cop/Christmas
Lawfully Devoted-Billionaire Bodyguard/K-9
Lawfully Heroic-Military Police (Coming Soon)
Match Made in Heaven Series-standalone stories that are sweet, clean romances designed to whisk you away. Not every man has six-pack abs, nor every woman the model of femininity, but everyone needs someone. We believe in building a world that begins at the very core of what makes romance stories work—faith, hope, and love. Now it’s your turn to find love. Set your imagination and heart free wit
h us. The next happily-ever-after is at your fingertips, just waiting to be told…Jenna’s Matched books:
Royally Matched-Contemporary
Discreetly Matched-Historical
Silverpines Series-centered around the fictional town of Silverpines, Oregon, during the turn of the 20th century. When a disaster takes most of the men, the women are left to save the town by placing mail-order groom advertisements. Get to know the various lovable characters and their stories from some of todays bestselling historical authors.
Wanted: Tycoon
Belles of Wyoming Series-centered around the fictional small town of Belle, Wyoming. Each set of books take place during a season of the year.
June’s Remedy
Bride Herder Series-take one failed rancher turned matchmaker and ten unexpected brides at once with no clue as to who wanted them. What could go wrong?
Herd to Please
Mail Order Misfit-a mail order bride story about a woman running from a broken past and a widower with three children who is hiding from a broken heart. What happens when they decide to take a chance on each other?
Mail Order Misfit
Civil War Brides Series-the story of the women and the men they love in Myrtle Grove, South Carolina during the civil war.
Saved by Faith
Freed by Hope
Healed by Grace
The Window to the Heart Saga is a recountal of the epic journey of Lady Margaret, a young English noblewoman, who through many trials, obstacles, and tragedies, discovers her own inner strength, the sustaining force of faith in God, and the power of family and friends. In this three-part series, experience new places and cultures as the heroine travels from England to France and completes her adventures in America. The series has compelling themes of love, loss, faith and hope with an exceptionally gratifying conclusion.
Trilogy
The English Proposal (Book 1)
The French Encounter (Book 2)
The American Conquest (Book 3)
Spin-offs
The Oregon Pursuit (Book 1)
The White Wedding (Book 2)
The Christmas Bride (Book 3)
The Viscount’s Wife (Book 4)
For more information about Jenna Brandt visit her on any of her websites.
www.JennaBrandt.com
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www.twitter.com/JennaDBrandt
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Acknowledgments
My writing journey would not be possible without those who supported me. Since I can remember, writing is the only thing I love to do, and my deepest desire is to share my talent with others.
First and foremost, I am eternally grateful to Jesus, my lord and savior, who created me with this “writing bug” DNA.
In addition, many thanks go to:
My husband, Dustin, and three daughters, Katie, Julie, and Nikki, for loving me and supporting me during all my late-night writing marathons and coffee-infused mornings.
My mother, Connie, for being my first and most honest critic, now and always. As a little girl, sleeping under your desk during late-night deadlines for the local paper showed me what being a dedicated writer looked like.
My angels in heaven: my grandmother, who passed away in 2001; my infant son, Dylan, who was taken by SIDS five years ago; and my father, who died suddenly three year ago.
My ARC Angels and Beta Belles for taking the time to read my stories and give valuable feedback. Your dedication means a great deal.
My church family who are amazing and make me glad I have people in my life that are awesome.
And finally, my writing friends who have been sounding boards, shoulders to cry on, and the encouragement I need every day to keep going on this writing journey. You each bless me every day.
About the Author
Jenna Brandt is an award-winning historical and contemporary romance author. Her books span from the Victorian to Western eras with elements of romance, suspense and faith. Her debut series, the Window to the Heart Saga, as well as her Billionaires of Manhattan Series, have become bestselling series, and her multi-author series, The Lawkeepers, Silverpines, Belles of Wyoming, and Bride Herders are fan-favorites.
She has been an avid reader since she could hold a book and started writing stories almost as early. She has been published in several newspapers as well as edited for multiple papers. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in English from Bethany College and was the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper while there. Her first blog was published on Yahoo Parenting and The Grief Toolbox as well as featured on the ABC News and Good Morning America websites.
Writing is her passion, but she also enjoys cooking, watching movies, reading, engaging in social media and spending time with her three young daughters and husband where they live in the Central Valley of California. She is also active in her local church where she volunteers on their first impressions team as well as for the crisis care ministry.