Finding Forever

by Melody Anne

  Once the minister came to that critical point in the wedding service — no, no one broke in to object — the couple repeated their vows and lit a candle, unifying them as one. And then it was over in a flash. They were pronounced husband and wife.

  Liam pulled her close and pressed his lips softly to hers, making her tremble when his tongue slipped out to rub against her bottom lip. Her first kiss as Liam’s wife couldn’t have been more perfect.

  They pulled apart when they heard some throats clearing, and Whitney felt her cheeks heat up with embarrassment, but the kiss had been well worth it. As their guests called out their congratulations and goodwill, Frederick led them away.

  The newlyweds rode back to the mansion. The reception there was another incredible fairy tale. Whitney’s laughter rang out as she cut the cake with Liam, and he kissed away the extra frosting from the piece he fed her. Cameras snapped and reporters fired off the usual questions, but she floated along in her own perfect bubble.

  When it came time for her first dance as a married woman, she glided into Liam’s arms. There was still too much expensive material separating them, but soon they’d be alone.

  “Thank you for becoming my wife,” he told her, a look of pure love flashing in his eyes.

  “Oh, Liam, becoming your wife is an honor. You’ve been so good to me and the children, and I can’t imagine how I ever existed before you,” she replied.

  “I feel the same, as if I were simply sleepwalking before I met you. Now, I’m alive and well, and so happy.”

  “I guess we’re going to live happily ever after,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

  “I insist on it,” he told her.

  And as the two of them walked through two lines of well-wishers, Whitney had no doubt that they would keep that promise to each other.

  Epilogue

  Eight years later

  Whitney walked toward the hoots, the guffaws, and the giggles coming from behind their house. Liam had to be up to no good with the children. Yup. When she turned the corner and went out through the patio doors, she didn’t know whether she should laugh or run for cover.

  Brayden was home for the summer. He called home regularly, but he loved college and was on the honor roll. He’d already bragged to his uncle about his many girlfriends, which made his uncle proud of him, but worried his protective aunt. He was only nineteen, far too young to be dating, dang it, at least in her humble opinion. Too bad that you could never get any young man to listen.

  Ally was thriving in high school. She was so beautiful, it took Whitney’s breath away. The girl reminded her so much of her sister, and Whitney dreaded the time —too near! — that this child would also leave for college.

  “Mama, we’re having a water fight!” Little Vincent came running up to her, soaking wet and with a gigantic grin on his face. The boy seemed to be growing a few inches every day. He’d been conceived during the honeymoon, and the newlyweds both wanted to name their firstborn son after Liam’s brother. Frederick was naturally delighted.

  “I see that, Vince,” Whitney said. “Are you having fun with your cousins?”

  He giggled in answer and dashed away. She spotted Frederick sitting in what she assumed was a safety zone, since he was holding her two-year-old daughter, who was now fast asleep in his arms.

  “Good afternoon,” she said, kissing both him and her daughter on the cheek. “I’m surprised you’re not in the middle of all this excitement.”

  “Ah, my precious granddaughter wanted to cuddle here with me, and then she fell asleep. I couldn’t disturb her.”

  Whitney wasn’t surprised he’d rather hold little Lynn. They’d been close since she was born.

  “Has Liam given you the good news yet?” Whitney asked Frederick.

  He just stared at her.

  “I was just getting around to that when my nephew decided to tag me with a water balloon,” Liam said as he walked up and kissed his wife. “I had to pay Brayden back first — we men have our ingrained codes of honor.”

  Even after all these years together, he had the ability to take her breath away. He was still so damn fine.

  “Well, don’t keep an old man waiting,” Frederick demanded. He knew only too well that once those two got distracted, the rest of the world faded away.

  “Sorry, Dad. We’d hardly want to do anything to upset you,” Liam said. “After all, you tend to feign illness whenever you want to get your way.”

  “That’s nonsense,” Frederick almost sputtered.

  “We’re delighted to tell you that we’re going to have another baby,” Liam said. He placed his hand against Whitney’s still-flat stomach and beamed with pride.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful news indeed.” Frederick got up slowly from his seat, laid Lynn in her portable bed, and hugged both his son and his beloved daughter-in-law.

  Whitney looked at the patio, filled with her family, and she counted her many blessings. And it wasn’t for the first time.

  If you liked Finding Forever, continue reading for an excerpt from the first book in the popular Billionaire Bachelors:

  The Billionaire Wins the Game

  Book One in the Billionaire Bachelors Series

  By

  Melody Anne

  Prologue

  It’s just not right, Katherine!” Joseph slammed his fist down on the table, making the dinnerware shake. “Those kids just don’t listen to us—not one of them. Can’t they see that we aren’t getting any younger? I should’ve had grandchildren bouncing on my knees years ago.”

  Katherine smiled as she listened to her husband complain about his disobedient children. She knew what he said was nothing but empty words. He adored their kids as much as she did. She had to agree with Joseph, though, that a few beautiful women rocking babies would be an excellent addition to the house. She’d always dreamed of the day she’d be holding grandchildren while her table was surrounded by those she loved.

  “Now, Joseph. You know if you go meddling again, the boys are going to disown you,” Katherine warned.

  “If they don’t do something about this grandchildren situation, then I’m going to disown them,” he growled, though with zero conviction in his voice.

  “Since you retired last year, you’ve had too much time on your hands, Joseph Anderson. The boys have been tossed a lot of responsibility already. Are you sure you want to add more to their plates?” she finished, knowing the answer already.

  “The boys are ready for love and marriage. They just need a helping push.”

  The decision had already been made. He’d have at least one grandchild in his empty mansion before Christmas.

  Katherine suppressed her sigh, knowing there was nothing she could say that would change her willful husband’s mind. Where did he think their sons acquired that particular trait? Even with their flaws, she couldn’t possibly love any of them, including her husband, more than she already did.

  “Lucas will be first,” Joseph said in his booming voice, startling Katherine out of her reverie. “I’ve already found him the perfect bride.”

  Joseph leaned back in his chair with a pleased expression on his face. Finally, he had a project to keep himself occupied—with the prize of grandchildren as his reward. Lucas was in for wild adventures come Monday morning.

  Katherine watched the self-satisfied expression on Joseph’s face and thought about warning her sons about what was coming. She decided against it because even though she didn’t agree with Joseph’s meddling, she really did want those grandbabies…

  Chapter One

  You can do this. Walk in there with confidence. Who cares if this family is worth more than Bill Gates and Donald Trump combined? You were hired for this position, and you need this job. They obviously see something in you, so keep your head held high.

  Amy was giving herself a lecture on her long elevator ride up to the twenty-fifth floor of the Anderson Corporation. Her stomach was in knots as she began her journey into the corporate world.
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  She brushed a few strands of escaped golden hair from her face, more out of nervousness than necessity. She considered herself to be of average looks and tried to downplay the assets she’d been given. She wanted to be respected, not lusted after, like her mother. She had long hair she couldn’t find the will to cut off, although when out, she always placed it in an unflattering bun.

  She tended to hide her curves from the world. She was well endowed, in what an ex-boyfriend had called “all the right places” and she was self-conscious of the fact. She also didn’t like the fact that her green eyes gave away every emotion she was feeling, and that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t manage to fix it.

  She still couldn’t believe she’d been hired as executive secretary for Lucas Anderson. Anyone who lived within a thousand-mile radius of Seattle, Washington, knew who the Andersons were. Their corporation had a variety of divisions, which required a large staff. They dealt with everything from construction and farming to high-end corporate takeovers. Although their headquarters was in the U.S., they did business all around the world, and she was excited to be a part of it.

  Her job was in the corporate headquarters, working for the fairly new president, Lucas Anderson. All she really knew was he’d taken over his father’s position about a year ago.

  Though she’d graduated with honors, she was still fresh out of college and felt a little bit overwhelmed at the prospect of working for such a powerful man. She hadn’t actually met Lucas, yet, just his father.

  She’d originally met Joseph at a college fair toward the end of her senior year at the university. He’d given her his card and told her to call after graduation, telling her he was impressed with her college transcript. She’d called the day after her commencement ceremony, and he’d gotten her in for an interview faster than she’d dared to even hope for.

  As she continued the long ascent in the elevator, she let her thoughts drift back to the previous week when she’d interviewed for the job.

  Amy took a fortifying breath as she stepped from the cab, looking up at the huge fortress of a home in front of her. Before she could blink, the yellow car pulled away, leaving her frozen at the bottom of the large cement staircase. There was no turning back now.

  She slowly climbed the steps and approached the door, which was big enough to fit a large truck through. It seemed Mr. Anderson liked to do things on a much larger scale than the average person.

  She rang the doorbell, though he must know she was already there as he’d opened the gates at the bottom of the driveway.

  Within seconds, the door was opened by an older gentleman who, thankfully, was smiling.

  “Hello, I’m Amy Harper. I have an appointment with Mr. Anderson.”

  “Good morning, Ms. Harper. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please follow me to the sitting room, where Mr. Anderson will join you shortly,” the man offered.

  Amy nodded, then followed his quick steps as he led her through the overwhelming home. She couldn’t help but look around as her steps echoed off the walls.

  The home screamed luxury, from the gorgeous marble floors to the priceless pieces of artwork adorning the walls. The longer they walked, the more out of place she felt. She couldn’t figure out what had ever made her think she could handle such a prestigious job as to work for the head of a multibillion-dollar corporation.

  They walked through a set of oversized double doors and Amy looked around the warm room as her shoulders relaxed. A fireplace, so large she could literally walk inside of it, was burning what smelled like cedar, giving the room a comforting quality. Though the room was well lit, it was done in soft bulbs, making the space incredibly inviting.

  “Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

  Amy shook her head and gave the man a small smile. She didn’t want to appear rude.

  “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable in the seating area. I’ll let Mr. Anderson know you’ve arrived.”

  Before Amy could respond, he exited, leaving her standing near the entrance. Eventually she was able to make her feet respond to her brain and walked over to the comfortable-looking sofa. She sank onto the soft leather and leaned back. She wasn’t kept waiting long before a rumbling voice startled her, causing her to sit straight up. She was thankful she hadn’t accepted the drink or she would’ve spilled it all over herself.

  “Good morning, Ms. Harper. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Sometimes it’s difficult to get off the phone,” Joseph said.

  “I haven’t been waiting long at all, Mr. Anderson. Thank you for getting me in for an interview so quickly. I really appreciate it.” Amy jumped to her feet and moved forward to shake his hand.

  “The pleasure’s all mine. Now, let’s get the formality out of the way. Call me Joseph, please,” he said as he held out his hand.

  Amy felt like she was caught before an oncoming train. She didn’t know how to react. She couldn’t be rude, but she was uncomfortable calling him by his first name. She took his hand as she shifted on her feet.

  “Thank you. You can call me Amy,” she finally replied, deciding to just not call him by any name.

  “Now that we have the formalities out of the way, let’s sit down and chat. Have you been offered something to drink?”

  “Yes, but I don’t need anything.” She didn’t think she’d be able to swallow past the nervous lump in her throat.

  Joseph indicated for her to sit back down on the sofa, which she quickly did, grateful to get off her shaky legs. He took the chair opposite her, then trained his light blue eyes on her face. The man was quite intimidating, standing well over six feet tall, with the broadest shoulders she could ever remember seeing.

  He had snow white hair, just starting to thin a bit, and a neatly trimmed white mustache and beard. He was actually quite handsome for a man who must be in his early fifties at least.

  “I was impressed with your résumé during the job fair at your school. If I remember correctly, you’ve held regular jobs since you were fourteen, then full-time work all throughout your schooling, correct? How did you manage to regulate your time to keep such impressive grades?”

  “I’ve always believed in a strong work ethic. I made sure not to overschedule myself, and I took my classes a little later in the morning so I could work the swing shifts at my jobs. I didn’t want to graduate with a lot of debt,” Amy replied, happy in knowing she’d done exactly that and was pretty much debt free.

  “Very impressive, Amy. Your résumé here, says you graduated with a degree in business finance with a minor in public relations. What are your future plans?”

  “I haven’t had a lot of time to think about where I want to go in ten years, but my goal has always been to get my foot in the door of a great corporation, such as yours, and work my way up. I know it’s not an easy task, but I learn very quickly, and I’m not afraid of hard work or long hours. I’ll do whatever it takes to learn all I need to in order to be a real asset to your company.”

  “What about marriage and babies?” he asked, never taking his gaze from her eyes.

  Amy felt her cheeks heat at his question. She knew a lot of higher-up companies were afraid to hire young women due to the fact they’d sometimes get married, then need time off for having children and such. She didn’t want to lie, but she knew her answer could lose her the job.

  “I’m not involved with anyone right now, but I’d be lying to you if I said I don’t want that to happen. I eventually want children, whether I do so in the traditional way or I adopt. I’ve always wanted to be a mother, but I can guarantee you I wouldn’t let anything affect my job performance. I know the value of secure employment, and I can’t be a great mother without first having a solid home for my child,” she answered. She knew he didn’t know her, but she could obtain letters of recommendation. She’d never once taken a sick day from work, and her school assignments had always been on time, if not early.

  Joseph continued watching her for so long, it made her want to fi
dget in her seat. With sheer will, she remained still as she waited for his response.

  “Do you have family or friends close by who’d be willing to help you?”

  Amy was surprised by his questions. She’d never before had an interview with so many personal questions. It was throwing her off balance. She had all the answers to typical interview questions, but not the stuff he was asking her. She didn’t want anyone to know the true circumstances of her personal life.

  “I have a few friends, but no family here,” she finally answered, feeling safe in her choice of wording. The reality was that she didn’t have any family, period.

  Joseph then switched back to asking a few more work-related questions and she relaxed, secure in her knowledge of the business world. She’d studied hard and spent the very little free time she had researching large corporations, knowing she wanted a high salary job when she graduated.

  Her real goals included her working nonstop for several years while saving every extra dime she could so she’d be able to have a family. She’d been alone since she was a child, and she didn’t want to die that way.

  What Amy didn’t know was that Joseph had already run a full background check on her, knew she was an orphan, and he had much bigger ideas in mind than just an executive assistant position. He was looking for a potential daughter-in-law.

  “Amy, it’s been a true pleasure talking with you today. As you were my last interview, I can safely tell you that the position is yours if you’d like it.”

  Amy stared back at Joseph in shock. She hadn’t expected to hear anything about the job for at least a week and found herself speechless as his words sunk in. He smiled as he waited for her to compose herself.

  “Um…thank you, Mr. Anderson. I…Of course, I’ll take the job,” she finally stuttered, completely forgetting about his request to call him by his first name.