She shrugged. “Okay.”
She’d agreed to that a little too fast. “What do you mean, ‘okay?’” It wasn’t okay with him. Not in the least.
She rose on the tips of her toes and kissed his chin. “I’ll take you any way I can get you. We can live together.”
“Hang on a second. I said maybe. I didn’t say that was definite. Maybe I’m a more traditional kind of guy.” They were getting married, all right.
“Let’s speed things up a little so we can get to dessert, shall we? Damon Brand, will you marry me?”
He pretended to think, then shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s a pretty big decision. You might need to sweeten the deal.”
“I’ll make it as sweet as I can. I love you. I have since I was eighteen. If I’d been more sure of myself and what I wanted ten years ago, I might have recognized it. But this,” she said, squeezing him hard, “is every bit as important to me. You’re my best friend. I couldn’t go ten years without you again.”
That was about the sweetest thing she could say. The greatest compliment she could pay him. To her, friends were everything. She chose them with care and she protected them fiercely.
“Friends with benefits, though. Right?” he asked, partly to tease her, and partly to remind her that they were so much more than just that.
“Definitely. They’re the only benefits you can afford to pay me. I’m not giving those up.”
“Then yes, Jessica Palmer, I’ll marry you.”
Epilogue
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They held the wedding the following spring. Jess had wanted to invite only a few people. Damon had tried to include the whole town.
They’d compromised with an intimate ceremony in Carrie’s garden, with her their official photographer, and immediate family only. Afterward, they were headed to her grandfather’s for an open house and a barbecue. He’d been excited at the opportunity to open the place up to the community again, “For one last hurrah,” as he’d put it.
Jess waited in Carrie’s studio for her to finish taking photos of the dress. Damon’s sister Alayna, her only attendant, was straightening the train. Damon’s mother had made it, and it was beautiful, although more traditional than Jess would have chosen on her own. The boned bodice bared her shoulders, pinched her waist, and the skirt billowed with multiple layers of petticoats. She wanted Tessa Brand to like her, however, and since she’d gotten her own way on the ceremony, the dress didn’t matter. She’d never cared about weddings because she’d never thought she’d have someone to spend her whole life with. She’d never thought that far ahead.
Weddings, however, were about forever. She was going to have that with Damon. It was foolish how happy that made her.
“We’re going to look ridiculous standing together,” Alayna said.
Alayna was an inch or so under six feet, which meant she was close to eight inches taller than Jess. She was slender, with long, golden brown hair a few shades lighter than Damon’s, but eyes the exact same color of blue. Her strapless dress matched her eyes.
Jess loved that color.
“I’m marrying into a family of giants,” she said. “We might as well all get used to looking ridiculous together.”
The younger girl put her arms around her and gave her a quick hug. “Thank you for making my brother so happy,” she said. “He was all work and no play, and turning into an old man. Now he’s more fun again.”
Alayna was wrong. Damon had always been fun. He simply knew what was important. And he was the most important thing in the world to Jess. He’d be a fun old man, too. She’d see to it. Making him happy was the only real plan she’d made for her life. Everything else would have to fall into place around it.
She picked up the bouquet of fresh flowers that had come from Carrie’s garden that morning and stepped to the open door. Right now, he was waiting for her. She could see him quietly conversing with the minister, a huge smile on his face, and her heart did a queer little leap. She’d gotten a tattoo to mark the occasion. It read Friends Forever. She couldn’t wait for him to find it.
She wasn’t perfect. Not by any means. But she fully intended to be perfectly his.
The End
If you enjoyed Her Secret Love, you’ll love the other Secrets of Cherry Lake stories!
The Secrets of Cherry Lake Series
Small Town Secrets by Roxanne Snopek
The Secret Son by Joan Kilby
Her Secret Love by Paula Altenburg
Her Secret Protector by Roxanne Snopek
The Secret Bride by Jeannie Watt
Other books by Paula Altenburg
Contemporary Romance:
I’ll Love You Forever, Book 1 in the Broken Hearts Series
Christian and Danni’s story:
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Her Secret, His Surprise, Cass and Logan’s story:
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Desire by Design, Matt and Eve’s story:
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Fantasy Romance:
The Demon Outlaws Series
The Demon’s Daughter, Book 1:
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Black Widow Demon, Book 2:
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The Demon Lord, Novella 2.5:
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Demon Creed, Book 3:
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About the Author
Paula Altenburg lives in rural Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and two sons. Once a manager in the aerospace industry, she now enjoys working from home and writing fulltime. Paula writes fantasy and paranormal romance, as well as short contemporary romance.
For more from Paula:
Visit her website at PaulaAltenburg.com
Join her newsletter
Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @PaulaAltenburg
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Her Secret Love Page 17