Her face heated and she lowered her gaze. “A lot of things, but mostly for coming home to me.”
He cupped her chin and shifted until his lips hovered over hers. “Always will, Emma.” He kissed her gently, then leaning back, he gathered her close. “Always.”
Epilogue
Emma strolled through the second floor bedrooms, examining every nook and cranny, periodically stopping to jot down a note or two on the clipboard she carried. After the last one, she made her way to the large stairway and started down.
“There you are.” Will came to the bottom and watched her descend.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were back,” she exclaimed, looking at her watch. “Wow, it’s later than I thought.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and dropped a kiss on her mouth. Glancing at the clipboard, he grinned. “How many pages of notes do you have now?”
She batted her lashes at him. “Never you mind.”
“Mm hmmmm.”
“Hey, you have the final say on everything, that’s the deal.” Emma smiled. Will had agreed to a partnership after much, much discussion and negotiation, and honestly, she couldn’t be happier. They’d made an offer on the old mansion, which was quickly accepted. Since they’d closed last week, both of them had spent most of their spare time in the building or on the grounds, planning and dreaming.
“Speaking of, did you look over the papers?” she asked, referring to the partnership agreement their lawyer had drawn up. She’d insisted on it, wanting to ease any worries Will had.
“Yeah, I did.” He grasped her hand and led her through the large rooms of the lower level. “I don’t like it.”
Emma came to an abrupt stop. “What?” She pressed her lips together and fought back panic. God, he wasn’t having second thoughts, was he?
He pulled her toward the French doors leading to the large patio. “Yeah, there were several things I didn’t particularly care for.”
“Oh, well…” She thought frantically. “Okay, let me call the lawyer, we can sit down and make whatever changes you—”
“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me.” He released her hand and pulled the doors open. “I threw the papers away.”
Emma’s vision blurred slightly. Palm on the small of her back, Will guided her out outside. She moved woodenly, her mind racing.
“Will, we can work something out. If there were points you want changed, we can…” She lost her voice as she took in her surroundings.
Thousands of flowers filled the patio; fairy lights twinkled as dusk fell. Music floated on the air. On one of the wrought iron tables rested a vase of white roses and a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket.
Emma spun around toward Will. He stood watching her, feet braced apart, hands clasped behind his back.
“W-what’s going on?”
He took a step forward. “I don’t want a business partnership with you.”
She shook her head, unable to grasp exactly what was going on.
“I want more,” he said firmly. “I want a partner in everything, in every part of my life. I don’t want to sign a damned agreement. I’d rather make a vow.”
Emma slapped her hands over her mouth as he dropped to one knee. Oh God…
“Emma Rose Lawrence, I don’t want anything if it’s not with you. I want you to be my partner in life. Will you marry me?” He lifted his hand, and between his thumb and forefinger, he held a diamond solitaire ring.
“Oh my God,” she said, muffled against her palm. Head swimming, she stumbled backward a bit.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Will started to rise.
She held out her hands. “Don’t you dare! Get back down there, and put that ring on my finger!”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Is that a yes, Miss Emma?”
“Yes.” She did a little hop and wiggled her hand in front of his face. “Put it on, so I can kiss you already.”
He chuckled as he slid the ring on her third finger. When he stood, she threw her arms around his neck. Cupping the back of her head, he took her mouth skillfully. He ran his hands down to her ass and lifted until she wrapped legs around his waist. Rubbing against him, she groaned.
“Emma,” he murmured.
She bit his lower lip, then slicked her tongue over the tiny hurt. “Less talking, more loving,” she drawled.
“As much as I’d love that—”
“Oh sweet mother of God, I’m blind. I’ve been struck blind.”
Emma’s lids slid shut and she rested her head against Will’s as Matt’s voice echoed through the yard.
“Oh shut up. It’s romantic, dumbass.” Lynn snapped.
Emma opened her eyes just in time to see her friend smack her brother upside the head. Despite the disappointment of being interrupted, she burst out laughing.
“Okay, get off the man,” Hannah ordered as she and Ana strode around the corner, both carrying a large paper bag in each hand. “We’ve got food and bubbly, and it’s time to celebrate.”
“Sorry,” Will said under his breath. “They helped plan all this and—”
“Shh,” she pressed a finger to his lips, “just promise me we’ll pick up where we left off after we get rid of them.”
“Oh yeah,” he drawled.
She slid down his body to her feet and turned to her friends and brother. Matt had the champagne open and Ana was pulling flutes out of one of the bags. Hannah and Lynn were setting take out containers on one of the tables. Happiness filled Emma. She blinked back tears and glanced at Will. He smiled and winked.
“All right,” Ana came over and handed her a flute filled with champagne, “we need a toast. Matt?”
“Got it.”
Everyone gathered around Will and Emma and lifted their glasses. Emma’s hand shook slightly as she followed suit.
“Here’s to my sister finally finding her way in this world with the man who’s tough enough, and crazy enough, to put up with her family.”
Emma burst out laughing.
“Nice,” Lynn muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
“I wasn’t done,” Matt protested. He turned back to Will and Emma. “Remember every day why you fell in love. There are going to be hard days—that’s unavoidable— but being able to share not only the joys, but also the trials with the one you love, makes those times bearable. And it makes the best of times outstanding. To Will and Emma.”
“To Will and Emma,” the others chorused.
Will slid his arm around Emma’s waist and pulled her close. “I love you,” he said, his lips brushing her ear.
“I love you.” She leaned into him contently. Tears clung to her lashes as she thought of her future with the man who’d helped her find out what she really wanted. She couldn’t wait to get started.
About the Author
Jessica grew up in a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and now lives in Minnesota—a Midwestern gal through and through. She wouldn’t have it any other way, although she’s been known to grumble about the snow and cold.
Jessica was lucky enough to meet the man of her dreams early in her life. They’ve been together over sixteen years and are blessed with four kids, who keep things interesting and very busy.
Despite her crazy schedule, Jessica finds time to write. If she didn’t, the voices in her head would take over, and everyone would be in big trouble! She’s incredibly grateful for her family who puts up with her craziness and understands when she ignores them all and hunkers down to finish a scene.
Jessica loves to talk to her readers and can be found at http://www.jessicajarman.com.
Also Available from
Resplendence Publishing
Blood of His Fathers by Michelle Chambers
Sinners and Saints Series, Book One
Alexander McCormack has secretly orchestrated Jessica’s life for the past fifteen years. Decisions she’s deemed to have made are an illusion. Even her marriage proves to be nothing more than elaborate manip
ulation.
Jess is no longer content with a life that brings her little joy and no passion. With divorce comes unexpected danger for her and her young son, and her only recourse for safety lies in the unlikely savior of Alexander’s son, Jason McCormack.
A hidden backdrop of age-long deceit, hatred and murder slowly manifests as Jessica finds herself drawn physically and emotionally closer to the man her every instinct—and cold hard fact—tells her she should avoid at all costs.
Coming Home by Jessica Jarman
Angel Lake Series, Book One
Coming home for Gabe Monroe isn’t a joyous occasion. He returns to say goodbye to his father, and he stays to honor his father’s final request—take care of the family. He’s completely unprepared for the attraction he feels for his sister’s best friend and blames his grief when he gives into it. Gabe tries to put things right. Kate is practically family, and he promised his father he’d take care of her. However, Gabe is pretty sure taking Kate hard and fast against any ready surface wasn’t what his dad had in mind.
Kate Pearson thought she was over her childhood crush on Gabe, but his return has all those feelings rushing back. Add in the toe-curling, mind-blowing sex…and Kate is well on her way beyond just a crush. Despite his constant meddling and insistence that they need to keep things platonic, he makes her tremble with desire and yearn for forever with him.
Even as Gabe begins to accept their blossoming relationship, Kate's past casts a shadow over their future as they realize he isn't the only one who’s come home.
Secrets of the Heart by Jannifer Hoffman
Nicole Anderson owns a successful costume design business, has a wealth of small town friends and sleeps in a lonely bed haunted by demons from the past. She’s convinced herself her life is exactly the way she wants it and has shot down every marriageable man within a fifty-mile radius.
When Hunter Douglas is assigned the task of delivering a deceased friend’s children to their aunt, he must first convince the belligerent Nicole Anderson that she actually had a sister. Though forced to take his two charges to Minnesota, Hunter fully intends to persuade Ms. Anderson to allow the children to return to New York with him —without sharing his own little secret. The last thing he wants to do is fall in love with a woman who lives in a small Midwest town with neighbors who seem to know every move he makes.
As the heat index between Nicole and Hunter rises, a bizarre puzzle begins to unfold involving false birth certificates, a stolen suitcase, odd pictures, an elusive stalker, and a grandfather’s legacy that could turn deadly.
The Bargain by Desiree Holt
Lara McKee's life came to a crashing halt the night her husband was killed in a carjacking and she lost their unborn child. Now she channels all her energy into her job as assistant to Cole Cassidy, sexy CEO of Alamo Construction. Cole's own life is a mess. A shotgun marriage based on a lie and the fiery death of his wife on the highway have left him with a child to raise that's a constant reminder of his first wife's lies and deceit. Both of them have written marriage out of their future.
But Cole desperately needs someone to mother the child and take charge of his personal life. When he proposes a marriage of convenience to Lara, who still yearns for motherhood, she shocks herself by accepting. And so these two people, carrying a van load of emotional baggage, begin to build a life together under almost impossible circumstances. Conflict builds over the child, whom Lara falls in love with at once and Cole ignores.
Beneath the daily conflict, love unexpectedly begins to grow. But at the moment they dare to explore their feelings, anger over the child erupts and the night turns into a disaster that nearly destroys the marriage. Slowly, bit by bit, they begin to re build their relationship, carefully nurturing these new feelings. But it takes another near-tragedy before they can finally get past the hurdles to complete happiness and truly become a family.
Checkmate by Kris Norris
For years he’s hidden in the shadows…watching…hunting. His attempts have never been successful, until now. And his game is just beginning.
Kendall Walker and her brother, Trace, share a passion for adventure racing. But when Trace is kidnapped by a psychotic figure from their past, Kendall finds herself immersed in an adventure race beyond anything she’s ever known. And if she doesn’t reach each checkpoint in time, Trace will die. She’ll do anything to get her brother back, even surrendering to a man intent on becoming her lover. Luckily for her, Dawson has other plans.
Special Agent Dawson Cade doesn’t know how his life went from complacent to complicated in what feels like a heartbeat. He has absolutely no leads on the bastard terrorizing Kendall, and he can’t stop himself from wanting to take her into his bed. He knows he needs to keep distant, but when circumstances force him to succumb to the desires of a man intent on possessing Kendall, Dawson must face the truth. He’s going to be Kendall’s next lover, even if she doesn’t know it yet.
And as the race begins, he can only hope he’s able to save Trace, and keep Kendall from sacrificing herself, in a game where even victory has a price.
Reckless Encounter by Tatiana March
All women fantasize of making love to a stranger.
That’s what Elena Rodriquez tells herself when a potential new client mistakes her for a call girl. She decides to play along. One night of clandestine passion. No one will ever know. And no one does. Until four months later, when her law practice flounders and her only hope is winning the business of Maxwell Glaser.
Max struggled to forget the pretty brunette who gave him the best night of his life. Now that he’s found her again, he wants more. Only, she turns him down. Max agrees to back off, but he didn’t become a retail tycoon by playing nice. His fortune was built through single-minded determination.
And he intends to pursue Elena with the same ruthlessness...
Lie to Me by JL Wilson
Grace Jamison has always been unlucky in love but this is ridiculous. What was supposed to be a blind date has turned into an FBI sting operation, complete with handsome Special Agent Ben Braden, a train ride and chase through the Badlands, and a final confrontation at a safe house—which turned out to be not so safe. If she can survive that, she can probably survive having her heart broken by Ben...unless she can convince him to take a chance on love.
Her Way Page 19