Expect Me (Rivers Edge Book 3)

by Lacey Black

  “Thanks, Dad.” I link my arm through his as I watch the rest of the house clear out and head into the backyard.

  My dad leads me to the doors at the back of the house that overlook our amazing backyard. There are white twinkle lights strung from the trees and the amazing trellis that Travis and his dad made a few days ago is standing at the end of the flower garden at the edge of the patio.

  Under the trellis is the minister of the church that Travis’s family are members of who agreed to marry us on a National holiday. To his left stands Travis. The man I love and about to marry. The man who is also holding our son.

  Our family is all gathered around on the patio. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are standing proudly in front of the trellis. Jake has his arm firmly around Erin’s shoulder. They are in the thick of their own wedding preparations and were completely fine with sharing the spotlight for a few weeks so we could sneak in our own quickie wedding. Maddox is standing behind a pregnant Avery. He has his arms wound around her with both of his hands resting protectively and lovingly on her growing belly. They stand next to Will and Nate. Travis’s good friend Clint is also in attendance with us today.

  My mom stands on the other side, opposite of the Stevens family, next to my sister, Karlie. And of course, Matty is standing right there in the thick of it. Rico came with him, and I watch their heads continually lean in with arms flinging around wildly, sharing some sort of gossip like a couple of high school girls.

  When I called to tell my mom about the wedding after Travis proposed, there was no hesitation in her voice when she told me they would be here. She actually sounded like she teared up when I told her. It was a pleasant and welcomed change over the way I envisioned that conversation ending.

  “Honey, I want you to know how incredibly proud I am of you today. You have grown into a beautiful, smart, and loving woman. I know that we haven’t always been close and that’s my fault, but I just wanted you to know that I’ve only ever wanted to best for you. I’m sorry if we pushed you towards something you never wanted. I can see that now. That what we were doing wasn’t what you wanted.”

  “It’s okay, Dad,” I respond to my father.

  “No, it’s not. Your mother and I are truly sorry for the way we’ve behaved and the way we’ve treated you. This,” he says as he looks around at my home, “this is where you belong and what makes you happy. I can see that. I’m so very proud of you, and just want you to know that I love you very much,” he says but his words are all but audible at the end as he chokes on them, fighting his emotions.

  My eyes fill up with tears as I stare at my father. “Thank you, Dad. I love you too,” I tell him and kiss his soft, aged cheek.

  “Well, come on then,” he says as he clears his throat and turns towards the backyard. Everyone in the yard turns their attention towards the doorway, to me. “Let’s go out there so you can marry the man you love,” he says with a wink of his eye.

  I return his smile before returning my attention to the backyard. There’s no music, no programs. There’s no flowers and no fancy decorations. Just me and Travis and our family.

  I step through the doorway into the brisk November night. I take several steps forward until I’m standing about ten feet away from Travis. His face lights up when he finally gets a good look at me. It’s that moment that all women dream about. That moment when you see your future husband and he sees you for the first time. He’s amazingly handsome in his crisp suit. A suit that he had to go buy since the man doesn’t own anything but work clothes.

  Our eyes lock as I take those final few steps. The steps that lead me directly to him. To Travis. To my world.

  I now stand in front of him, my father taking Grant from Travis’s arms, and we link fingers together. He gives me that beautiful smile that I fell in love with the night of Avery and Maddox’s wedding. The smile that I saw in the alleyway of the reception hall. That night my life changed forever.

  “Ready?” he asks with all the confidence he has.

  “Absolutely,” I tell him as I stare deeply into his clear, blue eyes.

  We both turn our attention back to the minister standing before us.

  “Dearly beloved…”

  ~ The End ~

  Want more Rivers Edge?

  Check out the excerpt from

  Promise Me

  Rivers Edge Novella 3.5

  Coming April 2015!

  Chapter 1

  Holly

  “You are the luckiest beotch ever,” I tell my best friend good-heartedly as she sits next to me in the limo while sipping a glass of champagne.

  My best friend, Avery Jackson, is married to a hot hunk of man candy. On top of his sheer hotness, he’s a cop. Uniform. Badge. Hot.

  “I am a lucky beotch, aren’t I?” she states with a smirk from her seat next to me. A smirk and a far off look in her eyes tell me she’s recalling a moment shared with her man.

  Tonight, we are celebrating Avery’s twenty-fourth birthday. Maddox surprised her with tickets to see Bent, the hot rock band taking the country by storm, one concert at a time. Avery gave birth to my unofficial nephew last month, Ryder. He’s perfect in every way possible. He has his daddy’s dark hair and his mommy’s crystal blue eyes. He’s going to be a heartbreaker when he’s older.

  “Not only did your hot-ass husband get you tickets to see Bent, but I want to know how he ended up with backstage passes, too?” I ask as I sip my champagne from the comfort of the dark, soft as butter leather seating in the spacious limousine.

  “Jase’s oldest brother, Coy, was stationed with Maddox and Jake on their tour overseas. They’ve kept in touch over the years, and Coy always said he could hook them up with tickets whenever they wanted. Maddox was only going to get the tickets, but Coy was able to secure the backstage passes and front row seats for him,” Avery mentions.

  “Seriously. Lucky beotch,” I say again and raise my champagne glass to solute the birthday girl.

  “I’d like to propose a toast,” Erin says from the seat in front of me. Erin is Jake’s fiancée. Jake, Avery’s oldest brother, and Erin are getting married this summer in the backyard of Avery’s parents, Michael and Elizabeth. On the other side of Erin is Josselyn, Travis’s wife. They were married this past Thanksgiving in their backyard mere weeks after Joss gave birth to their son, Grant. I’ve grown accustomed to all of their deliriously happy smiles. I try to keep my jealousy in check since they’ve all overcame their own trials and tribulations to get to this place in their lives. Besides, Erin and Josselyn have become two of my dearest and closest friends.

  “To our birthday girl, Avery. May you have another year of love, laughter, and hot sex. And when Jake and I finally start a family, I hope I have your body. You don’t look like you just had a baby four weeks ago,” Erin says as we all hold up our champagne flutes.

  “Beotch,” I mumble under my breath which causes the other three ladies in the limo to laugh.

  “To Avery,” we all say in unison before taking a drink of the sweet, bubbly champagne.

  “So, have you checked in with the guys, again, yet?” I ask Avery.

  “Yeah, I sent Maddox a text a few minutes ago. He says Ryder is sleeping soundly and Brooklyn is playing dress up with Jake since Travis wouldn’t let her dress up Grant,” Avery says with a laugh.

  It’s hard to believe that Grant is five month old already. He is the spitting image of his dad with his blue eyes and sandy blond hair. Seriously, these Stevens’ make beautiful babies.

  Brooklyn would be my unofficial niece. Avery and I were nineteen when she was born. I managed to go to the local community college for nursing school, but Avery had to forgo college and get a job to support herself and a baby. Brooklyn’s biological father is a jerkface with a capital J. He had been cheating on Avery pretty much their entire relationship, and the moment she found out she was pregnant, he ditched her like yesterday’s Chinese take-out. Drake Connor isn’t worth the designer jeans and fancy loafers he wears.

 
Maddox stepped in and adopted Brooklyn within weeks of their wedding a year ago. In fact, little Ryder was born a year and two days after Avery and Maddox’s wedding. Avery finally has her happily ever after, and I couldn’t be happier or more proud of the woman she has become.

  “So, tell me about Doctor Paul,” Avery says. All eyes filled with sparkly excitement turn towards me.

  “He’s a doctor?” Josselyn asks.

  “No,” I reply. “He’s only a nurse.”

  “So, why do you call him Doctor Paul?” Erin asks, her beautifully manicured eyebrows sky high in question.

  “Because he struts around the hospital acting like a doctor,” Avery quips with a huge smile.

  “He’s nice,” I defend.

  “He’s arrogant,” Avery replies, and it’s true. He is a cocky, arrogant guy. He flirts shamelessly with anyone with legs and boobs, and honestly believes he’s God’s gift to women. He’s also the only guy to show me much attention lately.

  I’ve dated on and off in the past couple of years, but have never found that person who challenges me. Who desires more than just a few romps in the hay - figuratively speaking. I’m not into sex in the barn. Hell, right now, I’d be happy with sex period. If the opportunity presents itself, I’m not going to be picky.

  Doctor Paul and I have been out on a few dates in the past few weeks and have flirted blatantly in the hallways at the hospital, but I don’t see it going any further than that. He’s nice, but he’s definitely more into himself than he is into me. But it’s not like the other young, single, good looking guys are lined up, anxiously waiting to take me on a date, so it’ll do for now. It’s better than sitting at home alone on Friday or Saturday nights.

  I feel the limousine slowing before it pulls into the arena in St. Charles. I’m from Rivers Edge, Missouri which is a small town about thirty minutes away from St. Charles. Small towns breed gossips. If you want to know something about yourself, just ask around town. You’ll find out plenty.

  “Oh my gosh, we’re here!” Avery exclaims, blue eyes lighting up like the Fourth of July.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to meet Jase Bentley,” Erin exclaims just as excited.

  I stare at the large arena where the Missouri Belters basketball team plays and feel the excitement and energy of the stadium zip through my body. People are everywhere. Girls wearing tight jeans and barely-there shirts. Guys wearing huge, cocky smiles as they check out all the bare skin floating around.

  “Ready?” Avery asks me as the driver opens the door for us.

  I step out into the cool April night and adjust my top. I chose a dark blue halter top that hugs my breasts just right. My brown, curly hair - which is usually pulled back in a ponytail or a clip for work hits just below my shoulders – is left down and hanging around my shoulders. There’s just enough bounce in the big curls to give it a luscious, sexy appearance. At least that’s what Avery told me when we got ready tonight. I stand along the limo in my wedge sandals which gives the appearance that I’m taller than my normal five foot four inch body.

  “Ready,” I tell Avery as we all link arms and head towards the front doors of the arena.

  After showing our tickets to the girls holding the scanners at the front door, and having our purses checked by the big bouncer-like men, we head towards the stage where we’re supposed to receive our backstage passes.

  “I seriously can’t believe we are about to meet Jase Bentley,” Avery says excitedly.

  “Me either! He’s so stinking hot,” Erin adds.

  “He’s okay,” I mumble. Three sets of eyes turn towards me. Three sets of eyes that are completely filled with shock and disbelieve.

  “He’s okay?” Josselyn asks, eyes wide and mouth forming a perfect ‘o’. She looks horrified, like she can’t believe the two little words I just said.

  “Well, he’s kinda full of himself. I can’t stand that. Yeah, he’s good looking, but he knows it. He’s cocky and arrogant and only dates supermodels and movie stars. I’d rather meet the drummer,” I say with a shrug as we reach the front of the line to get our passes.

  And part of that is true. Jase Bentley is all of the things I just said, but he also has green eyes the color of freshly cut grass and dark hair that’s wild and slightly un-kept that gives him the appearance that he just got out of bed. And his devilish smile will cause bodies to spontaneously combust from its sheer beauty. According to all of the gossip magazines, he’s twenty six years old and six foot tall with a lean, muscular body that he works daily to keep in his godly, chiseled shape. Both arms and most of his chest are covered in tattoos. He’s the epitome of tall, dark, sexy Rock God. Girls swoon and the boys want to be him. Hell, I’m pretty sure half the guys swoon, too. He’s dangerous with a capital D, which is why I plan to avoid him like the plague when we get backstage. I don’t need his kind.

  With backstage passes secured around our necks, Avery, Erin, Josselyn and I step behind the heavily guarded curtain and in the bright lights of the backstage area. Girls are everywhere. I bet there are five girls for every guy back here. The line is long as we find our way to the end for the wait. I don’t see anyone out yet to greet the fans, only a very large, very muscular ex-lineman looking guy with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face inviting anyone to try to get past him. He’s guarding the door like his life depends on it, and honestly, it probably does.

  At seven o’clock on the dot, the door opens and members of the band Bent start to file out and stand in front of the signage promoting the band’s latest tour and major sponsors. I hold my breath and wait for him to walk out. I told the girls that I wasn’t excited to meet him and that I was only here to meet the drummer, but that was a lie. My heart speeds up and my palms begin to sweat as I wait for him to walk out. And when he finally does, the noise of the room fades away. The dozens of screaming women evaporate around me. Jase Bentley walks out from the back room with his head down and a serious look on his face as if he’s lost deep in thought. My eyes are fixed on his ripped up jeans that hang just right on his slender hips. His black t-shirt has the sleeves ripped off so that his tattoos are in full view. The shirt is tight enough to hug his muscular chest and show off the definition hidden underneath. He looks amazing. Perfect. So much better in person than any of the photos in those magazines or his appearances on all the entertainment programs on television.

  As if remembering where he’s at, he gives his head a small, quick shake and lifts his eyes to scan the room. His green eyes are striking against the bright lighting as they scan the crowded room filled to capacity with screaming, adoring fans. He plasters on his trademark bad boy smile which causes the screams in the room to reach eardrum shattering decibels. I watch as he struts up to the center of the room where the rest of his band waits for him. His eyes scan the crowd one more time and that’s when the world stops spinning. Green eyes the color of dewed morning grass slam into me like a Mack truck. The room starts to spin as he holds my gaze. The room, the people, the cameras all fades away until it’s just me and those deep green eyes. I know in that moment that I’m in trouble.

  Deep, deep trouble.

  Get more Holly & Jase in

  Promise Me

  Rivers Edge Novella 3.5

  April 2015

  Acknowledgements

  To all of my readers…Thank you for taking the chance on this Indie Author! I am three books in and loving this as much as I did with my first release. I don’t want this feeling to ever end and appreciate you sitting shotgun on this crazy ride!

  Lacey’s Ladies…You ladies ROCK! Tiffany, Rhiannon, Heather, Kathy, Kelsey, Nicole, Tina, Abbey, Stephanie, Lisa, Lauren, Nancy, Melissa, Danielle C, Elizabeth, Alyssa, Kristin, and Danielle P…I love and appreciate ALL of you!

  Sandra Shipman and Taryn Clatterbuck…Thank you for being my Betas. I value your input more than you will ever know! I adore you both!

  Two Book Pushers…AMAZING teasers! You two rock my world!

  Smut
Book Junkies Book Reviews…Kelley, thank you for your fabulous help in spreading the word with each release!

  Ginny Gallagher of Gin’s Book Notes & Designs…You are amazing. Thank you for bringing my books to life with your stunning covers.

  Emily Getty…And we keep on rolling! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  Amanda Lanclos…For always supporting and loving my crazy ideas, thank you!

  Holly Collins…There’s nothing I haven’t already said. I love you!

  To my husband and our two beautiful kids…My heart and soul. I love you.

  About the Author

  Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

  Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014. It sent several weeks in the top 100 in contemporary romance on Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers for e-books. Fight Me, book 2 in the Rivers Edge series, released December 2014 and was another Amazon Best Seller in contemporary romance.

  Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblack