by Lane Martin
Libby was right, this place was amazing. We’d asked our friends Patrick and Nick if they would loan us their rooftop, to which they agreed. They even offered to fly in the chef they flew in from Paris to cook for us, but Mikey and my crew wanted to cook us our first “family dinner” as husband and wife. It was exactly what we wanted.
“You bragged you were going to marry Libby the day I married Emily.” I did, although Declan knew it had been on my mind since our trip to California.
“And you told me I was supposed to keep you calm. Shouldn’t you be doing that for me?” My heart raced as his wife walked towards us. My bride was coming soon.
“I don’t think calm is possible brother when you’re about to marry a Barnes twin.” I liked the idea of Declan being my brother, and he was right, the only thing that could calm me now was seeing Libby. Clara, in a blue dress that made her want to “twirl” followed Emily. She pushed Aria in the pram that was covered in flowers. “You’re outnumbered,” Declan added as we both smiled from ear to ear. He and Emily just found out they are having twins. I hoped the asshole got two girls too.
“Just wait,” I cautioned him as the music changed and everyone stood. Unlike her sister, Libby had decided not to have their mother walk her down the aisle. Cheryl would still give her blessing when asked by the judge, Craig Thompson, who was also the man who Libby made the “perfect” Manhattan for the first time I met her, who was not only marrying us but finalizing the adoptions for both Aria and Clara, but Libby wanted this, her last moment to stand on her own. It was her way of saying she was giving herself to me, freely and of her own will. I didn’t know about that, as far as I was concerned, we gave ourselves to each other a long time ago. Today it just became official. We’d decided on a no-frills ceremony, but before we are announced man and wife, Craig asked Clara to step forward. We’d already met with Judge Thompson. He talked to Clara about what adoption meant and was more help than we could have ever hope for. Other than signing the decree which would be done when he signed our marriage certificate this was just for Clara. We wanted her to know that she was a part of this. It was important to Libby and me that Clara knew we are as committed to her and Aria as we were our marriage.
“Please join hands.” Clara, Libby, and I formed a circle. “Today Libby and Logan you are becoming parents, but Clara, you and Aria are also becoming daughters and sisters too. Do you all promise to love and respect each other as a family?” Clara needed to know that with us she had a forever.
“We do.” All three of us answered.
“Will you laugh and have fun together?” Clara giggled, and it brought so much joy to my heart.
“We will.”
“When you are sad, will you be there for each other and lift each other up when one of you falls?” I’d carry all three of them if it kept them from falling.
“We will.”
“To your family and friends. Will you love and encourage this family and always be there for them.”
“We will.” I knew I had friends, but I didn’t know they were already my family until Libby came into my life.
“Logan and Libby, do you have a gift for Clara?”
“We do.” I reached into my vest pocket and handed my wife the pouch that contained the necklace we picked out together for our daughter. It was one of those lockets where you pick out the charms that go inside. We choose a rabbit, a heart with the word “sister,” and the word “family” to go inside. Libby put it around her neck, and we both bent over and kissed a cheek. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
“I hope all your days are filled with as much joy and happiness as today, but when they aren’t, I hope you will remember your love for one another and that you are surrounded by people who are here for you. When you are down, let them lift you up.” I felt so blessed to know I had people that would do that, not only for me but for my wife and our two daughters.
“It is my great honor and pleasure that by the power invested in me by the great state of New York I now not only pronounce you husband and wife but also as the Wheeler family. You may kiss your beautiful wife.” Clara cheered, and Aria cried as Libby, and I kissed for the first time as man and wife.
“You’ve got some explaining to do.” It was the first time we’d had a moment to ourselves. The photographer was changing some of his lighting. I knew she noticed the bandage the second she saw me. It was intentionally black so she wouldn’t think I hurt myself. Instead of wearing a monkey suit, Libby asked me to wear a white shirt with my sleeves rolled up to the elbows and a black vest. I was more than happy to oblige.
“So do you.” Her dress was elegant yet unconventional. Just like her. She called in “boho chic.” I called it stunning. I held up her left arm and examined the stencil on her left wrist. It was positioned in the same spot my new ink was.
“Now I know why Sterling just chuckled when I told him I wanted to get some new ink, something to represent you and the girls as a wedding gift. He told me he knew exactly what I needed, but he wouldn’t let me look at it.”
“I told him the same thing. When we were talking, I said something about all the pieces coming together. He came up with this, and I knew it was perfect. He’s going to do it when I’m done breastfeeding Aria. Do you like it?” She had no reason to be nervous. I loved all of Libby’s ink; the sunflower on her ankle, the two swallows she had on her shoulder representing her and her sister, and my favorite, the honey bee at the base of her neck. I’d never forget the first time I got a good look at it. She was naked on my bed, and I was fucking her from behind. I wasn’t sure where to look as I drilled my cock in and out of her; at the sexy little bee that was usually hidden by her hair or at her perfect pear-shaped ass. I was not going to lie, ass won. Hell, ass will always win. But after we were done I positioned her, so she was sitting up between my legs. I kissed the birds first. She told me the birds were flying towards each other, because that’s what she and her sister would always do, return to each other, then I traced the wings of the bee with my tongue. “Bees are strong and work hard, but they also know how important it was to stop and smell the flowers. I don’t know why but I think a bee knows there’s a time to go after what he wants and a time to enjoy the nectar of life. Does that make sense?” It made perfect sense. It was Libby.
“No, I love it.” I raised her arm and kissed the temporary transfer before putting my arm up against hers. “Take it off. Let’s see what Sterling did.” Carefully Libby peeled away the bandage. Our tattoos weren’t the same, but they did fit together perfectly. Each one was a puzzle piece. They were masterful alone, but when put together they created a single seamless piece of art. Like us. My piece held the lock, but her piece held the key. Libby’s piece was a corner; she was after all the cornerstone of our family. Both puzzle pieces contained a beautiful flower or “Charo” as I used to refer to Aria as she grew in her mother’s womb and a little rabbit for Clara. Like Libby and the girls, it was better than I could have imagined.
“Wow it’s…,” Libby started as we both took in the intricate details. I looked up at my wife. Tears of joy filled her eyes.
“Beautiful.” I finished, and I wasn’t talking about the tattoo. “I love you, Mrs. Wheeler.”
“I love you too Mr. Wheeler. I think they’re playing our song.”
“Darling just hold my hand,” I referred to the song we’d picked out together as I offered her mine and led her to the dance floor for our first dance as husband and wife. “Thank you, Libby.” I leaned down and softly kissed her before putting my forehead against hers. “I want to give you the world. Just tell me what you want. Anything and it’s yours.”
“Anything?” She questioned with a mischievous look in her eyes.
“Well, within reason. I’m not daddy Warbuck’s like your sister’s old man.” We both looked over at the happy couple who were fawning all over our baby and laughed. She lifted her finger to her mouth and tapped it against her lips as she looked up at the sky as we continu
ed to sway slowly in time to the music.
She moved her hand from her lips to the side of my face. Her skin was soft and warm against my five o’clock shadow. I tipped my head into her gentle touch and closed my eyes, relishing in this moment.
“You look perfect tonight,” Ed Sheeran sang, and I opened my eyes to look at the woman who truly did look perfect in her white wedding dress.
“A boy,” she smiled.
Even Strength, book #55 in The Happy Endings Resort series will be coming out in November 2018.
Please check out other titles in the series by visiting www.thehersseries.blogspot.com
Twice a month a new novella will be released by a different author. All the books center around the Happy Endings Resort, so characters or locations appear in multiple books. This is a great way to discover new to you authors, and anything can happen at HERS.
Even Strength is the story of NHL ladies’ man Barrett “Boom Boom” McGill and single mother of two, Adelaide Young. Life has backhanded Adelaide; can Barrett get out of the penalty box long enough to offer his “Lady” a chance for the breakaway? Will Even Strength give her the advantage she needs?
Matt and Hope’s story, Proofed, will be next in the Recipe for Love Series. Then I’ll probably Whisk something together for Eric and Suzie and finish off the series by giving you what you Knead for Gabe and Nat.
After that, I’ll be heading back to Liberty Falls from Tossed so you can get to know Kennedy’s Rebel brothers: Harrison, Monroe, Nixon, Buchanan, and Lincoln.
First and foremost, I need to thank you, my readers. Your support means the world to me. You inspire me to keep writing. As a reader myself, I know you have a lot of choices. Thank you for choosing me.
Wendy, you have no idea how grateful I am for you. You make me so much better. What would I ever do without you? I hope I never find out. The words thank you will never be enough, but they are all I have. Past, present, and future – thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Danielle, Jacqui, and Katherine thank so much for the feedback you give me during the writing process. It’s a horror to be part of a small group that gives honest feedback and where the members truly care for each other. Thank you for letting me be a part of it and for having my back.
Rebecca, we may not get to talk to each other every day, which I will always miss, but I know that you and I will always be important to each other. Thank you for all the support you have given me on this crazy “adventure.” It wouldn’t have been the same without you along for the ride.
I greatly appreciate my talented team of Rebecca, Laura, Tiffany, and Mary who all worked to put Mixed in your hands. It truly does take a village to publish a book. It was a pleasure to work with you, and I can’t wait to do it again.
Last but not least, I need to thank my husband and kids. You’ve never faltered in your belief in me. Your support means the world to me. I love you to the moon and back.
Faith * Hope * Trust * Love
Lane Martin lives in Northern California with her husband of twenty-five years. She has two children. One attending college on the East coast and one still at home in high school. After becoming obsessed with a little trilogy written by E.L. James, Lane learned about Fanfiction. After reading many of the stories she thought, “I could do that” and posted her first one-shot story in July of 2013. It was the first thing she had written since graduating from college in 1993. It was then that she remembered one of her English teachers had threatened to find her and beat her up if she wasn’t published by the time she was thirty. Well, thirty came and went but with the love of her family and support of her newfound readers on Fanfiction she decided to write her first book. Lane enjoys reading and traveling to places where she can put her toes in the sand while drinking fruity cocktails with umbrellas.
Follow me at:
www.lanematin.com
Facebook: Lane-Martin-romance
Twitter: @bylanemartin
A Recipe for Love Series
Floured
Sifted
Tossed