by Krista Lakes
Today, I stood outside the town courthouse in a long white lace dress.
I wore my mother's wedding dress. She'd kept it all these years with the hope that I would one day wear it. It was long and in a bohemian style from the late seventies, but simple enough that it was eternally classic.
I loved it. I loved that it was a piece of my parents' marriage and that it would now be a part of mine.
Karina brought me flowers from her garden. I had sunflowers and daisies, mixed with beautiful orange lilies. I couldn't have picked out more beautiful flowers from a florist if I had tried.
Katie had called and told me she was taking care of the cake. And the food. Mrs. Matthews said the gazebo was ours for the rest of the day. Someone called their band, and another person started bringing chairs.
We were having a reception in the park and the entire town was invited after the wedding.
Now, I stood outside the courthouse with my parents. It was quiet other than the sound of cicadas and birds. The sun cast a warm orange glow that made the world feel brighter and more magical than usual.
I swallowed hard as my dad took one arm and my mother the other. Together, they walked me into the courthouse.
The judge waited for us in the main courtroom. The room was usually for the small court cases and minor legal issues of the city and county. It appeared that the entire town was sitting in the benches and chairs packed into the room. Everyone was happy and smiling.
Jacob turned, as did the entire courtroom, as I walked in.
I saw only Jacob. The rest of the town faded from my mind.
Jacob filled my world. He was all I saw. He had put on his suit jacket and a tie, and someone had gotten him a daisy boutonniere to match my bouquet. He smiled and I knew I was making the right decision. I could feel it in my bones. Every inch of me new that I was supposed to do this with him.
He was my match. We'd always been meant to be.
This was fate. It was how things were supposed to be.
And so, we got married an hour after he proposed.
Epilogue
We told everyone that Francine came early.
One of the perks of being married to the town doctor is that no one questions him when he says medical things. As far as the town knew, Francine was just an amazingly big preemie.
Francine Grace Matthews was born at two thirty in the morning on April second. Jacob delivered her himself. We were thankfully at the hospital, and one of the other doctors took over for him once the baby arrived so that he could be a parent and husband rather than a doctor.
She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in my life. It made waiting to meet her worth it. Even her cries were beautiful to me. Her tiny toes, her rosebud lips, and big blue eyes that looked just like Jacob's.
She made my heart break with too much love. I couldn't hold it all in when she was around. Even though I was exhausted, I didn't want to sleep because I just wanted to hold her and drink her perfection in.
If I thought I loved my daughter, my father absolute adored her.
For the first few weeks of her life, I shared her with him. The two of them would sit in his easy chair watching Sesame Street. He breathlessly read her the words on the screen, teaching her letters and numbers even while she slept.
I didn't know how long the two of them would have together, but I knew that my father loved his granddaughter. I was so incredibly happy that the two of them were able to meet, let alone have any time together. The cancer was winning the battle over his body, but his heart and mind belonged entirely to Francine.
Dr. Taggert signed over the clinic to Jacob while I was still pregnant. My mother was asking me to go back to work as soon as possible so that she can babysit. One of the benefits of being in a small town is that she can come to me for feedings.
Life is good.
I found love. I found my daughter. I had given up hope that my father would ever get to see me in a wedding dress, let alone meet any of his grandchildren.
Yet, he did.
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Life is good.
Special Previews
Hey there! I’m so happy you enjoyed this book about the doctor and the nurse. There are two other books of mine coming out this month, and I’d like to share a little from each of them with you. Read on!
The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes comes a sexy standalone novel about a billionaire and the indecent proposal he gives the local barista.
Billionaire CEO Jackson Weathers needs a family for a PR boost, and I've signed a contract agreeing to give him one. A doting girlfriend in public. A wedding ceremony to invite all the socialites to. And finally, a baby for him to parade around, to show he's really a wholesome, down-to-Earth man.
I've tried to remain cynical about it. He's going to make all my dreams come true. So what if it's supposed to be a loveless marriage?
Only, his tenderness in private has me hooked. The way he kisses me drives me wild. When we make love, I lose myself to him. His body feels like it was meant to be on top of mine, like we fit together like two puzzle pieces. I can't help but begin to fall for him.
I can't tell him, or I risk losing everything. And nobody else can find out about our little "arrangement" or it will destroy his reputation. Still, I feel like I have to know how he feels, before the marriage, before the baby, before I give my entire life over to him.
Is it still just pretend?
“I was wondering when you were going to get home.” Her hand went to the silky collar of her robe and she tugged on it gently to reveal just a hint of smooth skin underneath. She liked that he swallowed hard and stared.
“Work went long,” he said, his eyes still glued to the bare skin of her chest. She let the robe open just a little more. “If I had known this was waiting for me, I would have been home hours ago.”
She grinned and stood from the couch. She flipped off the light, letting just the pale glow from the city lights fill the room. With a grin, she undid the ties to the robe and let the fabric slide to the floor. The pale silk pooled around her ankles as she stood naked before him in the pale twilight. She knew the lack of light would hide her flaws.
His reaction made all the waiting worth it. His eyes dilated, his mouth opened, and she could see the growing bulge in his pants. She rather liked having this effect on him. She knew that he found her beautiful. She knew that he found her sexually attractive, but to see his actual reaction would never get old.
She felt like a goddess when he looked at her like that.
He reached out a finger and caressed the arch of her collarbone, his finger then tracing the curve of her shoulder down her arm. Goosebumps popped out along her skin, but it wasn’t from cold. It was pure desire at being touched. His fingers caught the swell of her breast, skimming along the curve and barely touching her.
Her nipples hardened in front of his eyes. Hunger blossomed on his face as he cupped her breast in his warm hand, his thumb rubbing against the hard nipple. Jackson’s pupils nearly took over the green of his eyes.
She took a step forward, threading her hand over his shoulder and into his hair as she pressed her naked body against his suit. She could feel the warm, hard spot at her groin as she leaned in, drawing his lips to hers.
He tasted so good. Every time he kissed her he tasted better. His mouth opened and his tongue quested into her waiting mouth, tangling with her tongue. His hand was still on her breast, playing with the nipple while the other hand went to her hip and pulled her further into him.
She pulled back, gazing up at him through long lashes and grinning. She rocked her naked hips into his, feeling him harden further. With the hand not around his neck, she grabbed his tie, fisting the silk, and pulled him in for another kiss.
This kiss was urgent. She wanted to feel him inside of her. She wanted his hard length to fill her. Heat was building in her core
and he was the only one who could put it out.
He kissed her, letting her be in control for a moment. She smiled as she kissed him, enjoying the idea that the naked woman was the one in control of the clothed, powerful businessman.
He groaned, and his hand tightened on her hip. She wasn’t in quite as much control as he let her think. He was bigger and stronger. His hip thrust into her, letting her know that he was going to fuck her the moment he had the chance.
And she was very okay with that.
The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
Crime Boss Baby
Crime Boss Baby
From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sensual, standalone mafia romance that will have you turning the pages at record speed.
I am a mafia princess.
My family is making me marry a rival crime boss.
At first, I go along with it because it's important to my family. But then I meet him.
Dante is dangerous and sexy as sin. I want him physically and mentally. His talented fingers and mouth have me panting for more before he even knows my real name.
But there are parts of my past that can ruin everything. My mother's murderer is catching up to me. If he finds me, he could ruin everything. Not only that, not everyone in Dante's family is as excited about the wedding as they appear.
And then, there's news that both overjoys and terrifies me. I'm pregnant.
Can Dante save me and give me the future we both desire? Or will my past destroy everything and everyone that I care about?
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Krista Lakes is a thirtysomething who recently rediscovered her passion for writing. She is living happily ever after with her Prince Charming. Her first kid just started preschool and she is happy to welcome her second child into her life, continuing her “Happily Ever After“!
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Thank you for supporting an indie author. Anything you can do, whether it be writing a review, or even simply telling a fellow reader that you enjoyed this, helps me out immensely. Thanks!
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Don't forget to join my mailing list as well for updates! (clickable link)
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Also, check out my new Youtube channel for promotional videos, exclusive content, and my smiling face reading my books!
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Further reading
Bad Boys and Babies
Family Doctor’s Baby
The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
Crime Boss Baby
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Kinds of Love
A Forever Kind of Love
A Wonderful Kind of Love
An Endless Kind of Love
A Hopeful Kind of Love (novella)
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Billionaires and Brides
Yours Completely: A Cinderella Love Story
Yours Truly: A Cinderella Love Story
Yours Royally: A Cinderella Love Story
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The "Kisses" series
Saltwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Kisses From Jack: The Other Side of Saltwater Kisses
Rainwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Champagne Kisses: A Timeless Love Story
Freshwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Sandcastle Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Hurricane Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Barefoot Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Sunrise Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Island Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
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Other Novels
I Choose You: A Secret Billionaire Romance
His Every Desire: A Billionaire Seduction
Wolf Six's Salvation: A Shifter Love Story
Burned: A New Adult Love Story
Walking on Sunshine: A Sweet Summer Romance
An American Cinderella: A Royal Love Story
Mr. Darcy’s Kiss: A Contemporary Pride and Prejudice
* * *
Check out my new Youtube channel for promotional videos, exclusive content, and my smiling face reading my books!
* * *
Don't forget to join my mailing list as well for updates! (clickable link)