Till Demon Do Us Part (Paranormal Wedding Planners Book 6)

by Jones, AE

  Daddy’s Little Demon

  He was out of the bed in a flash, dropping to his knees in front of her. He looked up at her with teary eyes before placing his shaky hand on her belly for a few seconds as he rested his forehead against her. His tears soaked her shirt as she ran her fingers through his hair and tears trickled down her own cheeks.

  After a bit he stood and gathered her in his arms. “Lass. I didn’t think I could love you more, but I was wrong. Thank you for givin’ me such a precious gift.”

  “I think you were part of the gift giving too. I love you, McHenry.”

  “And I love you, Darci-girl.”

  And six months after that…

  A proud-as-a-peacock father and ecstatic mother welcomed daughter Rory Delinda McHenry into the world.

  And they thought JT was a handful…

  * * *

  Thank you for taking the time to read Till Demon Do Us Part . This has been an amazing series to write and I thank you for taking the journey with me.

  If you haven’t had a chance to read the earlier books, please see the series list below. You can download In Sickness or In Elf HERE .

  Or if you’ve read the Paranormal Wedding Planner series, and would like to check out my Mind Sweeper series, download Mind Sweeper HERE .

  I love reaching out to my readers. By joining my newsletter, you will receive notices of new books, sales, exclusive content, and other bits of news about my books. Plus, you will receive free content by signing up at subscribe3.aejonesauthor.com

  I hope you enjoyed the sixth book in the paranormal wedding planner series. Please consider telling your friends about it or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend, and much appreciated. Thank you!

  – AE

  You can jump right to the page by clicking HERE .

  If you would like to know when my next books will be released, please join my new releases email list at www.aejonesauthor.com or follow me on Twitter @aejonesauthor or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/aejones.author1

  Please turn the page to find a list of my other books and to read an excerpt from In Sickness and In Elf.

  Books by AE Jones

  Paranormal Wedding Planner Series

  In Sickness and In Elf – Book 1

  From This Fae Forward – Book 2

  To Have and To Howl – Book 3

  For Better or For Wolf – Book 4

  For Witch or For Poorer – Book 5

  Till Demon Do Us Part – Book 6

  The Realm Series (Mind Sweeper Spin Off)

  Demons Will Be Demons

  Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend

  Demons Are Forever

  Mind Sweeper Series

  Mind Sweeper – Book 1

  The Fledgling – Book 2

  Shifter Wars – Book 3

  The Pursuit – Book 4

  Sentinel Lost – Book 5

  Mind Sweeper Flashback Story Bundle

  Forget Me

  Trust Me

  Protect Me

  Find all of AE Jones’s books on Amazon or visit her website .

  Excerpt from

  In Sickness and In Elf

  by AE Jones

  Lorinda’s Wedding Tip:

  Make sure the bride is the center of attention…unless she is creating a spectacle. Then it is your job to rein her in.

  Chapter 1

  It was time. Alex peeked out the door of the inn and clutched the bouquet of orchids to her chest to hide her trembling hands. Hundreds of guests were perched on white wooden chairs in the grass. Many of them, celebrities included, turned frequently to glance back at the inn, hoping to catch the first glimpse of the wedding party. Excitement buzzed in the air as a small group of invited paparazzi circled the crowd like gnats, snapping pictures.

  The inn was the spot in San Diego. The timeless stone and wood inn overlooked the steep cliff, while waves crashed below at the perfect volume—not so loud as to drown out the string quartet, but in the background as an important part of the ambiance.

  Her grandmother made sure the wedding was all about ambiance.

  Alex took a deep breath and tried to remember the relaxation techniques Dr. Jennings taught her. Nothing . Two years of counseling and she was drawing a blank. Her heartbeat sped up, the pounding so loud it pulsed in her ears. Alex switched the flowers to one hand and wiped her sweaty palm on her dress. The movement stirred the petals, perfuming the air with a hint of vanilla. She sucked in another deep breath and concentrated on the flowery fragrance.

  She could do this. She owed it to her grandmother. Heck, she owed it to herself.

  She checked the clock in the entryway. Three minutes and counting. Her friend Peggy walked toward her, smiling.

  “Is everything ready?” Alex blurted.

  “Of course. Your grandmother is in charge.”

  The crowd let out a collective gasp when Bradley took center stage. His dark Armani suit fit his toned, fit body to perfection, and his blond hair was cut short and styled flawlessly. He looked like a movie star…which made perfect sense, since he was a movie star.

  Alex giggled. Oh, no , there would be no uncontrollable giggling, laughing, or guffawing. Although inappropriate laughter would be a far better choice than projectile vomiting. Alex bit her lip to stifle another giggle from erupting.

  Peggy leaned closer, nudging Alex’s shoulder with her own. “He’s downright edible.”

  “Peggy!” Alex released the breath she’d been holding. Everything will be fine. It is all going as planned.

  Only one thing was missing…

  The bride.

  As if on cue, supermodel Sydney Thompson descended the staircase of the inn with her entourage of three bridesmaids, a hairstylist, and a makeup artist in tow. Alex’s grandmother, Lorinda Bennett, wedding planner for the ridiculously rich and fabulously famous, completed the procession.

  The group swarmed the lobby, making tiny adjustments here and there to assure Sydney looked her best. They didn’t need to worry. Statuesque and almost otherworldly, Sydney glowed. Her strapless mermaid gown hugged her curves, and her long, blond hair hung in loose waves around her shoulders.

  Lorinda’s regal voice broke through the high-pitched chatter. “Alexandra, the bouquet.”

  Alex maneuvered through Sydney’s anxious entourage and handed her the flowers. “You look amazing.”

  Sydney flashed her gorgeous, insured-by-Lloyd’s-of-London smile. “Thanks.”

  The music changed, signaling the bridal party’s entrance, and Lorinda took over, reminding Alex of a symphony conductor. Grandmother was in her glory, as well she should be. Landing the Bradley Prentice and Sydney Thompson wedding had been a coup of epic proportions.

  Alex slipped outside with Peggy to watch the bridesmaids proceed down the grassy aisle.

  Peggy patted her shoulder. “It’s good to have you here today, Alex.”

  Alex nodded, since her voice had deserted her. She hadn’t been to a wedding in two years, not since her own almost-wedding. And she wouldn’t be here now if this wedding wasn’t so important to her grandmother and to Bennett Bridal, Incorporated. Working the ceremony today was her first step toward becoming the old Alex Bennett again. The one her grandmother would be proud of.

  In the middle of her thought, irrational fear wrapped its icy fingers around her spinal column and squeezed, and she had to lock her knees to keep from sprinting for cover.

  Peggy continued, “This is a huge day for the business. It’s icing on the cake to have you here to help us.”

  Alex smiled, although she imagined it looked a tad maniacal. Peggy was Bennett Bridal’s office manager and she was always in control. These days Alex was never in control. It was quite annoying, really.

  The Wedding March swelled, and Alex swallowed hard, as if each chord was a new lump joining the growing pile in her throat. For her, attending a wedding was as much fun as a root canal without Novocain. But she couldn’t bring herself to confess her
phobia to Peggy or her grandmother, or tell either one about her panic attacks. Rational human beings didn’t have wedding phobias.

  And how ironic that it had happened to her, of all people—the granddaughter of the great Lorinda Bennett. No one else in the world got the heebie-jeebies at the mere mention of a wedding. Especially not Sydney, now gliding down the aisle toward her movie star fiancé.

  Peggy narrowed her too-observant eyes on Alex. “I wish you wouldn’t let that loser of an ex stop you from doing the things you love.”

  Alex’s chest squeezed, and she cut Peggy off, “I don’t want to talk about Steve today, okay?” Nope, they would not be discussing Steve today or any other day.

  Why couldn’t she be normal? Women had been left at the altar before, and they didn’t tremble like ninnies at the very thought of a wedding. Alex tapped the inside of her wrist with her index finger and started counting slowly in her head. Great. Now she remembered the relaxation technique. Better late than never.

  They watched in silence for a couple of minutes, while the couple exchanged vows, until Peggy spoke again. “I’m sorry, Alex. I don’t mean to push you. But whether you want to accept it or not, this business is your legacy. You are Lorinda’s heir. All of this will be yours someday.”

  Alex met Peggy’s determined gaze. Such responsibility. She wanted to be part of the business, but more importantly, she wanted a relationship with her grandmother again. And she wouldn’t be able to do either if she kept allowing fear to paralyze her.

  Before she could reply to Peggy’s comment, murmurs and startled shouts interrupted them, and they turned to see Sydney sway slightly, dropping her bouquet. Bradley grabbed her arms, but she pulled away. Yanking up the long train of her dress, she sprinted toward the inn. Bradley stood frozen at the end of the aisle, his eyes wide in shock.

  This was definitely not going according to plan. A twisted sense of déjà vu settled over Alex. Not again. Lorinda strode quickly—her grandmother never ran—toward the inn as well. Flustered bridesmaids trailed behind her like ducklings who had lost their mother.

  Peggy swore under her breath. “Go after Sydney, I’ll distract the paparazzi.”

  Alex ran to the lobby and stepped in front of Sydney as she barged inside. “Are you okay?” But the model’s tear-streaked face and tragic expression said Sydney most definitely was not okay.

  “Let me help you.” Alex held her hand out to the bride.

  Sydney shook her head and sobbed, “It’s too late. Everything’s ruined.” She broke away and ran out the back door before the rest of the group rushed into the lobby.

  “What’s happened?” Lorinda demanded.

  A bridesmaid pointed her anorexic finger at Lorinda. “This wedding is a disaster, and it’s all your fault,” she shrieked.

  Lorinda’s gaze zeroed in on the bridesmaid like a laser. “How, exactly, is this my fault?”

  Sydney’s manager shoved his way into the middle of the fray, interrupting the babble of voices. “This is not good. Sydney is up for a multi-million-dollar campaign. The last thing we need is pictures and videos plastered all over the media of her running away from her own wedding. What do we tell them?”

  Alex gawked at the group in disgust. Not one of them had asked if the bride was okay, and she was the one who mattered right now. Alex slipped away from the pandemonium to follow Sydney’s escape route. Someone needed to check on her.

  The back door of the inn led to a small garden with concrete benches. Alex quickly scanned the area, but it was deserted. She rushed to the back of the garden and opened a metal gate that led to a path down to the beach.

  Alex kicked off her shoes and hurried down the sandy, sloped path, watching for Sydney. The path was clear of people, and within minutes Alex made it to the empty beach, her heavy breaths drawing in the familiar smell of seaweed and fish. She scanned the shoreline.

  Sydney’s dress floated in the surf.

  The damp, cold sand sucked at Alex’s feet while she stumbled toward the dress, scooped it up, and searched underneath it stupidly, as if Sydney might have been playing hide and seek.

  Tearing her gaze away from the dress, she searched the ocean frantically, shading her eyes against the glare from the water.

  Please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead.

  Time slowed, and Alex struggled to unlock her chest and breathe…until a head popped above the water.

  “Sydney!”

  Sydney turned to look at her. Her long, blond hair was plastered to her head, and her skin reflected the light from the water, making her luminescent. After a moment, the light intensified, and her face changed, shrinking and darkening, with whiskers sprouting from her snout.

  Alex blinked twice. Where Sydney had once been a seal now floated. It bobbed its head at her and dove beneath the surf, its tail flipping above the water as if to wave goodbye.

  Alex plopped on her butt in the sand. “Whaaat?! ”

  She closed her eyes. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Now, focus! Alex opened her eyes and scanned the water. Had that really happened, or had she jumped off the Phobic Bus onto the Crazy Town Train? She cringed at her choice of words, but she didn’t have time to worry about being PC right now.

  She didn’t have time for introspection, either. The wet dress draped across her lap meant that Sydney, seal or not, was in the water. She got to her feet and screamed for help, letting the fear that normally paralyzed her power her shouts.

  This time Dr. Jennings’ wrist-tapping technique was not going to help. She had no idea what she was going to tell her grandmother, or Bradley—or the paparazzi, for that matter. But this was not about her. She couldn’t, wouldn’t fall apart, not this time.

  For once, her grandmother needed her . Bennett Bridal needed her. Hallucinations and phobias aside, it was time to join the wedding business again.

  In Sickness and In Elf is available now on Amazon

  Acknowledgments

  Contrary to popular opinion, a writer (at least this writer) can’t hope to do this all alone. Which is where my amazing village of women come into play. Many of the names below will be familiar since I have thanked them in previous books and will thank them again in future books. And that is the power of community.

  Of course I have to thank my super-duper editors Faith Freewoman and Lea Schafer who both put up with me and patiently explain when I head down the wrong path. And Melissa Stevens my cover artist, who knocks it out of the park for me every time. I’m so excited for my readers to see the last cover of the series (and Melissa’s favorite of the bunch). And thanks to powerhouse Amy Atwell who helps with formatting and any question that I might have about the publishing industry.

  And I can’t forget to thank my writing friends and beta readers Sandra Owens, Diane Rippin, and Marin McGinnis who have supported this series by reading and providing feedback for these books.

  This book was a hard one to write. I don’t know if it was because it was the last book in the series, or if it was the stress surrounding 2020, but it took the help of my writer friend and critique partner Becky Lower to talk me off the ledge on numerous occasions. So thank you, thank you, thank you!

  And of course I have to thank all of my wonderful readers who have followed along on this crazy journey.

  About the Author

  Growing up a TV junkie, AE Jones oftentimes rewrote endings of episodes in her head when she didn’t like the outcome. She immersed herself in sci-fi and soap operas. But when Buffy hit the little screen, she knew her true love was paranormal. Now she spends her nights weaving stories about all variations of supernatural—their angst and their humor. After all, life is about both…whether you sport fangs or not.

  AE won RWA’s Golden Heart® Award for her paranormal manuscript, Mind Sweeper, which also was a RWA RITA® finalist for both First Book and Paranormal Romance. AE is also a recipient of the Booksellers’ Best Award and is a National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist, Holt Award of Merit Finalist and a Daphne du Ma
urier Finalist.

  AE lives in Ohio surrounded by her eclectic family and friends who in no way resemble any characters in her books. Honest. Now her two cats are another story altogether.

  AE Jones: Till Demon Do Us Part

  Copyright © 2020 by Amy E Jones

  Publisher: Gabby Reads Publishing LLC

  Cover Designer: http://theillustratedauthor.net/

  Editor: http://www.demonfordetails.com/

  Formatter: Author E.M.S.

  ISBN: 978-1-941871-32-4

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without express written permission from the author.

  The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.