“I think doing them close together is smart. I loved that Mason wanted to focus on us and Sage for a bit though. It really made it special that Sage and Mason got to bond like they have.”
A warm feeling spread across my chest. Mason had asked Becca to marry him a week after Holden had asked me. They choose a simple wedding on Sam and Debbie’s ranch a few months after Holden and I eloped and got married in Belize. It was perfect, and I’d never seen my two best friends so happy before.
“He really is a great guy. I’m so happy for you two.”
Becca reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I’m happy for both of us.”
“More cake!” Alana cried out.
“Oh no! You ate almost half of it in three bites, you little stinker.”
Holden came walking out and down the back porch. He took Alana out of my arms and kissed her on the tip of her nose. “You look so cute sitting on top of Mommy’s pregnant belly with cake all over your face.”
Alana looked down at my stomach. “Little bweother.”
“That’s right, baby girl. In three months, your little brother, Carter, will be here.”
“Hey, how are Carter and Tori?” Becca asked as she attempted to lower herself into a chair.
With a wide smile, I answered her. “They’re doing great! The youngest, Emma, will be six weeks old tomorrow.”
“Oh wow. I still can’t believe they have three kids.”
I shuttered. “I know. I can’t even handle one.”
Holden and Alana were now chasing each other and I was waiting for it to hit them both.
Almost like clockwork, they both stopped running around.
“And here we go.”
“Mommy!” Alana cried out as she made her way over to me.
“Upset tummy?”
She nodded.
“Oh hell. I’m about to throw up,” Holden stated as he walked up to me with his hand on his stomach.
“How many cupcakes did you eat?”
“Four.”
My brows lifted and I gave him a questioning look. “All right, I slammed six of them.”
“Six?” Becca and I both said.
Right about then Sam and Debbie walked out. “Are we too late?”
“Grammy! Pampa!” Alana shouted as she took off running. I wasn’t sure where she got her second wind. Probably the sugar high from the cake.
“Well, if you wanted cake or cupcakes you’re out of luck.”
Debbie laughed as she gave me a hug. “What happened?”
I glanced over to Holden. “Well, Alana face-planted in the cake and went to town. Then your son, Mason, and Sage fought like wild animals to get to the cupcakes.”
Sam laughed. “Wait until Mario finds out he isn’t getting any cake.”
Becca walked up next to me and poked me in the stomach. I ignored her. “Well he can have it if he wants to cut off what Alana ate.”
Sam took a peek over at the table. “I see a perfectly good cake that can still be saved.”
“Really?” Holden asked with excitement in his voice.
Becca pulled on my shirt. “Um, Em?”
Turning to her, I frowned. Her face was white as a ghost. She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
“We probably need to let Mason know his son is on the way.”
My hands flew up to my mouth as I gasped. “What? You’re not due for another week.”
She gave a light hearted laugh. “Well, tell the baby that, because I’ve been timing my contractions and they’re getting closer.”
“What?” Debbie and I both yelled out.
“You’re never this quiet about things! Why in the world would you pick now?” I asked.
She shrugged. “It’s Alana’s party. I didn’t want to ruin it.”
I jumped like a crazy person. “What if you have him on Alana’s birthday. Oh my gosh, we can do double birthday parties. How fun would that be?”
Debbie nodded. “Oh that would be fun.”
Becca forced a smile. “Uh-huh. Yeah. Super fun. Right now I’d really like to get to a hospital to get this kid out of me.”
“What? It’s time?” Mason asked as he came running up.
Becca smiled so lovingly at him, that I practically melted on the spot. “It is. You ready?”
Mason cupped Becca’s face and gave her a tender kiss. “Never been more ready. Let’s do this.”
And just like that he calmly guided her around the side of the house and to his truck. After Holden and I got Alana settled with his parents, I called mine to let them know we were heading to the hospital with Becca, Sage, and Mason.
As we followed Mason’s truck, Holden reached for my hand and pulled it to his lips. Turning my wrist up, he gently kissed it. It was a simple gesture he had done for as long as I could remember. Yet it was one that spoke more than words could.
My stomach flipped and I had to push my legs together. Holden saw my expression and smiled.
“Oh no. I know that smile,” I said, trying to pull my wrist away.
He let go of it and let off the gas at the same time.
“Holden Warner. Don’t you even think of it.”
“We are alone. Alone, Em.”
My tongue ran over my lips. “That doesn’t happen often.”
“Never. It happens never.”
Looking back at Mason’s truck, it was pulling away. “Can you be quick?”
Holden made a pft sound then said, “Please. Baby, I can go slow or I can go fast. You just tell me what you want.”
“Fast. It has to be fast. If I miss the birth of this baby because of sex, I’ll never forgive you.”
Holden put on the turn signal and pulled down a driveway. It was an old abandoned house so there was no way anyone would be driving down it.
Ten minutes later, I was on top of him in the back seat riding my way to one hell of an orgasm. Holden gripped my hips and lifted up as he grunted and called out my name.
Dropping my head against his chest, we both fought to get our breathing in check.
“Damn. Every single time it gets better with you, Em.”
Lifting my head, I smiled. “Same goes for you. That was incredible and probably the last time we’ll be able to do that with the rate this little boy of yours is growing.”
Holden’s face beamed with pride.
“Think we have time for one more round?”
I rocked my hips and laughed. “You ready to go that soon?”
The tap on the window had us both freezing.
Slowly turning, we saw blue and red lights.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Holden said with a frustrated moan as he dropped his head back on the seat.
Letting out a chortle, I replied, “At least we got to finish this time.”
Erin Noelle – Thank you for taking care of yet another one of my books! You’re the best! wink
Holly Malgieri – Thank you for squeezing in a proofing and putting your touch on the process as well.
Ari Niknejadi – Thank you for being such an amazing friend and for designing the best website ever. I love you!
Danielle Sanchez – Thank you for all you do for me! Don’t know how you keep up with everything, but I’m sure glad you do.
Kristin Mayer – Thank you for always reading my stuff before anyone else and helping to make it a stronger story! I love you, Special K!
Laura Hansen – Thank you so much reading these crazy stories when half the time they don’t make any sense! Your input means the world to me! Love you girl!
Stacy Solis and Ana Winegar– Thank you so much for giving the manuscript one last read through!! I truly appreciate you help!
Nikki Sievert – As always thank you for be one of the last set of eyes on the manuscript!
Julie Titus – You never cease to amaze me with your formatting skills. You bring the books to life with your vision and make formatting one of my favorite processes!
Shannon Cain – Thank you for working so har
d to capture the perfect picture when we shoot for these books. You’re crazy talented and I hope you know that! Thank you also for the beautiful cover!
Emylie and Holden – You two were so much fun to work with! Thank you for letting me use your names as well. I hope we can do it again for another book!
Sugar Berry Inn and Breakfast – Thank you for letting us take over one of your cottages for not one, but two photo shoots. I loved staying there and look forward to returning!
My readers – Without you, none of this would be! Thank you for taking a chance on me and for reading my books and sharing them with your family and friends! Your support means the world to me and I hope you realize how much I love y’all. I hope you enjoy this one!
Darrin and Lauren – As I sit and type this, I can’t help but think of how lucky and blessed I am to have you both in my life. I love you both more than anything. Thank you for putting up with my crazy world.
And last but not least, thank you, Heavenly Father, for blessing me with the gift of story-telling and this amazing life you’ve given me.
Selena Gomez – “Nobody” – Prologue
Vince Gill – “Down to My Last Habit” – Emylie and Mason at the dance hall
Jennifer Nettles – “Unlove You” – Emylie seeing Holden after he comes back
Jena Kramer – “Circles” – Emylie talking to Holden in the pasture
Tove Lo – “Talking Body” – Emylie and Mason dancing at Twin Oaks as Holden watches
Kelsea Ballerini – “First Time” – Emylie waiting on Holden to meet her for lunch
Rascall Flatts – “Come Wake Me Up” – Emylie leaving for Utah
Christina Perri – “The Words” – Emylie in Utah
LoCash – “God Loves Me More” – Holden going after Emylie in Utah
Lo Cash – “Drunk Drunk” – Carter and Emylie dancing at the bar in Colorado
Vince Gill – “Make You Feel Real Good” – Holden and Emylie dancing at bar in Colorado
Russell Dickerson – “Yours” – Holden and Emylie dancing at bar in Colorado
Maroon 5 – “Wipe Your Eyes” – Holden and Emylie when he comes back from California
Dierks Bentley – “Black” – Holden and Emylie making love at her house
Kenny Chesney – “Me and You” – Holden asking Emylie to marry him
Dan + Shay – “From the Ground Up” – Epilogue
Full playlist is listed on Spotify
Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website. www.kellyelliottauthor.com
Stand Alones
The Journey Home
Finding Forever (Co-written with Kristin Mayer, previously titled Predestined Hearts.)
Who We Were (Available on audio book)
Stay With Me
Searching For Harmony
The Playbook
Made For You
Wanted Series
Book 1– Wanted
Book 2 – Saved
Book 3 – Faithful
Book 3.5 – Believe
Book 4 – Cherished
Book 5 Prequel – A Forever Love
Entire series available on audio book
The Wanted Short Stories
Love Wanted in Texas Series
Spin off series to the WANTED Series
Book 1 – Without You
Book 2 – Saving You
Book 3 – Holding You
Book 4 – Finding You
Book 5 – Chasing You
Book 6 – Loving You
Entire series available on audio book
Please note Loving You combines the last book of the Broken and Love Wanted in Texas series.
Broken Series
Book 1 – Broken
Book 2 – Broken Dreams
Book 3 – Broken Promises
Book 3 – Broken Love
Book 1-3 available on audio book
The Journey of Love Series
Book 1 – Unconditional Love
Book 2 – Undeniable Love
Book 3 – Unforgettable Love
Entire series available on audio book
Speed Series
Book 1 – Ignite
Book 2 – Adrenaline
YA Novels written under the pen name Ella Bordeaux
Beautiful
Forever Beautiful (Releasing October 2016)
First Kiss (Releasing early 2017)
Made for You Page 27