by Layla Hagen
“Well, if we can help with anything, just let me know,” I said. I felt like I had a lot of free time, though it wasn’t really true. The wedding planner and I wrapped up the most pressing issues for Cole’s wedding, but there was still plenty to do.
Josie and Heather nodded too.
Josie was a shark in all legal things, and Heather’s skills as a reporter came in very handy at writing press releases as well as website texts. Between all of us, we had expertise in all sorts of things.
“Let’s go to the front,” I suggested. Everyone agreed, so we returned to the group. Rob had the party catered, so we had everything from miniature sandwiches to scones in one corner of the store. Since we were serving champagne, we thought it was best to also have some food to help soak up the alcohol.
The family was milling around the small buffet, chatting with each other. Even Ian and Dylan had come for the opening, which I really appreciated.
We put a huge Christmas tree in the display window. It was a snowy mid-December day, and it all looked so magical. I was pleased with how the decorations turned out inside the store. We only had Christmas lights in the display window and on the tree. Keeping it simple prevented guests from tripping over cords—but as soon as the party was over, I planned to unleash myself and really decorate it all up.
I spotted Liam chatting with Rob and Hunter, and my heart just soared. He turned around, as if he felt I was watching him. He held out his hand for me, and I immediately walked over to him. Who could resist those baby-blue eyes? Not this girl.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, kissing my hand, then pulling me close enough that I thought he’d kiss my lips too. Only he didn’t.
“Ready for the toast?” he asked.
“Yes. Everyone’s had the tour.”
He led me toward the second small table dedicated to drinks. They already poured champagne in all the glasses.
“Attention, everyone. We’d like to make a toast,” I said.
Everyone shuffled around the room, grabbing a glass. Skye came to stand next to me.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” she said. “We couldn’t have done this without all of you. Thank you for all your support, for always being here for us.”
“It’s all been a crazy ride, so thanks for putting up with us,” I added. I was so happy to be surrounded by everyone I loved. I turned to Liam. “Also, a huge thanks to this wonderful man I’m lucky enough to call my boyfriend. He’s the best partner we could wish for. The best man I could wish for. Thank you for being part of my life.”
I looked at my mom, a bit surprised at her misty eyes.
“Mom, why are you tearing up?” I asked.
“I’m just so proud of you. All of you. It’s a parent’s biggest wish for their children to do well, to be happy.”
Oh no. Now I was tearing up too.
Liam tapped his fingers against his glass. “I’d like to say a few words too.”
I nodded, happy someone else was taking over, because I was sure my voice would come out a little wobbly. He brought one hand to the side of my waist, pulling me closer.
“When I met Tess, my first thought was ‘I’m in trouble.’ I could barely focus on anything that wasn’t her. Then as I got to know her better, I realized I was in very big trouble.”
Everyone laughed. I felt my cheeks heat up. I loved the way he held me as he spoke.
“Babe, I love your passion and dedication, your determination to fight for what you want.” He paused and took in a deep breath, cocking his head to look at me. “And I’m so damn lucky that you want me.”
He let go of my waist, and I immediately felt cold and wanted him to touch me, but my man seemed to have a plan. I tilted my head toward him, and a strand of hair came loose from my braid. He pushed it behind my ear before taking a step back.
Someone in the group started whispering something, but my ears became fuzzy the second I realized Liam was lowering himself to one knee. My heart started beating so fast that I couldn’t even breathe. I pressed a palm to my stomach when he pulled a ring from his back pocket. No box, just the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. The band was a mix of platinum and gold, and there were three stones in the center: a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald.
“Tess Winchester, after today, I no longer want to be your boyfriend. I want to be your fiancé.”
His hand was shaking a little, so I took a step forward, cupping his outstretched hand with both of mine.
“I want you to be my partner in all things, the mother of my children, my wife. You’re an amazing human being.”
His voice was strong, his eyes determined, and all I could do was nod. My hands were shaking now, and he was the one steadying me as he slid the ring on my finger. I jumped in his arms before he even finished rising to his feet, but my strong man didn’t even wobble. My ears started working again, and I heard everyone cheering and clapping. I hugged him tightly, hiding my face in his neck and breathing him in for a few moments. I couldn’t believe this was real, that he loved me so much.
He lowered me to the floor carefully. I gave him one hell of a smooch, trying—and failing—to keep it from being too hot.
He was grinning from ear to ear when we pulled apart.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“You’re my whole life, Tess.”
He kissed both of my hands right before I felt a bear hug from behind. I didn’t even have to turn around to know it was Cole. Everyone hugged and congratulated us, and I was looking for Mom in the crowd, because I thought she might need a hug right now too. I couldn’t see her though, not until everyone but her, Mick, and Ellen had congratulated us. They waited in the back. Mick just wordlessly hugged me, then shook Liam’s hand. Mom was even more misty-eyed than before.
“Liam, take good care of my girl,” Mom said.
“Every day of my life. I promise.”
“You have a good man there, Tess. Love him always just as you do now,” Mom added.
“I will,” I promised her, nodding in excitement.
Ellen smiled at me. “I’m biased, of course, but I agree with your mom. You’re perfect for him.”
“Thank you, Ellen.”
“And don’t keep us waiting too long for those grandkids,” she told Liam.
“Gran, don’t start.”
“If I can’t start on the day you propose, then when can I? You know what, don’t answer that. I’m eighty. I’m at the age where I can officially not care about permission anymore.”
Liam and I both started laughing, but I was pretty sure Ellen wasn’t joking. She’d lobby for grandkids even more openly than before.
But that was okay, because I was completely on board with that plan.
I glanced at Liam, trying to read his expression. He was looking at me with a very smug smile.
“I know what you’re thinking about,” Liam whispered in my ear as we went back to the buffet table.
“Oh?”
He winked. “We’re going to start working on that very soon.”
I felt the tips of my ears heat up and then my cheeks. Isabelle, Ian, and Dylan were currently at the buffet, arguing in a brotherly and sisterly way I knew only too well.
“What are you bickering about?” I inquired.
Isabelle waved her hand in the air, pointing from Ian to Dylan to herself.
“Well, with all the Winchesters now officially off the market, I was just wondering which of the three of us will make it out of the bachelor club next.”
“And let me guess, these two are firmly insisting they like being in the club?’
“We’re right here,” Dylan said with a smile. “We can hear you.”
“If anyone asks us, we think—” Cole started, but Ian interrupted him.
“No one is asking,” he said loudly, and I cracked up.
“I am,” Dylan said.
Ian stared at him. “Man, don’t do this. It’s like a jinx.”
Cole cocked a brow, looking between the b
rothers. “I don’t want to start a war between you two, so I’m withholding my opinion.”
“I think it’ll be me,” Isabelle declared loudly, swinging her fiery red hair to one side and winking at her brothers.
We all burst out laughing, but then Skye groaned.
“Oh no, we’re supposed to open now. It’s already eleven o’clock.”
I glanced out the window. It was snowing in earnest now, and SoHo looked even more magical than usual. The day was so dark and cloudy that the lampposts were already glowing, as were the Christmas lights hanging up and down the street.
I headed to the door, still chuckling at Isabelle’s proclamation that she was going to be next as I turned the sign from Closed to Open. I totally believed it, though who knew? Maybe her brother would be next. Someone may steal Dylan’s heart.
Finding love in New York wasn’t always easy, but with a little luck, anything was possible.
***
The end
Dear Reader,
This is the end of Tess and Liam’s story. The series continues with Isabelle’s story. It will be available in April. You can pre-order it here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
All other retailers and countries
***
Did you read the first books in the series?
You’re The One (Josie and Hunter) is available HERE
Just One Kiss (Ryker and Heather) is available HERE
One Perfect Touch (Skye and Rob) is available HERE
One Beautiful Promise (Cole and Laney’s story) is available HERE
***
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Other books by Layla Hagen
If you want to meet the Bennett family, you can find a link to the series HERE.
They are a fun family, the romances are HOT and SWOONWORTHY. That series is complete, and each book can be read as a standalone.
Links to THE ENTIRE BENNETT FAMILY SERIES:
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Amazon UK
All other retailers & countries
Links to individual books in the Bennett Family Series:
Book 1: Your Irresistible Love (Sebastian & Ava)
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Book 2: Your Captivating Love (Logan & Nadine)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Book 3: Your Forever Love (Pippa & Eric)
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Amazon UK
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Book 4: Your Inescapable Love (Max & Emilia)
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Amazon UK
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Book 5: Your Tempting Love (Christopher & Victoria)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Book 6: Your Alluring Love (Alice & Nate)
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Book 7: Your Fierce Love (Blake & Clara)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Book 8: Your One True Love (Daniel & Caroline)
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Book 9: Your Endless Love (Summer & Alex)
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Amazon UK
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The Connor Family series is also complete. You can find the link to the entire series HERE.
Here are the individual books:
ANYTHING FOR YOU (Landon & Maddie)
WILD WITH YOU (Lori & Graham)
MEANT FOR YOU (Will & Paige)
ONLY WITH YOU (Valentina & Carter)
FIGHTING FOR YOU (Jace & Brooke)
ALWAYS WITH YOU (HAILEY & REID)
Standalone USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Withering Hope
Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.
But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
With no way to reach civilization, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.
As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.
Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.
Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.
AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS. You can find the links HERE.
One Beautiful Promise
Copyright © 2020 Layla Hagen
Published by Layla Hagen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Published: Layla Hagen 2020