BEAUTY AND THE BADGE
Page 19
Something that looks an awful lot like a jewelry box. When he opens it, I see a square cut diamond on a diamond-encrusted platinum band. Oh my God, this is really happening.
“Ashley, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I’ve been nodding like a bobble head since the second he said my name because I want to make sure he knows that my answer is yes.
When the word wife comes out of his mouth, I drop to my knees and throw my arms around him. “Yes, yes, yes!” I tell him, my voice breathless.
I’m aware that people are applauding but my focus is on Tyler. After a hug and a nearly-too-hot-for-the-park kiss he pulls back and says, “Give me your hand, babe.”
Unwrapping my arms from around his neck, I hold out my trembling left hand and watch as he slides the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly and is so beautiful that I’ll never get tired of looking at it.
I feel like I’m in a dream—a beautiful, amazing dream, at that—as Tyler stands and helps me to my feet. He puts his arm over my shoulder and smiles down at me as I look from him to the ring.
I’m engaged.
I’m getting married.
I’m marrying Tyler Jameson.
I’ve never been so excited in my life.
“Smile for the camera!” someone yells.
Turning, I look toward the voice. When I do, I blink a half dozen times as I take in the view before me.
Rob, Karen, Tyler’s parents, Eve, the Andovers, and the Falls are all here. I’m completely shell-shocked as they surround us for photos and ask to see my ring. Seeing that all the people I love most made a three-hour trip to be here for this moment, I start to cry. When I wrote down all of the things I wanted to manifest before I made the decision to relocate to Charlotte’s Cove, creating a family was on the list. This is it. None are related to me by blood, but each and every one of them is essential in my life.
There are more blessings than I can count, all because I took a leap of faith.
I wouldn’t change a thing about my life now. It’s everything I dreamt of and more.
EPILOGUE
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“I HAVE YOUR something new,” Rob announces.
“My something new is my dress,” I remind him, gesturing down to myself as I do.
“Your something new was your dress,” he corrects as he pulls a black velvet jewelry box from his pocket. “But now it’s this gift that’s been tucked away in my drawer for the last few years.”
My eyes fly to his as the meaning of his words hits me. My grandfather was still alive a few years ago.
“Is it… from my grandpa?” I ask, my voice wobbly.
“It is. Before Uncle Leo died, he had this commissioned for you. When it was finished, he asked me to keep it until this very moment. I’m to tell you that even though he didn’t live to see this day, he’s been with you every step of the way.”
Blinking to hold back tears, I wave at my cheeks as I do my best to keep my emotions in check. When I have myself relatively under control, I take the box from Rob. My fingers tremble as I open the lid and peer inside where a beautiful charm bracelet rests on a bed of black silk.
Once I start looking at the charms, I quickly see the theme. There’s a small piece of petrified wood, an American goldfinch, a hemlock tree, a charm shaped like Washington State, an Adirondack chair, and a heart made of the sea rocks that line the shoreline behind my house. Every bit of this bracelet tells a story about the place I love most in the world—Charlotte’s Cove. My lower lip trembles as I let out a little laugh.
“He was pointing me home,” I whisper.
“You know, I think he was,” Rob agrees, his voice thick with emotion.
That my grandfather shared his love of the Cove with me is why I’m here today, minutes away from marrying the man I love more than anything in this world.
_______________
AFTER ROB PUT the bracelet on me and I fixed my makeup, the wedding planners came and announced that it was time for us to get into place.
“Keep your bouquet down by your waist. There’s nothing worse than seeing photos where the bride had her flowers up by her collarbone. I promise you that flowers are not intended to act as a second chin,” one of the planners says as we walk into the vestibule of the church.
Rob and I exchange glances as I giggle. “I promise to hold them down at my waist, Millie.”
“Tut tut,” she sniffs as she guides me to the spot she wants me to be in when the doors open. “I’m not Millie right now, dear. I’m the super focused wedding planner.”
Behind me, my other wedding planner, Felicity, is fluffing out my short train.
“Professionalism is important,” Felicity says. “We want to earn your future referrals fair and square.”
“But those referrals can only be given to brides who you’ve successfully gotten to the altar through the matchmaking club,” I recite.
“Obviously,” Millie and Felicity agree in unison.
“No wedding planner has time to do every wedding,” Felicity says. “We just like to be involved in the happily ever afters we helped to create.”
“Robert, I’m going to let the fact that you’re hearing about our club pass, even though it’s a closely guarded secret,” Millie says as she stops in front of him and adjusts his tie. “I best not hear that you’ve been spreading the word. I know where you live.”
Since Rob and Karen’s house is two doors down from her own it’s not like that’s a surprise.
I can practically feel Rob holding back his laughter as he nods. “I’ll keep my lips zipped.”
“See that you do,” Millie says as she steps back and looks us over. After a few seconds, she nods. “You look stunning. Felicity and I will go around and open the doors. Give us about sixty seconds.”
Sliding my arm through Rob’s, I take a breath and draw my shoulders back, making sure to keep my bouquet in the proper spot.
“Nervous?” Rob asks.
I shake my head. “Not even a little bit.”
It’s true. I’m not nervous—I’m excited.
Once the doors slide open and I see Tyler at the end of the aisle waiting for me, my heart melts. I’m only dimly aware of the other people in the church as I walk to him. When Rob and I get to him, the two men shake hands before Tyler takes my hand in his. Surprising me, he leans in and whispers, “I’ll never forget how beautiful you look right now.”
I know I’ll never forget this moment, either.
Twenty minutes later, Pastor Ed tells Tyler to kiss his bride.
I’m so happy I feel like I’m floating and when my husband kisses me, it’s magical. Since it’s a church kiss it doesn’t last long, but it’s enough to make my heart soar. When Tyler lifts his head, he grins down at me.
“You know what?” he asks, his voice low.
“What?”
“I really fucking love you, Mrs. Jameson.”
The feeling of hearing my new name for the first time is like being enrobed in warm chocolate. In other words, I love it.
Grinning up at Tyler I answer, “I really f’ng love you too, Mr. Jameson.”
When Pastor Ed clears his throat from beside us, I bite my lip and shoot him a guilty look. “Sorry,” I whisper.
Smiling, he shakes his head. “You’re not the one who cursed, dear,” he says dryly.
“I got carried away—sorry, Pastor,” Tyler says.
Pastor Ed grins and nods to let him know it’s okay. Tucking my hand into the crook of Tyler’s arm, I turn and face our guests. It’s obvious Pastor Ed wasn’t the only person that heard since everyone in the front two pews is laughing.
“It’s my pleasure to introduce for the first time as man and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Jameson,” Pastor Ed says. “May their marriage be long, loving, and, most of all, happy.”
The huge smile on my face as Tyler and I walk up the aisle is there because I’ve been visualizing our future so I know in my heart it’s goi
ng to be all that and more.
The End
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Special thanks to Aurora Rose Reynolds. First, and most importantly, for being a true friend. Second, for chasing your dreams and creating Boom Factory Publishing with Neil. Even though I’m older than you I mean it when I say that I want to be you when I grow up. You put a lot of good things out into the world and I cheer for all of your successes because you’re not only a kick ass author, you’re a great role model.
Thank you to Neil Reynolds of Boom Factory Publishing for making this process such an amazing experience. You put this together and worked with me every step of the way, and I can’t thank you enough for all of the work you’ve put in.
Thank you to Jessica Marin, also of Boom Factory, for being so helpful and on top of things. Team Boom is the best.
Thank you to my mom for being such a great sounding board about story stuff. You’re always my #1 cheerleader and it means the world. Team HalliFox for life, yo.
Thank you to Rochelle Paige for reading the roughest drafts of this and telling me I was onto something. You’re the real MVP.
Thank you to Melody Guy for taking this book and helping me make sure it reached its full potential. I learned a lot of valuable things during the developmental edit, and it’s an experience I value very much. Thank you to Kayla R., Barbara H., Virginia T-C., and Jill D. for polishing this book. It shines like a diamond because of your hard work.
Thank you to my core group of author friends who have always been there. You’re the best of the best and I love you all.
Thank you to my reader group, Fox’s Fanatics, for being so supportive. I love my little corner of Facebook.
And finally, thank you to you for reading this book. Because of you another of my dreams just came true.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Ella Fox is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Consequences of Deception, The Hart Family series and many other sexy and exciting books.
Ella is an avid reader, lover of music, and all-around goofball. She grew up loving to read. That’s not surprising considering the fact that her mom is USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Halliday!
You can find out more about Ella by going to her website. www.authorellafox.com