by Kacey Shea
“I should . . .” She nibbles on her lower lip.
“Go ahead.” I help slide her off my body and release a harsh sigh when I lay back on the comforter. I suck in deep breaths to calm my racing pulse and raging hard on while staring at the stucco ceiling.
“It could be an emergency,” she says, but we both know the more likely truth.
One of Kate’s preggo panic moments. Overreacting and successfully managing to keep me from getting laid once again. If she wasn’t so good to Evie, I’d hate the woman by now.
Evie steps over to the dresser and picks up her bag, then digs through the contents until she retrieves the annoying device.
“Oh, my God!” she screams, but it’s a sound filled with delight.
“What now?” A chuckle escapes as I push off the bed and walk to her side.
Her smile stretches wide and she points at the screen, the illumination of the backlight brightening every feature of her face. “Oh, my God! Kate’s in labor!”
“What?” My brow furrows with the concern that replaces my amusement. Words rush from my lips along with my panicked thoughts. “Isn’t it too early? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?”
“Easy there.” Evie places a hand on my chest, her eyes full of sincerity when she catches my stare. “Lots of babies are born premature and healthy. She’s thirty-seven weeks. That’s hardly early, anyway.”
“But her due date isn’t until next month,” I murmur. I really don’t get this baby thing. This seems a much bigger deal than Evie is letting on. “Are you sure she’s fine?”
“I’m sure she’s good. Here, this is her last message . . .” She glances at her phone to read aloud. “Bitch, you best get to this hospital or you’re dead to me.”
“Wow. She pulled out the bitch. Harsh.”
Evie smirks as she shakes her head. “I’m sure she’s just giving me a hard time.”
“Humor gets lost in translation.” I’ll never truly understand their friendship.
“Wait. Hold on. She’s typing again.” Those little dots bubble on the screen and when the message pops up I read it over her shoulder.
Kate: Hospital, bitch. Now.
I whistle loud. “Double bitch. She ain’t messing around.”
“Shit.” Evie shakes her head and looks around our hotel suite. “It’s our wedding night. I want to be here. But . . .”
“You also want to be there.” I nod, but I’m not disappointed. Maybe a little perturbed at the fact Kate and Jon’s baby chose this night to come into the world, sure. But it’s out of our control. Evie wanting to be there for her best friend only demonstrates the generous heart she has. It’s one of her most beautiful qualities. “Then I say we move this party to the labor and delivery floor.” I waggle my brows and Evie’s laughter brings a genuine smile to my face.
“Thank you.” Her glorious bare breasts rise and fall with her sigh. I can’t help but zero in on the movement, and my waning erection springs back to life. “Let me text Kate back and tell her I’m coming,” Evie says while she types at the screen.
“Yeah, you are.” I take the phone from her fingers as soon as the message is sent and set it on the dresser. “I can’t believe I’m going to proposition this to you, on our wedding night of all nights, but Mrs. Reynolds . . . How do you feel about a quickie before we go?”
“Can you make it really fast?” She lifts her brow, and it’s so goddamn adorable.
“Fast. Got it. Just the way my wife likes it.” She giggles and falls back onto the pillows but I drag her back down the bed with me. “Setting expectations low in the beginning. I can only go up from here,” I murmur as I claim her lips.
“You really can,” she whispers with a smile. Reaching between us to grip my cock, she strokes it several times before she releases her hold and pushes my shoulders back against the mattress. She straddles my hips once again, climbing up on her knees so she holds her wet center only inches from my painfully hard self. “Hard and fast,” she reminds me, desire lighting her command. I thrust up and she drops down, rocking back and forth to ride me—this time to the finish.
“KATE, you’re one of kind. Using your baby to cock block my honeymoon,” I tease as we enter her hospital room, but my gaze is captivated by the wee little man swaddled against her chest.
“I do what I can,” she responds, her lips painted with a smile. “Must run in the family.” She raises her brow and directs her stare at me. “I heard you called me that, too.”
“I only speak the truth.” I hold up my hands in surrender, step forward and clasp Jon on the shoulder. “Congrats. He’s perfect.”
“He really is,” Jon murmurs. His gaze never leaves his newborn son from where he sits on the edge of the bed, one arm wrapped protectively around Kate. “Thank you for being here.”
It’s just past six in the morning but we’ve been up all night. I stayed in the waiting room while Jon and Evie took short breaks to keep me informed of her progress. Not that they needed to. Kate’s foul mouth reached well past the boundaries of her hospital room, and as she labored hard and without medication for several hours before William decided to make his grand entrance into the world, I’m sure the medical staff is also relieved last night is over.
“You did so good, Kate.” Evie’s eyes fill with tears from where she adores the new baby. I walk to stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing the side of her head as she continues to coo at the little guy. “I love you so much, William,” she whispers and my heart fills with even more love for her. She’s my best friend, lover, wife, and one day she will make an incredible mother.
“Thank you for staying with me. I’m sorry we crashed your honeymoon. Honestly, I couldn’t have done this without you,” Kate says and for once there’s no smart remark or teasing.
“Yeah, seriously. We couldn’t have.” Jon’s eyes are wide as he adds, “And now you have to be present at all future births of our children.”
“More! I just popped one out of my vagina and you’re already talking more?” Kate shakes her head. “Give a woman a hot second!”
“How many babies do you two want?” There’s laughter in Evie’s question. My shoulders shake with my suppressed chuckles and I hug her closer, ready and waiting for the argument that’s sure to ensue with my wife’s instigation.
“At least five.” Jon winks at us before Kate’s glare centers on him.
“Five!”
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted my own basketball team. But don’t worry, that’s not until you agree to be my wife.”
“Jonathan Beltran, so help me God and the baby I hold in my arms, you’d better be fucking with me right now!”
“And that’s our cue . . .” Evie interrupts and gives both Kate and baby a kiss to the cheek. “Get some rest today, and send me lots of texts. I want a million pictures of this guy.” She walks around the bed to hug Jon.
“You don’t even have to ask.” Kate yawns.
I wave at the couple and Evie grasps my hand as we walk out the door. She’s silent as we ride the elevator down to the lobby and out the front doors. I assume her lack of conversation stems from exhaustion. We’re no longer kids, and pulling an all-nighter isn’t as appealing as it once was. I’m about to suggest we delay our honeymoon road trip and sleep the rest of the day away when her voice cuts through the morning much the way the brilliant hues of pinks and purples arrived with the sunrise.
“That was so amazing. And terrifying. And beautiful.” She squeezes my hand and turns her face so I have to meet her gaze. “Thank you for sacrificing some of our time so I could witness a miracle.”
“I’d do anything for you, Evie. You know that? I’ll give up hours of sleep, and yes, even a night of mind blowing sex, if it makes you happy. I love you, and there’s nothing else I need in this life, as long as I have you.”
“You should have said that in your vows.” Her lips widen with a smirk but I steal it away with a kiss.
Right there, in the front of th
e hospital amongst nurses and doctors arriving for a new day’s shift, I thoroughly kiss my wife. With my lips I once again seal all our promises. The vows we made only yesterday hold tight with the love and respect I have for her. They grow along with the wish to share hours like this, sometime in the future, in which I’m blessed to witness the birth of our own child.
A long whistle followed by, “Get a room!” finally pulls us apart. I have no idea how long we spent kissing, but judging from my shallow breaths and Evie’s swollen pink lips, it was more than a few minutes.
“Tate.” Evie’s gaze travels up my chest to meet my stare. Her eyes are full of love, desire, and hope as she reaches out to hold my hand.
“Yes, Evie?”
Her smile grows. “Take me home.”
“Always and forever.” I tuck her smaller frame into my side and we stroll to the car. The morning sun is bright and lights the future before us. Our journey together is only beginning to uncover the goodness in store, and my heart is full.
Thank you for reading Uncovering Forever! I hope you enjoyed everyone’s happily ever afters. If you haven’t read my spinoff with the Three Ugly Guys, Detour is available now!
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ALSO BY KACEY SHEA
Standalones
The Perfect Comeback
Dirty Dealer
Firefighters
Caught in the Flames
One Hot Night
Caught in the Lies
Caught in the Chase
Rock Stars
Detour
Derail
Hinder
Replay
Uncovering Love Series
Uncovering Love
Uncovering Desire
Uncovering Hope
Uncovering Forever
THANK YOU
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading The Wedding! I hope you’ve enjoyed Tate and Evie’s walk down the aisle as much as checking in on the other Uncovering Love couples. This story has been in my head for over a year, and something I wanted to write as a thank you to my readers. How fitting it is to publish this novella on my two-year book publishing anniversary! This series is what started my writing journey and these characters have a special place in my heart for that very reason. I hope I’ve made you laugh with their antics, and maybe shed a few happy tears too.
If you enjoyed reading, please consider leaving your honest review on Amazon or telling a friend. I appreciate your support of my writing career and am working diligently to bring you more stories this year! Make sure your signed up for my newsletter so you never miss be a new release: http://www.subscribepage.com/kaceysheabooks
I’ve already had requests for more updates on my Uncovering Love characters and while I’m putting these couples aside for now, I’d love to know who you’d like to see more of. Email me at [email protected] or find me on Facebook and shoot me a message. I look forward to your thoughts and questions!
As always, thank you for your support, and for spending time with my characters. It’s truly a blessing to claim the title author as my profession. Readers like you make it possible.
Much love,
Kacey
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I have to thank every reader who took a chance on the new indie author on the block and supported Uncovering Love and all of the books in this series.
Thank you to my family, my husband Joe and children Abby, JD, and G. You allow me to spend countless hours weaving and spinning the stories that play in my head. Without your support I wouldn’t be doing what I love every day.
Kerry, thank you for your steadfast honesty and encouragement. I couldn’t do this author life without our text messages and laughter!
To my betas, who are the most badass group of women. I’m always humbled by the time they devote to helping me become a stronger storyteller. Rikki, Danielle, Amy, Vivian, Rachel, and Laura, I love you hard!
Sommer this cover is sexy, classy, and a perfect wrap for the series. I’m forever in awe of your skills. Thank you for your gorgeous designs.
Wander thank you for taking such stunning photographs and for the positive energy you bring to the book world. Andrey, thank you for helping me hunt down the perfect image for this cover, and all in one day! Your professionalism and attention to detail makes working with you a joy.
Brenda, thank you for another edited manuscript in the books! You push me to grow, but also I treasure your genuine support and friendship for which I’m always thankful. PS I kept the line you suggested. It was too good to not!
Stacey, on more than one occasion I’m asked about the interior of my books. You make all words beautiful, truly, and there’s no other feeling like holding a new book in my hands after you’ve worked your magic. Thank you!
Chrissy, you are the best proofreader I could ever ask for. You’ve lent your helps since the very beginning and I appreciate your time and generosity so much.
Stephanie, you are insanely talented and I adore the teasers you’ve made for this book, as well as others. Thank you for your kindness and support. I’m so fortunate to have met you and I’ll never forget that you were one of the first bloggers to take a chance on me.
Thank you to the many bloggers, authors, friends, family members, and readers for every share, like, purchase, review, book recommendation, encouraging word, and kind note over these past two years. Here’s to more stories, laughter, and love. Thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kacey Shea is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance. She enjoys writing strong and smart heroines, heroes with hearts of gold, and stories that deliver a satisfying, well-earned happily ever after.
When she's not writing you will find her playing Uber to one of her three children, drinking iced tea by the gallon, or planning her next escape from the Arizona heat.
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For more information
www.kaceysheabooks.com
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Also by Kacey Shea
Dedication
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Also by Kacey Shea
Thank You
Acknowledgments
About the Author