Savage: The Awakening of Lizzie Danton
Page 30
Fergus was behind us in a heartbeat, his booming voice as incredulous as mine. “No, that’s impossible, but…” His eyes grew bright. “Bri.”
“Maybe she wasn’t kidding about appearing on the moors,” I whispered. My eyes met Fergus’. “I think you might see her again.”
My focus shifted back to the woman standing in the back of the photo, not dressed in the Stewart colors, but someone close to the family like a nanny, a photo taken in 1886. A chill moved through me.
“She would have been over a hundred and fifty years old when she died,” my dad said.
The only one not surprised was Brochan. He chuckled then kicked back his whisky. “I knew it.” His eyes met mine and he smiled. “I fucking knew it.”
FIVE YEARS LATER…
I stood with Fenella as we watched Brochan teaching Brice how to ride a bike. Every time the bike started to shake, Brochan was there to sweep our son up before he could fall. He wouldn’t always be there to catch him, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
My dad and Finnegan were with our two-year-old daughter, Bri, chasing butterflies. Her little legs were wobbly, but she was determined.“I can’t tell you what joy it brings me to be standing here witnessing this beautiful scene.” Fenella’s focus turned to me. “You gave us back our son.” She wiped at her eyes. “You saved him.”
I pressed a kiss on her cheek. “We saved each other.”
“Grammie, look!” Brice called.
“Oh, sweetie, look at you go,” she called as she hurried after him.
I headed to Brochan who shifted his attention from our son to me, his eyes taking a leisurely study, settling on my stomach that was just beginning to show. When I was close enough, he had me pressed right up against him.
“He’s a natural.”
“He has a good teacher.”
He curled his spine to look me in the eyes. “I love it here.”
My heart filled hearing him say that because here was the surprise he had been working on, the one he refused to share with me. He had turned the McIntyre land into the Brianna Calhoun/Abigail Stewart-McIntyre memorial park. It was the town’s center with birthday parties and weddings being held practically every week; even the festivals, including the Highland games Brochan hosted, were held there. A place that had been a painful and bitter reminder of how ugly humans could be was now a place of great joy and beauty.
“I love it too. So do the kids.”
He looked wicked. “Speaking of the kids. They’re busy with our parents, which means you and I have some free time.”
Five years of marriage and an extremely healthy sex life and the man could still make me burn.
“First one to the car eats last,” he said but then he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the car. “On second thought, no reason we can’t eat at the same time.”
My whole body felt those words. “You’re a wicked man.”
“A beast.” He bit my lower lip. “And he wants to play.”
We had found our own fairy tale; it was dark and twisted at times, but we had found our happily ever after or rather we had found happy at last.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Finishing a book is always a bittersweet for me. I’m happy the story is done, but I always feel a little loss when I type The End. Luckily for me, I have people who are there to shine the light.
James, Caitlin and AJ, I love you.
My Beta Beauties. Friends that turned into family, those words are so true. Books brought us together, but we really are a family. I love you, ladies. Elsie, Markella, Devine, Dawn, Meredith, Tammy, Rosemarie, Yolanda, Sue, Ana Kristina, Andie, Raj, Michelle, Amber, Donna, Lauren and Audrey
Trish Bacher, Editor in Heels, thank you for the time and care you put into my books. One day, I hope we can raise a glass and celebrate in person.
Melissa Stevens, The Illustrated Author, who designed the cover, title page art, the interior art, formatted the paperback and ebook and created the e-files for Savage…working on the design of the book with you is my favorite part of the process.
Tracy Marks and Aaron Shedlock, thank you for the gift of your voices, bringing the characters to life for the audio book.
Ruth Martin, my personal assistant, you’re wonderful. Thank you for all you do.
Kiki Chatfield, my publicist, I love you.
To all bloggers, thank you! Your continuous support, signing up for the reveals and promotions, sharing the teasers, just talking about the books, thank you, thank you.
A special thank you to The Next Step PR and Enticing Journey Promotions for hosting the tours for this book.
And lastly, to the readers. I wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for taking a chance on my books and thank you for coming back for more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THE BEAUTIFULLY SERIES…
Beautifully Damaged
Beautifully Forgotten
Beautifully Decadent
Beautifully Played: Coming 2018
THE HARRINGTON MAINE SERIES...
Waiting for the One
Just Me
LOST BOYS SERIES...
Devil You Know
Demon You Love: Coming 2018
SHIPWRECK SERIES...
Elusive
Title to be announced: Coming 2018
STANDALONES
Savage: The Awakening of Lizzie Danton
His Light in the Dark
A Glimpse of the Dream
Always and Forever
Collecting the Pieces
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Contact me through email at:
lafiore.publishing@gmail.com
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