by Iris Morland
“I’m just so happy to finally see you and Adam get married and stop living in sin,” Kat quipped.
Joy rolled her eyes. “Takes one to know one. Besides, there was no way I was marrying Adam without planning the wedding I wanted. He would’ve run to the courthouse if I’d said yes.”
Kat smiled. “Gavin said the same thing to me.”
“Did he ask you?” Joy whirled to face her. “Kat Williamson, don’t play with me! Are you engaged?”
She could only nod, and Joy squealed with delight. But seeing that her left hand was bare, Joy made a face.
Kat couldn’t help but laugh. “He kind of asked me without planning the rest of it. But don’t worry, I’m getting the biggest ring out of him I can.”
“Good. You deserve it.” Joy stood up and hugged her, and Kat suddenly fought tears. “I’m so glad you’re part of the family now, Kat.”
So was Kat. Gavin hadn’t been the only one to overcome his fears: Kat had as well. She’d realized she’d kept herself alone to avoid getting hurt, but Gavin had shown her that, for love, the risk was always worth it.
The door opened, and Grace entered. She wore the silvery bridesmaid dress that Kat also wore, and her blonde hair was piled on top of her head. She looked absolutely radiant, and Kat had to wonder if Grace Danvers had a secret of her own.
“Adam wanted me to ask if you were ready,” Grace asked.
Joy raised an eyebrow. “And you can ask him if he’s ready.” Then she smiled. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Grace practically bounced on her toes, and Kat eyed her. Was she touching her abdomen more often than usual, or was she imagining things? She bit her lip to keep from smiling too obviously as she asked, “Does Jaime know?”
Grace’s head whipped toward her, her fingers pressing against her stomach. When Joy noticed the gesture, she gasped. “Grace Danvers!” Joy breathed. “Tell me right now what’s going on!”
Grace blushed and sat down beside them, and they huddled together as a group. “I just found out this past week. I told Jaime last night.” If it was possible, she blushed harder. “I’m pregnant.”
The sound they all made together was enough to wake the dead. Joy hugged Grace so hard that she rumpled her gown, and Grace’s hair was in danger of falling from its pins. Kat hugged her as well.
“Congratulations. How did Jaime take it?” Kat asked.
“He’s still kind of in a daze. But then this morning he was so happy that he couldn’t stop kissing me.” Grace bit back a smile. “That’s why we were late.”
Joy smacked her on the arm. “For shame! But I’m so happy for you two. You’ll make the best parents.”
“What about you?” Grace poked Joy in the arm. “Are you guys working on any project? Not that I’m dying to know what either of you are doing with my brothers, but tit for tat and all that.”
Joy shrugged, but it was an elusive gesture. “We’ll see, won’t we?”
Kat looked at the time. “Joy, if we don’t leave now, you’ll be late to your own wedding.”
The ceremony went off without a hitch, the bride looking gorgeous and the groom looking like he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. Kat gazed at Gavin as they stood up for Adam and Joy, and he mouthed the words I love you at her more than once.
Unlike the unseasonal snow they’d gotten around Halloween, this Christmas Eve was the warmest they’d had in decades. Although they’d planned to have the reception inside the vineyard’s main building, they were able to set up tents outside with heaters running.
Kat and Gavin stopped to speak with Officer Haldon, who’d been so helpful during and after The Incident. Kat had quickly discovered that Matt Haldon was wise beyond his years, and he’d gone above and beyond the call of duty. He’d stopped by Gavin’s apartment to ask how everyone was doing. Most of all, he’d been instrumental in convincing the judge not to allow Silas to have the chance to post bail.
“So glad you could come,” said Gavin, giving Matt a pat on the shoulder.
Matt looked a little embarrassed. “Am I allowed to say that weddings make me feel awkward?”
“You and every other man,” replied Gavin.
Kat just rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. “You’re such a liar. You were teary-eyed the entire ceremony.”
“That was allergies.”
Matt gave them both an amused look. “Well, I appreciate the invitation anyway. I’m glad to see your family is doing well.”
Gavin’s expression turned serious. “You know I can’t thank you enough for all of your help.”
“You’ve said it a few times. It’s my job. Don’t even worry about it.”
Matt said goodbye, heading toward the wine bar. Kat had heard that Matt had a girlfriend, but he hadn’t brought a plus one to the wedding.
“What’s that look?” said Gavin with suspicion.
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
“How a great guy like Matt could be single, that’s all.”
Gavin snorted. “Don’t turn matchmaker, Kat. I doubt Matt would thank you for it.”
Kat didn’t reply, only because she didn’t have anyone in mind for Matt. But if she met a great woman who’d be interested in dating a great guy… Well, wasn’t it her civic duty to help things along?
“I’m just so happy with you that I want everyone else to be happy, too,” she said as Gavin led her out to the dance floor.
He couldn’t help but smile at that. “Okay, I’ll give you that.” He kissed her forehead.
Kat tilted her head back to look into his eyes. “I love you,” she said.
“I know.” When she pinched him, he added, “I love you, too. I adore you, actually, and I’m going to buy you the most amazing engagement ring to show off.”
She smiled. “I don’t need a huge ring, but I won’t say no, either.” She kissed him, and then they danced together, swaying to the music.
Later, Emma cut in, and Gavin danced with his daughter. Emma was already making strides, and her episodes had grown less frequent since she—and Gavin—had started seeing a therapist. Emma had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but Gavin hadn’t taken it as hard as he might have months earlier. He knew that Emma wasn’t Teagan, and that he couldn’t blame himself for Teagan’s struggles, either.
After Gavin had gotten out of the hospital, Teagan had arrived, in a frenzy and desperate to see her daughter. She hugged Emma until the girl couldn’t breathe, and Kat finally had the opportunity to meet the woman she’d been so curious about. Teagan was a slight thing, all blonde and wispy, but her eyes revealed how much she’d gone through. When Teagan had hugged her, thanking her for helping her daughter, Kat had hugged her back and hoped with everything inside of her that Teagan found her own happiness, too.
Gavin told her later that he and Teagan had had a much-needed talk. After they’d discussed everything that had happened between them, Teagan had apparently looked him straight in the eye and said, “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.” She’d then squeezed his hands. “You couldn’t save me, Gavin, but that doesn’t mean you failed. It just means that the illness was stronger than any of us. But I’m getting through it. Every day I’m better. And soon I’ll be able to be the mother Emma deserves.”
As Kat watched Gavin and Emma now, her heart warmed. Her new family meant everything to her. How had she gotten so lucky?
The pair of them came up to her and grabbed her, hauling her onto the dance floor as she laughed. They danced together, happiness and love flowing through them, and Kat knew without a shadow of a doubt that they’d all live happily ever after.
The End
Thank you for reading Make Me Yours! I hope you loved Gavin and Kat’s story.
Don’t miss Matt (Officer Haldon) and Holly’s story in the novella Hold Me Close.
When Matt saves a woman stranded during a blizzard, he never expects to fall for her…
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From Hold Me Close
It was still dark when Matt awoke to a noise that he first thought was one of the dogs fretting to get out. He opened his eyes, trying to make anything out in the gloom, when he realized that it wasn’t one of the dogs. It was Holly. She whimpered and moaned, pushing against his chest, and she kept saying something.
“Please don’t,” she pleaded, pushing and pushing. “Please. Sam, you can’t. Please!”
Matt froze. Did he wake her, or let the dream play out? He didn’t want to startle her. But when she started trying to hit him, he didn’t have much of a choice.
He shook her. “Holly! Holly, wake up! It’s a dream, sweetheart.” He didn’t even realize the endearment had fallen from his lips, but it felt right for some reason. “Holly, wake up. Wake up.”
She moaned. He almost thought she’d fallen back asleep, but her lashes fluttered and then she looked up at him like he was a stranger. He couldn’t make out her expression in the dark, so he switched on the flashlight.
They both blinked at the bright light. Finally, he was able to see her face, and he realized with a start that she’d been crying.
“Oh Holly,” he breathed. He brushed a tear from her cheek. “What were you dreaming?”
She shuddered; he pulled her close. Arya snuffled, her snout almost in his armpit.
“It was nothing. Sometimes I have weird dreams.” But her voice was shaky.
“Tell me what happened. Was it about your ex? Sam?”
She shook her head.
“You said his name,” he said gently. “You kept saying please and no, too.”
She seemed to deflate in his arms, like she didn’t have the energy even to speak now.
“I keep having dreams,” she finally whispered into the gloom. “About when Sam attacked me. I thought by now I’d be over it, but it’s like every time I close my eyes, he’s there. Sometimes I get away, but other times, I don’t.”
He rubbed her back in soothing circles, rage filling him. If he could get his hands on this Sam character, he would. He’d punch him so hard he’d see stars, and then he’d punch him again for good measure. How could someone treat someone as lovely and caring as Holly so badly? He’d seen enough domestic violence cases as a police officer to know there was no rhyme or reason to them, besides men wanting to hurt women and not let them get away.
He felt her body shudder, and she cried against his shoulder. He let her, not knowing what else to do. Despite feeling helpless, he rubbed her back and said soothing words into her hair. To his relief, it seemed to help calm her down after some time.
She moved so she could wipe her face. “God, I’m sorry,” she said. “Here I am, making you take me to your house, feeding me, and then I end up crying like a baby. You must think I’m insane.”
“Not insane. Just scared. And sad.”
She bit her lip before letting out a breath. “I’m so tired of being scared,” she admitted. “So tired, Matt. What if he finds me? He’ll kill me. I know he will. What if I can never get away from him?”
He shushed her, but he didn’t tell her she shouldn’t be afraid. He knew the statistics; he’d seen the aftermath more than once. Not in Heron’s Landing, but when he’d first started working as a cop. He’d go out to one place in particular, see the bruises on that woman’s face, but her husband had somehow managed to avoid jail time. And when she’d tried to leave… He forced the memories away. This time, he’d keep this woman in his arms safe from harm.
Holly sighed. Matt kissed her forehead, even though he knew he shouldn’t. But it wasn’t a sexual kiss, but one of comfort. A promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.
When she tipped her head back, her eyes dark, he didn’t stop her when she touched his face. When she brushed fingertips across his eyebrows, down his face, tracing the line of his jaw. She smiled a little at the feeling of his stubble. He barely breathed when her thumb brushed his lower lip. And when she reached up and pressed her mouth against his, he didn’t tell her that this wasn’t a good idea. He didn’t say anything at all.
Instead, he wrapped her in his arms, and he kissed her with everything he had, because it was the only response that made sense. She made sense. He slanted his mouth over hers, tasting her sweetness, and when she moaned? His heart thrilled.
He kissed her until his mind emptied. Gentle, teasing kisses, kisses that told her everything he’d wanted to say the moment he’d first seen her. Kisses that even he didn’t fully comprehend. Kisses that made him see stars behind his eyelids.
He felt fingers in his hair, and he laughed a little when Holly pulled off the ski cap he’d put over his hair. What did he need all of these clothes and blankets for anyway? He was an inferno. He was burning up. It was like a fever underneath his skin, but it was a fever solely for this woman in his arms.
Holly touched her tongue to his, and it was like flame to kindling. He rolled her over, kissing her all the while, their bodies aligned. His erection pressed against her thigh, and she whispered his name as they kissed harder and harder. He wouldn’t be surprised if steam was rising from their bodies. Their tongues dancing together, he touched her face, her neck, wishing he could get her out of all of these damn clothes—
And then he heard a whir and suddenly, the house came alive. The power turned back on, the heat practically bursting through the vents. Arya and Sansa barked, running from the bed, and the light flooding the room caused Matt to realize what they were doing. That he was on top of Holly, that they’d been kissing, and that he was the biggest jackass this side of the Mississippi.
Holly’s face seemed to echo his own horror, and he sat up so quickly that he felt dizzy. But they were still entangled in all of those damn blankets, and he cursed when he couldn’t free himself. Holly finally stumbled from the bed, her hair a mess, and then she ran from the room like the hounds of hell were at her heels.
Matt collapsed back into the bed. Eventually, Arya and Sansa came back, licking his dangling fingers. He patted them on the head, muttering, “I’m such an idiot,” to no one in particular.
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Also by Iris Morland
Heron’s Landing
Say You’re Mine
All I Ask of You
Make Me Yours
Hold Me Close
The Flower Shop Sisters
Oopsie Daisy
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Petal Plucker
War of the Roses
Love Everlasting
including
The Youngers
Then Came You
Taking a Chance on Love
All I Want Is You
My One and Only
The Thorntons
The Nearness of You
The Very Thought of You
If I Can’t Have You
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Someone to Watch Over Me
Till There Was You
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
About the Author
A coffee addict and cat lover, Iris Morland writes sexy and funny contemporary romances. If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.
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