Wrong Side Girl (The Girl Series Book 1) (31 page)

The last major change, and something we were still dealing with right now, was Lizzy working with a lawyer to look into her father’s will. At first, it seemed like all she would get was the compulsory portion that she had been denied when Walter died. And she had been more than content with that. But when George went through one of Walter’s old boxes before he sold the house to find some pictures of her father he could give to Lizzy, he had come across a very interesting document: a copy of his changed will and testament. Before he died, Walter had changed his will in Lizzy’s, her mother’s, and Courtney’s favor. Ann was taken out and both Lizzy and her mother were added, splitting all his money between the three girls he undoubtedly loved. Lizzy and her lawyer were now using that copy to sue Ann. It was still in the works, but soon enough, Lizzy would come into a lot of money. She didn’t care about the money itself, but she told me that it felt good her father had wanted to take care of her and that being the reason why she was fighting for it. They had all been wronged. Not just Lizzy and her mom, but Walter too. And Courtney, though neither of us had any compassion left for her.

From what Max has told me, Courtney was fighting her own battle in court, over the custody of her two-month-old daughter. She had used the father to get pregnant so she could trap me, but she had tried to play the wrong person. When Max had found out who the father was, he had made sure that he got the information he needed to get custody of his child. And even though the courts usually favored the mother, it didn’t look good for her. Not that I cared, though I wouldn’t want a child left in that woman’s hands.

Lizzy’s mother hadn’t been found. There was no trace of her. We know that my mother paid for her bus ticket and we know that it was a ticket to California, as far away from Massachusetts as she could send her. But it had been two years and there were too many possibilities for her to disappear between here and California to find any leads. Nobody cared or paid attention to a woman in her late forties who was addicted to drugs and whored herself out to get her next fix.

Lizzy was struggling with it. Things in her life—in our lives—had never been better, and somewhere deep inside her I think she had hoped that she could somehow fix their relationship and help her. God bless her, but she was way too forgiving. Though I understood. Now that she had a fatherly relationship with George, she craved a relationship with her mother. But Sarah Watson was too far gone, had been for many, many years. I just hoped that Lizzy would eventually get over that sadness. Maybe George’s new girlfriend was a keeper and Lizzy would build a connection with her. I hoped she would.

My thoughts came back to the here and now when I felt Lizzy’s arms wrapping around me from behind. I lifted my arm and moved her under it, tucking her to my side and kissing her temple.

“I have to go. Sam is probably waiting already.” I could hear equal parts reluctance and excitement in her voice. She still wasn’t comfortable with people fretting over her and getting dressed up. Even for her own wedding. I chuckled.

“Want to make a run for it?” I asked conspiratorially, making her smile.

“No, but thanks for asking. I guess there’s no way around getting prettied up today. Though I would much rather stay here with you until it’s time to go.”

“Me too, baby. But I’m sure once you’re there, you’ll have fun. I want you to enjoy it, let yourself get spoiled, just this once. Do all that girly pre-wedding stuff.” I laughed as she scrunched up her nose, then couldn’t resist but kiss that nose.

“I’ll try,” she said, forced. “I don’t have a problem with getting my make-up and hair done, but at a spa? For three hours? Really? I didn’t even think this town had a spa.” She wouldn’t. She didn’t pay attention to things like that.

“Less than four hours and you’ll be mine for real,” I changed the subject.

“Yeah,” she whispered.

I kissed her one last time before I turned her and gently pushed her out the door. She had been right. Sam was waiting outside the cottage, waving from her car. I returned the wave then went back inside when they had disappeared around the corner and got ready to marry my woman.

Three and a half hours later, I stood in front of our friends and family, waiting for my bride to appear. Any second now she would come out of those doors and walk down the beach to meet me.

And then there she was.

She looked like a dream.

Jesus Christ. My woman was perfect.

From head to toe, she was pure perfection. I couldn’t contain the smile that spread across my face or the tears that sprang to my eyes. She was absolutely gorgeous in her vintage sleeveless lace dress as she walked barefoot toward me, her face equally alive with happiness. A light rose band around her waist made her legs seem like they went on forever. I knew she was carrying a bouquet, but I didn’t see it. All I could see was her in that dress, and her beautiful face, her green eyes that, just like mine, were wet with tears. I couldn’t stand here and wait. I had to hold her and tell her how much I loved her, how beautiful she was, and that I was the luckiest son of a bitch in the world to call her mine.

Right now.

So that’s what I did.

George chuckled as he saw me come up the aisle towards them and handed her over without argument. Not that he would have stood a chance. As soon as I was within touching distance, I gently grabbed her face and pulled her in for a long and deep kiss. Hollers and catcalls were erupting all around us, but I didn’t give a damn. I had to feel her, taste her, brand her as mine. When I ended the kiss, I kept my lips on hers and whispered all the things I had said to her a million times, all the things I couldn’t say often enough. By the time I was done, the tears in both our eyes had spilled over.

“Let’s get married,” I murmured lastly.

“Please,” she answered.

Ten minutes later, to loud cheers of our closest friends and family, I kissed her again, for the first time as my wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks.

Lizzy

Cole and I were on the dance floor of the small tent that had been erected on the beach. Twinkle lights shone from all around the tent, illuminating the place with a soft glow. I had wanted a simple wedding, so the decorations had been matched with the vintage theme. We used small, colored glass jars filled with wild flowers as centerpieces and simple vintage china as dinnerware. Some of the kids from the shelter had helped put them together. I had been touched that they had wanted to be involved and had been more than happy to include them. Some of them had even come to the ceremony, as had all my co-workers. We’d asked our colleagues from another shelter to fill in for us, since everyone wanted to celebrate with Cole and I. Of course, Jesse and Chloe were here as well. A live band was playing an old and romantic song while we danced. It was absolutely beautiful, more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

And I was now Mrs. Brooks, dancing with my husband.

Was there anything more perfect?

My face split into yet another wide grin when I realized that yes, things could be more perfect.

“I have a surprise for you. Well, two actually,” I told Cole as we were slowly swaying to the music.

“Do you now?” His nose was stroking mine. All afternoon, he hadn’t been able to take his hands off of me, not since he had stalked toward me in the aisle.

“Yup. I do. And I have to give them to you now.”

“I’m not gonna stop you.”

“You’ll have to let me go.”

“Not a chance, Mrs. Brooks.” He kissed me. I smiled.

“Give me thirty seconds.”

He sighed. “All right. Thirty seconds. Not one second more.”

“Stay right here,” I gave him a quick peck then hurried out of the tent and up the small, short walkway to the cabin I had been getting dressed in, retrieved the surprise, and hurried back down to the tent. People were laughing and smiling and oohing and aahing when they saw what I was carrying in my arms. My eyes stayed glued to Cole’s when I re-entered the tent and his mouth dropped open.

“Cole, meet Cash. Cash, this is your daddy, Cole.” The cute Australian Shepherd puppy wiggled in my arms as he licked Cole’s chin.

“You got me a puppy?” he asked in amazement.

“I did. Sixteen years ago today you told me about how you wished you had an Australian Shepherd and how you would name him Cash. You knew I was sad and you tried to cheer me up.”

“I remember. I can’t believe you did this.”

“You’re gonna have to share him, though.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll share anything and everything with you, baby, you know that,” he said through a grin as he scratched Cash behind his ear.

I did know that, but that wasn’t what I meant. “I’m not talking about me.”

“Whom are you talking about then?” His eyebrows were raised in confusion and mild amusement.

My heart was beating so fast I thought it would jump out of my chest any second. “You’ll have to share him with our son or daughter.” I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. Cole was standing in front of me, his body frozen, his mouth hanging open, his eyes filled with shock. I watched as shock turned to comprehension, and comprehension turned to happiness.

Pure and simple happiness.

“You’re pregnant?” he whispered.

I nodded.

He whooped, then grabbed me—and Cash by extension—and whirled me through the air, his face alight with nothing but joy. Cash was yapping at his daddy, happy that he was happy.

And I was laughing so hard I could hardly breathe.

This was it.

This was us.

We were as happy as we could be.

With nothing but a bright and joy-filled future spread out in front of us.

The End.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my incredible husband without whom none of my books would have ever been written. You gave me the opportunity and the proverbial kick in the behind to make my dreams come true. I love you. Always and Forever.

A special Thank You goes to Teeny, my sista from another mista, the sister I never had and always wished for. Thank you for all your tips, for letting me vent, for making me laugh, for being there whenever I need an open ear, for motivating me when I’m ready to give up, for your all around support. And of course, for your fabulous job on the formatting and cover. This book is for women like you and me, the flowers that grew through the crack in the sidewalk.

Another special Thank You goes to Mayra, one of the sweetest women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Thank you for all your kind words of motivation and encouragement, for your ideas, for being my beta reader and my amazing teaser designer.

Thank you, Neva Carter, my new editor. I loved your suggestions and am glad we found each other.

Thank you to all my friends (you know who you are), to my beta readers, and to the bloggers and reviewers who took a chance on a new author and give their continued support.

And last but definitely not least, a big thank you to you. The Reader

The Cedar Creek Series

Bent Not Broken

Be Here Now

Bent Not Broken (Cedar Creek #1)

Life has taught Ivey Jones early on that with trust come pain and betrayal. Out of survival she has created walls around her to keep anyone from getting too close. Though she lives in her dream house in the Rocky Mountains and loves being the owner of the town's quirky little bookstore Serendipity, her life is narrow and governed by strict rules that she never deviates from…until Cal Bennett enters her life.

For the past nine years Calvin “Cal” Bennett has stayed away from Ivey, thinking she deserved better than to be saddled with a single dad who has never been good at relationships. Until a few chance encounters show him what he’s been missing and he can’t stay away any longer.