Justin’s jaw fell open. He had always thought he would be the one to leave the show first, but now Peter would be. “What does that mean for Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy?” Of course, what he really meant was, what does that mean for me?
“I was going to talk to you about that. There are two options for you. One, you can continue the show either as the producer or host or both-” Justin wasn’t sure he liked that option. Peter was the only reason he had stayed on the show as long as he had. “Or two, you can come be my lead actor.”
“You have the power to offer me that role without even an audition?” Justin’s head was spinning. Acting had always been his dream, but hosting had been as close as he’d gotten.
“It was part of my conditions. I told them I wanted to have the decision on the lead actor and the lead writer. I was hoping maybe Ava would like to take a chance writing for the sitcom as well.”
“What?” Ava’s mouth had fallen open and her wide eyes stared at Peter without blinking.
“I read your book - the newest one as well as your first. You’re funny, and you would make a great scene writer. I’d be honored if you’d write for me, and you’d still have time to write your books on the side.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Justin said with a smile, “because I’m going to.”
She looked from Justin to Peter to Gen. “Okay, yes.”
“This calls for a toast. Who’s got champagne?” Ava’s father shouted over the cheers and congratulations.
“Not for you Dad. You’re still recovering and I don’t think champagne is on your new diet.”
“You’re such a stickler,” he said and Justin smiled as he looked around the room. How different his life had become in just a few short weeks. He was mending the relationship with his brother, he had a new job offer he was excited about, and he had the love of an amazing woman whom he never would have met if it hadn’t been for Peter and a scatter-brained woman named Margie.
Margie. Of course. The plan began to formulate in his head.
Chapter 21
Ava smiled as she recognized the familiar landscape. Justin claimed he was taking her somewhere special and she had expected a nice restaurant, but she hadn’t expected him to drive them back to the cottage where they met. For someone who claimed he hated romance, he certainly was good at the little gestures.
“Going back to the scene of the crime, are you?”
He glanced at her. “Something like that.”
“I guess you got the keys already,” she said as he bypassed the rental office and continued down the twisty road that led to the ocean. Had he called ahead then?
He said nothing but flashed her a quick smile. Okay, he would make her wait. She could do that.
A few minutes later, he pulled the car to a stop in front of the ‘slice of tranquility’ cottage. Before she made a move to open her door, he turned off the car and bounded out to open the door for her. Ever since he’d been cleared after the transplant, he appeared to be more active than even before.
She took his hand and followed him inside. The lights in the cottage were off but the soft glow of candlelight illuminated the room and rose petals littered the floor. What was all this?
He led the way to the kitchen where candles, flowers, and two bottles of Code Red Mountain Dew covered the table. Ava grinned up at him. “Mountain Dew, really?”
“Well, it’s what brought us together originally.”
“I knew you were a romantic at heart,” she said wrapping her arm around his waist.
“I had a very good teacher,” he returned kissing her forehead. “There’s a box there for you.”
“A box?” Ava cocked her eyebrow at him but stepped up to the table. Nestled in the middle of a bouquet of flowers lay a small black box. Was he proposing? She plucked the box out and turned to him with wide eyes.
“Open it,” he said with a smile.
Ava popped the lid open and gasped. Inside was a diamond ring. It appeared to be at least a carat by the size of it and it sent rainbows of colors cascading in every direction.
“I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I can’t imagine you not in my life Ava McDermott.”
“Justin, I…” she trailed off as her words died in her throat.
“You asked me once what those two couples on the show had that made them last.”
Ava nodded. She remembered the question from the day they’d met.
“It was their faith in God. I do believe all the couples on our show have been in love, but when they leave, they have nothing solid to build a life upon. Tyler and Laney and the couple before them both had a foundation in God. That’s why they lasted and why we will too.”
“You really believe that?” Ava had thought of her perfect proposal often and though this wasn’t exactly what she had imagined - waves lapping the sunset kissed beach, the man on his knee confessing his undying love - this was even better. Perfect because it was so personal to them.
“I really do. I want to spend the rest of my life with the woman who makes me laugh, who challenges me, who spurs me to be a better man and the woman I love with my whole heart.”
Ava wanted all that too. And she’d known for some time that she wouldn’t want it with anyone but Justin. She was ready to marry him and start a family. She pulled the ring from the box, but before she could place it on her finger, he took it and slid it down her ring finger. “I love you too, and I can’t wait to marry you.”
As Justin leaned in to kiss her, Ava heard the sound of a camera flash. She pulled back, surprised to see Margie standing a few feet away with an old Polaroid camera. “Margie?”
“Yep, that one is going to look perfect on my wall,” the woman said as she waved the small square back and forth.
“What’s going on?” Ava asked looking from Justin to Margie.
Justin grinned. “It turns out our getting double booked here wasn’t really a coincidence after all.”
“What?” Ava felt like the world had shifted all of a sudden into an alternate reality.
Margie shrugged. “I’m kind of a matchmaker.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I pray about all the people who book with me, and if God tells me to, I double book them. He told me about you two. I have to say I wasn’t sure when I saw the two of you, but like always, He was right.”
Ava laughed and shook her head. If anyone else had told her this story, she wouldn’t have believed it, but somehow with Margie, she could. “So, I guess this means you have to come to the wedding now.”
Margie laughed and Justin pulled Ava in for the kiss that had been interrupted. Ava heard the camera click again, but she didn’t mind. There was no place she would rather be.
Epilogue
Ava smiled as the soft salty breeze lifted her hair. She and Justin both agreed they wanted a beach wedding and what better beach than the one they met on?
The slice of tranquility cottage had served as their dressing rooms allowing her, Kelsie, and Genevieve to get ready. Justin, Garrett, and Peter had gotten ready across the hall, and Margie played referee making sure Justin didn’t see Ava until it was time. Ava still wasn’t sure if the woman was an angel or just displayed an angelic personality, but she decided it didn’t matter.
Now, it was time, and Ava could hardly believe the transformation of the beach. Tiki lights gave the area a soft glow in the setting sun and a hundred white chairs filled the beach. Instead of a red carpet, red rose petals marked the aisle leading up to where Justin stood with the pastor.
“You look beautiful honey,” her father said as he leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Fully recovered from his bypass surgery, he appeared stronger than ever. Ava was so glad this day had come while he was still around to walk her down the aisle.
The music started and Genevieve and Peter began their walk down the aisle. Kelsie and Garrett went next, and Ava marveled at how healthy Garrett looked. At least t
wenty extra pounds sat on his frame and his color had returned to a healthy glow instead of the sickly pallor that laid on his face the first day she met him.
“Are you ready?” her father asked as the music shifted.
“I feel like I’ve been ready for most of my life,” Ava said with a smile. She put her free hand on her father’s arm and began the march down the aisle.
“Who gives this woman away?” the pastor asked when they reached the front.
“Her mother and I do.” Her father patted her hand before placing it in Justin’s outstretched palm.
At Justin’s touch, a tingle shot up Ava’s arm. She would never have believed that first day that they would be getting married, but God worked in mysterious ways and with unusual people sometimes.
“Do you Ava McDermott take Justin Miller to be your husband till death do you part?” the pastor asked.
“I do.”
“Do you Justin Miller take Ava McDermott to be your wife till death do you part?”
“I do,” Justin said with a smile.
“Then by the power vested to me by the great state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
The crowd behind them cheered as Justin leaned in and kissed Ava. Her first kiss as a married woman. It was as good as she had expected it would be, and though she knew it might not always bring fireworks, she rested easy in the knowledge that their faith in God would bring them through any trial they might face.
The End!
Author’s Note
First off, let me say how glad I am that you read this book. I originally wanted to release this at the beginning of May, but then I got a BookBub for The Cowboy’s Reality Bride, and I put this book on hold for a few weeks to try for a run at the USA Today list.
Unfortunately, I didn’t make the list and by the time I got back to the story, I had lost my groove, so it took a little longer for me to finish. Around the middle of the month, I had a crazy medical experience. If you are curious as to what, be sure to click for the bonus epilogue as I wrote it into Ava’s story. It’s my way of saying thank you for taking a chance on me and my books.
And if you’ve enjoyed reading this author’s note so far (and really, how could you not?) I am offering, for today only, a page where you can sign up for my weekly newsletter for the low, low price of absolutely nothing.
Included in this weekly newsletter is many wonderful things like pictures of my adorable children, chances to win awesome prizes, new releases and sales I might be holding, great books from other authors, and anything else that strikes my fancy and that I think you would enjoy.
Even better, I solemnly swear to only send out one newsletter a week (usually on Tuesday unless life gets in the way which with three kids it usually does). I will not spam you, sell your email address to solicitors or anyone else, or any of those other terrible things.
Join me here and receive the free short story as my thank-you gift for choosing to hang out with me. It’s fun and entertaining. I promise.
Prayers and blessings,
Lorana
Want more story?
Enjoyed The Producer’s Unlikely Bride? Not ready to quit reading yet? Check out Ava’s Blessing in Disguise, the extended epilogue of The Producer’s Unlikely Bride. Just .99 or free on KU.
Ava’s Blessing in Disguise
Read on for a taste of Ava’s Blessing in Disguise….
Not ready to say Goodbye yet?
The Producer’s Unlikely Bride is the sixth book in the multi-author Blushing Bride series, but my second (or third if you count the bonus short story, The Reality Bride’s Baby). While each book written by a different author in the series will be a stand alone, I have decided to make mine a series. If you are reading on Amazon, the numbers may look confusing, but just know that my books will twine together. You don’t have to have read The Cowboy’s Reality Bride for this book to make sense, but if you have, you will have a better understanding of Justin and Peter.
I have loved writing about brides, but they haven’t done as well as I’d hoped. With that in mind, I am taking Cassidy, one of the hopeful daters, from The Cowboy’s Reality Bride and starting a spin-off series called The Men of Fire Beach. This will combine firefighters, doctors, and cops. The new title will be Flames of Attraction
The book will open after Cassidy returns home from being on the show. Obviously she didn’t find love, but what she has found is a ton of guys trying to court her and massive teasing from her fellow firefighters.
Fire Games
A firefighter who just wants to get back to work.
Cassidy is glad to be back home after the reality dating show, but she did not expect to return to a bag of fan mail complete with obsessive letters. The cop assigned to help her doesn’t seem too concerned, but when she sees something at a fire that makes no sense, will she be able to convince him to take her seriously?
He’s a cop who’s avoided Cassidy as much as possible.
But not because he doesn’t like her. Unfortunately Cassidy reminds Jordan of a painful past. However, when she sees something odd during a fire, he is forced to spend time with her to figure out what it all means
Turn the page for a sneak peek
A look at a new series
Remember Cassidy, the firefighter from The Cowboy’s Reality Bride who helped Laney? Well, she’s getting her own book and starting a new series…The Men of Fire Beach. This series will follow cops, firefighters, and doctors as they avoid danger and find love. It’s up for pre-order now and I’d love to share the first chapter with you.
Chapter 1
Cassidy Marcel gazed at the firehouse with trepidation. She loved her job, but she also knew firefighters. They loved to razz each other over everything, and her appearance on the reality dating show, Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy, would be no exception. Plus, she wondered how Captain Fitzgerald was going to react. The stony-faced Captain hadn’t been her biggest fan before she took three weeks off; she assumed she would be even lower on his list now.
Inhaling deeply, she pulled her shoulders back hoping she appeared more confident than she felt. Then she opened her car door, tucked her dark hair behind her ears, and walked into the lion’s den.
“Marcel, so glad you could grace us with your presence again.” Billy Campbell, or Bubba, as everyone called him stood before her, a giant smile on his face. He was one of her favorite people in the firehouse. Originally from Texas, he had a heart bigger than his smile and was more like an older brother than a co-worker. “I didn’t want you to feel like we didn’t want you, so I thought this my help.” From behind his back, he brandished a miniature black cowboy hat and held it out to her. Though small, it somehow sported sequins that caught and shimmered in the light.
Cassidy rolled her eyes good naturedly as she shook her head. She should have expected something like this, especially after the sugar incident last year. Sugar wouldn’t have to grace her grocery list for another six months at least. “Haha, thanks, Bubba. I missed you too.” She grabbed the hat knowing several more of these would be in store before the day was through. “Did I miss any excitement while I was gone?”
Bubba pushed open the door to the common room that doubled as a living room and the kitchen area. “Only if you count Luca’s boycott of Deacon’s Paleo meal plan.”
“It’s not a meal if there’s no potatoes in it,” Luca said speaking up from the couch. Luca was a Southern boy as well, and he believed every meal should include meat and potatoes. And chocolate. The man insisted that every meal come with a dessert which explained the extra twenty pounds he carried on his frame. Somehow though it didn’t hinder him in his job. He was strong and agile and quicker than almost all of them. His eyes flicked up briefly from the television he was watching. “Oh, hey, Marcel, welcome back.” He launched something at her without ever taking his eyes off the screen.
She knew what it was before it landed a few inches from her. Another miniature cowboy hat. This
one was brown and had a tiny feather. Cassidy picked it up and flashed Luca a crooked grin. “Thanks, Luca. I missed you too.”
“Forgive him. He didn’t like the brownies I gave him with dinner last night, and he’s still sour about it,” Deacon said as he stepped around the island in the kitchen and toward her and Bubba. Strong and dark skinned, Deacon was the epitome of an oxymoron. His bulging muscles gave him an intimidating presence, but inside he was the biggest teddy bear. He pulled her in for a hug before brandishing his own miniature hat.
Cassidy chuckled as she took the hat though she had no idea what she was going to do with all of these. She had only kept one from the show and that was more as a souvenir than anything else. And a reminder to never do something like that again.
“Brownies don’t have prunes in them,” Luca spoke up from the couch.
Cassidy lifted a brow at Deacon. “You made brownies with prunes? Things really have changed in a month.” It wasn’t that prunes were completely out of the norm for Deacon. He regarded his body as a temple and rarely put anything processed in it, but he also wasn’t one for sweets generally. He focused more on macronutrients and desserts rarely fit in his plan.
Deacon shrugged. “I thought I could slip some healthy desserts in on these guys. Keep them a little trimmer in the middle if you know what I mean.” He patted his rock-hard abs.
“Might have worked too, if you hadn’t eaten them as well,” Bubba said with a deep laugh. “That was clue number one they had to be healthy. You really couldn’t taste the prunes though, but man did they wreak havoc on my insides later.”
The Producer's Unlikely Bride (The Blushing Brides Book 6) Page 14
