Destined, A Lair Novel (Lair Series Book 4)

by A. m Madden

  “Hi,” Livi responded.

  “You look incredible.”

  “So do you.”

  And then that fucker had the balls to grip her face and kiss her like there weren’t a hundred pairs of eyes staring at them, or like her father wasn’t a foot away and well within punching range.

  The minister cleared his throat just as Jack chuckled across the aisle from me. Fuck him. His son may have stolen my little girl away, but that meant they both had me to deal with for the rest of their lives.

  Shane

  All the bodies watching us were forgotten, as was the ocean behind us, our bridal party beside us, and the damn seagulls squawking above us. Without looking, I knew my brothers, Trestan, and Chase watched me with amused expressions, because according to them, today I was acting like a “sap.” I barely even registered how pretty Siarra and Kim were in their pale-pink gowns.

  The only thing I saw was my future wife looking more beautiful than I could’ve imagined. The moment our eyes locked, I tried to pull more air in as my chest constricted painfully from my love for her. Those wild curls of hers were pulled back from her face by a few white flowers.

  Her dress molded to her breasts perfectly before billowing out in a cloud of white. It was sexy while giving her a sweet innocence at the same time… and so very Alivia. She had told me that she’d insisted on pale-yellow roses for a bouquet because they represented friendship, and that was the core of our relationship.

  In fact, every detail of our day was symbolic in one way or another. From the location we’d decided on, to our guests, to our vows—it all meant something in our lives. We chose the same date as my parents’ wedding anniversary as a nod to them. We got tattoos as wedding bands as her parents had done… although I did give her a big-ass diamond the night I got down on one knee and begged her to be my wife.

  Our union was the product of all the many profound pieces that had contributed to it. It seemed only right we acknowledged that on our wedding day as well.

  It could have been a minute later or fifty when the minister finally said, “Shane, please recite your vows to Alivia.”

  When the bracelet I’d given her years ago shifted to where my thumb rested on her wrist, I swallowed the emotion clogging my throat. “Alivia, I have loved you every day for the last eighteen years. You’ve owned my heart since day one. And I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I take you to be my lawfully wedded wife… for better or worse… through sickness and in health… for richer or poorer… every day for the rest of our lives. I can’t wait to knock you up—”

  “Shane.”

  I shrugged unapologetically, ignoring the varied responses, including her father’s growl. “It’s true. I love you today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives.”

  She smiled through tears, and my emotions continued to overwhelm me when the pastor said, “Alivia, please recite your vows to Shane.”

  “Shane, I love you more than anything in this entire world. In times of sickness or in health, in success or failure, in plenty or want, I will be standing beside you. I will continue to be your partner, your lover, your best friend… and now your wife. I promise to always cherish you, respect you, and support you. I give you myself, my heart, and my love for all of eternity.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I can’t wait for you to knock me up.” But she quickly rushed on to add, “I love you today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives.”

  “Shane and Alivia have… um… tattooed their fingers in place of rings.” We grinned at each other as I squeezed her hands between mine. “So… therefore… if any man can show any just cause why Shane or Alivia may not lawfully be joined together at this time, let him speak now, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.” My eyes slid right to Trey’s face, and the grip Camilla had on his arm caused my cocky smirk.

  There were more prayers, blessings, blah blah blah… never had I so anxiously waited to hear the words I needed to hear. “By the powers vested in me by the state of New Jersey, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride… again.”

  Instantly, my arms snaked around her waist, eliminating the space between us. Our lips collided, and we both took that kiss to the point of indecency. Our guests’ applause caused her to pull away with a brilliant smile on those lips I’d just devoured. We remained locked in an embrace, nose to nose, lips to lips, ignoring everyone else but each other.

  “We need to make our exit,” she whispered against my lips.

  “Maybe if we stay right where we are they’ll all leave.”

  “And then what?”

  “And then I’ll make love to my wife on the very beach where we fell in love.”

  “Sounds like a stupid plan, Mr. Lair.”

  “Don’t dare me, Mrs. Lair.”

  While giving me a sexy smile, she wrapped her arms tighter around my neck and resumed our kiss. Laughter, more applause, and Trey’s grumbles once again went ignored.

  We didn’t care there was a party to have, dances to dance, delicious food to eat. We didn’t care the photographer or the videographer or the band were all waiting to do their jobs. We didn’t care about anything but that one perfect moment… the perfect way to prove Liv and I walked to the beat of our own drum.

  We had been doing just that since the ages of six and five… and we would until the day we died… together many, many years from now… just the two of us.

  Well… along with our parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, friends, fans, JLL employees, security, caretakers, drivers, sound technicians, a few neighbors—the list went on and on.

  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  The End

  These two little words contain so much emotion behind them. I created the Devil’s Lair world back in 2013 and released book one in January 2014. It’s been quite a ride. These characters have become a huge part of my life. I even named my corporation JLL Romance, after Jack & Leila Lair.

  It was such a blast to write all six books, plus four stand-alone spin-offs. It’s with sadness that I admit Destined will probably be the last one. I love the journey I took these characters on and end their “tour” with a smile.

  Thank you to all who have come along for the ride, and especially to my #LairLovers. I dedicate the entire series to you.

  Xoxo

  If you’d like to start from the beginning,

  you can purchase the Back-Up Series box set here: http://ow.ly/FY0330nBexU

  Acknowledgments

  Here’s to number twenty… plus five cowritten with my sorella!

  Those who have read me before all know the drill…

  Thanks to my family, you are my world.

  Thanks to my mom who has read every one of my books.

  Thanks to my sister from another mister, Joanne Schwehm, you are there for every book I write, and I love you hard.

  Thank you, bloggers, readers, friends, romance lovers… you all know who you are.

  Thank you to Stephanie Phillips, SBR Media family, for being my agent and having my back.

  Thank you to James Gallagher. There won’t be a book I write that won’t have your editing skills behind it.

  Thank you to Tami Norman at Integrity Formatting. Always such a great pleasure to work with you.

  Thank you to Sommer Stein. I lost count how many covers this is now, but as always, I love how Destined turned out.

  To the Wildfire Marketing family, thank you helping me spread the word of this release.

  Finally, my biggest thank you goes to all those passionate #LairLovers who have fed my creative juices for these characters with your devotion to them. Many of you have read every word I’ve written, and I can’t put into words how unbelievably grateful I am that you took a chance on an unknown indie author and submerged yourselves in my Lair world. Love you all so very much!

  One last thing: After you’ve read a book, please take a few moments to post a review. It’s the single best way
to thank your authors.

  Xoxo

  A.M. Madden

  Destined Playlist

  Download at http://bit.ly/DestinedPlaylist

  Reason I Am ~ A. M. Madden / Mike Mallone

  Only Place I Call Home ~ Every Avenue

  Teenage Dream ~ Katy Perry

  Tell Me I’m a Wreck ~ Every Avenue

  I Can’t Not Love You ~ Every Avenue

  Just Give Me a Reason ~ Tiffany Alvord / Trevor Holmes

  Love Story ~ Taylor Swift

  Beach House ~ The Chainsmokers

  Come Undone ~ My Darkest Days

  Take Your Time ~ Sam Hunt

  Believer ~ Imagine Dragons

  Dreams ~ Fleetwood Mac

  Don’t Stop Believin’ ~ Journey

  More by A. M. Madden

  The Back-Up Series

  (sold individually or in a boxed set)

  Back-Up

  Front & Center

  Encore

  Backstage

  The Devil’s Lair

  Backstage Pass

  Sold Out

  A Lair Novel

  Shock Jock

  Liner Notes

  Trey

  Destined

  True Heroes Series

  Stone Walls

  Glass Ceilings

  Dark Corners

  Breaking the Rules

  LOVE on the Horizon

  Hostile Workplace

  Upside Down

  No Turning Back

  Stand-Alone Novels

  Vanishing Act

  The Shortstop

  Cowritten with Joanne Schwehm

  Finding Mr. Wrong

  Taming Mr. Flirt

  Scoring Mr. Rome

  Craving Mr. Kinky

  Loving Miss Sassy

  Entangled Publishing

  Not According to Plan

  You can purchase any of the above at www.ammadden.com/books/

  About A. M. Madden

  A USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, A. M. Madden is also a Jersey girl whose love of romance started at twelve after reading Judy Blume’s Forever. As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she truly believes that true love knows no bounds.

  In her books, she aspires to write fun, sexy, realistic love stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. She creates realistic characters and believes there’s no better compliment than when readers feel they know the characters personally.

  When not writing, she’s busy being a wife to her soul mate and a mother to two boys she believes are the most handsome men on earth. She loves to cook, hates to bake, and dreams about living at the beach someday.

  You can contact A. M. Madden at

  www.ammadden.com

  Follow A. M. Madden

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorammadden

  Twitter: @ammadden1

  Instagram: ammadden1

  Email: am.madden@aol.com

  Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-madden