by Emma Tharp
With our past being the way it is, we keep family functions small, minimizing the amount of time we need to be in contact with Jason. Unfortunately, today, he’s here at the wedding, but I refuse to let him bother me anymore. If we’re forced to be near each other, we keep it civil for our children’s sake.
Cam and I dance in time to the music and I catch his gaze moving toward his new bride. "I couldn't be happier. For myself, but also for you. I know that Chance makes you happy and everything worked out exactly the way it should."
I swallow thickly and fight back the tears that threaten to fall. "You're right. Things turned out pretty great for all of us. But today, we get to celebrate you. I'll never forget how happy I was the day that you and Max gave me away three years ago."
My wedding to Chance was one of the best days of my life. We celebrated his graduation from law school by taking a trip to Italy. Chance dropped down on one knee and asked me to be his wife on a gondola in Venice. It was one of the most romantic days of my life, trumped only by our small, intimate wedding a few months later on the beach in Barbados. Exactly nine months after that, I gave birth to our precious daughter Lola.
One of the wedding photographers snaps a few pictures of Cam and me as the song comes to an end. "Thanks, Mom."
"For what?"
With the song ending, we pull away from each other, but Cam still has one of my hands in his. "For everything. For helping out with all the wedding planning. You've really helped alleviate so much of Jenna’s stress. And for helping us find the new house. For babysitting our dog when we go on our honeymoon next week. And mostly for being the best mother to me even when I wasn't an easy son.”
Going up on my tiptoes, I kiss Cam's cheek and smile. “I’d do anything for you, and being your mom has been one of the biggest honors of my life."
Cam gives me one last hug. "Okay, enough of the sappy stuff. I can’t cry again at my damn wedding. It was bad enough when Jenna came down the aisle. I was a blubbering mess."
We both laugh and make our way off the dance floor. Chance and Lola aren’t at our table, so I take a moment to head to the bar for a glass of wine.
Hannah and one of the bridesmaids, Savannah, are waiting in line at the bar in front of me. They both turn and Hannah reaches for my arm, giving it a squeeze. "Your dance with Cam was so sweet."
“Thank you. I'm so happy for him. And I don't think I've congratulated you on your news either," I say.
Hannah pats her flat stomach and she gives me a huge white-toothed smile. "Ryan and I couldn't be happier. And Claire is so excited to be a big sister."
"I bet."
Hannah, Jenna's twin sister, also recently got married to her longtime boyfriend, Ryan. I just found out at the rehearsal dinner that they’re expecting their first child together this winter. Ryan already has a beautiful daughter, Claire, who was the flower girl today.
Hannah tilts her head toward her friend. "Savannah has big news as well."
"Oh, really? Do tell." I just met Savannah yesterday at the rehearsal dinner as well. She flew in from Charlotte and has been a longtime friend of Hannah and Jenna.
"She’s starting her own matchmaking service. Her grandmother and mother were both matchmakers. It runs in the blood."
I raise my eyebrows, impressed. I've never used a matchmaker’s services, but I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to find their soul mate, however it works out. "That's amazing. Best of luck to you."
Savannah smirks, a gleam in her eyes. "It's something that I've dreamed about, but now it's going to be a reality. My four best friends from college and I open our doors next month. I'm really excited. So, if you have any single friends, point them in my direction." She winks.
"Will do," I say.
The girls are next in line and grab their drinks. They say their goodbyes and I order a glass of wine and also ask for a cocktail napkin and a pen. I jot down a quick note and head back to the table.
“Hey, Mom,” my oldest son, Max, says. He comes toward me and places a quick kiss on my cheek. He’s holding two glasses of red wine.
“Drinks for you and Lisa?” I ask.
“Yes. Great wedding. Seems like yesterday it was mine.”
What a fantastic day that was. Max and his wife were married on Cape Cod and had a small reception with only one hundred guests. Neither of them likes to be the center of attention, so it was an intimate affair. “It does. Let’s dance later if Lisa doesn’t mind.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He walks off in the direction of his table and I do the same.
Still, my heart goes pitter-pat when I see my handsome husband with our baby girl on his lap. I can’t help but beam.
"God, did I tell you yet today how gorgeous you look?"
I take my seat next to Chance and set my wine down on the table. "You have, but I'll take all the compliments you give me."
Lola lifts a piece of chocolate wedding cake to her lips. Her cheeks are covered in brown frosting. “Yummy.”
“Can I have a bite?” I ask her, opening my mouth.
She laughs at me and shakes her head.
"Didn’t you get me a piece of cake?" I ask Chance with mock incredulity in my tone.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. "No cake, but I got this for you instead."
My heart pumps faster. "What's this?"
"For you. Now open it."
What could this be? Jewelry? But for what? It’s not my birthday or a holiday. I take the box from his hand and open it slowly. Inside are a pair of sparkling diamond earrings, a perfect match to my engagement ring. They steal my breath away. “They’re beautiful."
"I'm glad you like them. I know our anniversary was last month and we told each other we wouldn't get anything, but when I passed the jewelry store last week on my way to work, I saw them from the window and couldn't resist."
"I am grateful you took a job with Anderson and Cummings, not only because you have good opportunities for advancement, but also because you have to pass two jewelry stores on your way to work." He doesn’t need to give me anything and he knows that, but my heart melts at his generosity. "I love them."
"I'm glad. I love you, Mrs. Taylor." He runs his fingertip across my cheek. It's a simple gesture, but his touch still sparks something in me.
I grab our daughter out of his lap and kiss her sweet neck, which makes her giggle. Then I lean in to give Chance a quick, but hot kiss. "I love you, Mr. Taylor. Thank you for making me the happiest woman on earth."
His eyes darken. "I can't wait to get you home later.”
"I look forward to it. But first…” I hand him the cocktail napkin I brought back from the bar.
He reads it and smirks. "Of course, I’ll always dance with you." Chance stands and reaches for Lola. I hand her to him and the three of us get up and walk out to the center of the dance floor where we all share a dance.
Looking out across the room of so many people I love, my heart feels like it could burst in my chest from happiness.
If you had asked me ten years ago if I would marry a man eighteen years younger than myself and have another baby at forty-three, I would've told you you were crazy, but now, I can't imagine life any other way. I have three healthy, beautiful children and a man I love, who loves me right back. Was this how I thought my life would turn out? Absolutely not, but it couldn't be more perfect.
Thank you for reading Falling For the Younger Man! I hope you enjoyed Grace and Chance’s story. If you did, why don’t you check out Book One in the #MatchMade series?
Two things she knows to be true. Never mix business with pleasure and definitely, never, ever date the enemy. So why did the matchmaker set her up to break all the rules? And the bigger question is how could she possibly like it so much?
Lily’s best friend, Savannah, is thrilled to be opening a matchmaking agency and set up all her friends—whether they like it or not. Lily doesn’t believe in matchmaking or matchmakers in general. Hell, these days she isn’t eve
n sure she believes in marriage. Being a counselor, who writes a dating and relationship column in a popular women’s magazine, she sees relationships at their very worst. Imagine her surprise when she gets her match and it’s her nemesis at the magazine, Oliver Sanders. He’s arrogant and pig-headed. No way in hell is she going to date him, except she made a promise to her friend. Three dates. One terrible man. Once it’s over, she’ll have a lifetime of freedom from Savannah’s meddling.
When Oliver’s editor gives him an assignment to join the new startup matchmaking agency, he wants to refuse. He knows nothing about dating, but it’s an assignment and he can’t say no. Now he has to sign up, get matched, and write about it. The bright side? Lily Beck is his match and she’s gorgeous, driven, and intelligent. The downside? She’s also a nightmare. At least he only has to survive three dates.
Lily has a plan; to get in and get out unscathed. Oliver thinks this is a disaster waiting to happen. When the two of them get together, neither is prepared for three dates that change them both. What happens when they start falling for each other and the three dates are over?
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Acknowledgments
Ahh, summer, my favorite season. Hot temperatures, long days, and mojitos —what’s not to love? This is the first series I've written with a summer theme. Who knows what took me so long? I had so much fun writing each of the characters in the Summer Secrets series, but I think Cam was the most fun for me. Now that the series is over, I'm truly going to miss them!
I need to give all of my thanks to my ultra-supportive husband and kiddos. They never complain when I spend hours upon hours with my computer on my lap. I love you all more than words and your support means the world to me.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this book and each book in the series better. To my editor, Teresa Schultz, my proofreader Julie Deaton with Deaton Author Services, and my cover designer, Annie Anderson with Tattered Quill Designs - each of you have played an important role in this series and I can't thank you all enough.
Nicole Andrews Moore, my mentor extraordinaire, I cringe to think where I would be without you. To Lisa, my CP, I appreciate all of your insight. Without you, my books wouldn't be half as good.
To my readers, I am so grateful for you. I wouldn't be able to do this amazing job that I love so much without your continued support, reviews, messages, and emails. You make all of this possible. Thank you!
About the Author
Emma Tharp is the USA Today Bestselling Author of The Bluff Harbor Series, The Next Verse, The Rules of the Game Series, the McLoughlin Brother Series, The Summer Secrets Series, and The Monroe Series. She was raised in upstate New York. Being an only child, she spent a great deal of time alone, dreaming up characters who would keep her company on long family road trips. Putting her writing on the back burner, she went to college and became a chiropractor. After spending twelve years healing patients, Emma decided—with the help of her amazingly supportive husband—to use the creative side of her brain and let her characters come to the page.
If she’s not writing, Emma can be found at the gym, one of her kids sporting events, Starbucks, or a live music event.
A perfect day for Emma would be spent at her lake house with her husband, two ginger-haired children, and Vizsla, reading a book and drinking a large cup of coffee (or wine) with music playing in the background.
Contact Emma Tharp at:
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Also by Emma Tharp
What About Her (Book One of the Bluff Harbor Series)
What About Us (Book Two of the Bluff Harbor Series)
The McLoughlin Brothers Series Boxed Set
Scoring Chance (Rules of the Game Book One)
Crashing Christmas
Winter Wonderland
The Trade (Monroe Series Book One)
