by Holly Rayner
“I think so, too,” Mary said. “And maybe you should be happy about it, as well.” Her dark eyes glinted mischievously, and she flashed a knowing smile. “After all, I have a strong feeling that you might be living there with him one day. I think you two will have quite the future together.” She propped herself up slightly in the bed. “Now, if I can just get my ticker to work well enough so that I’ll be around to see it.”
Bianca grinned and reached for the woman’s hand. “You will,” she said. “I’ve been watching your heartbeat here on the monitor for the past little while. It looks strong and steady.”
Mary smiled as Bianca held her hand. “I might be getting ahead of myself, dear, but I’m going to come right out and say it. Welcome to the family. You’re a real sweetheart, and Jackson’s lucky to be with you.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said a deep voice with a Southern drawl.
Bianca looked up to see Jackson striding toward her with a huge smile on his face. Their eyes met, and Bianca realized the warmth and desire had returned to his gaze. He reached out and wrapped her in his arms. And Bianca knew.
This is the man I’m going to grow old with.
Epilogue
Eighteen Months Later: Bianca
“Peaches! Peaches… come!” Bianca yelled.
“Have you found her?” Sandy asked. She held a bouquet of daisies in her hands and wore a sky-blue, knee-length dress.
Bianca felt so happy seeing her neighbor in the dress. It had been hard to pick out a style of dress that would flatter each of her bridesmaids, but she felt she’d succeeded. Sandy looked beautiful.
“Not yet,” Bianca said. “She loves to run out across that field because there’s a stream over there that she likes to drink from.” She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the bright summer sunlight.
“Any luck?” Nicky asked as she hustled across the lawn to join them. She looked just as lovely as Sandy in her blue bridesmaid gown. She’d even gotten a manicure for the occasion—and had insisted on taking Sandy, Danielle, and Bianca along to the salon.
Danielle, who had arrived earlier that week for the pre-wedding festivities, had been reluctant to go, seeing as she’d just had gel manicure applied before leaving LA. However, once she got into the spirit of the event, she’d relaxed and had fun with it. The four of them had even gone out to lunch afterward and had laughed the whole time. It had been a real blast.
“Nope,” Bianca said, to answer Nicky’s question. “Not yet. I hope—oh, wait! There she is! Peaches!” She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Peaches, girl, come here!”
Peaches broke into a run, tearing through the tall grass that bordered the lawn. Jackson kept saying that he wanted to get a tractor and cut down the wild field, to turn it into more lawn, but Bianca insisted that she loved it too much to have him mow it down. “Are you crazy, babe?” she’d said one morning when he’d brought up the idea. “Think about all the wildflowers we’d miss out on!”
Peaches galloped across the yard.
“There you are!” Bianca said happily. “Another minute, and we’d all be late for the ceremony.”
“Speaking of which, we’d better get going,” Sandy said.
“Everyone in the backyard is in position,” Nicky said. “Danielle’s holding onto Rufus. She said it was so he didn’t go running off, too.”
“Whew,” Bianca said. She loved the fact that Rufus and Peaches were going to be a part of the wedding, but it did complicate things, just slightly. Compared to the elaborate affair that she and Jackson had put together last time, the complication was extremely minor.
She and Jackson had dated for a whole year before he’d proposed. He’d popped the question on Christmas Eve, while the two of them were out on a night-time stroll with the dogs, looking at Christmas lights. Bianca had been so thrilled, she’d nearly dropped the cup of cocoa in her hands. She’d managed to hang onto it long enough to set it down on a nearby bench, then she’d leapt into Jackson’s arms and squealed a happy “yes!” with all of her heart and soul.
Now, six months after the proposal, their wedding day had arrived.
Mary had gifted the Wylde family house to Jackson immediately after being hospitalized that fateful Christmas Day, and Jackson had since hired a team of architects, builders, and interior designers to renovate the place. In many ways, the house was the same now as it had been when he was younger. But in some ways—like the wall of new windows in the master bedroom—it was beautifully new and upgraded.
Bianca loved living there. She felt so grateful that they were getting married in their very own backyard.
As she walked around the corner, the backyard came into view. She’d worked with landscape artists to perfect the flower beds that spring, and she was very pleased with the results. All around the yard, flowers bloomed. It provided the perfect backdrop for the cluster of white, wooden folding chairs, and the white wooden arch that they were to get married under.
She noticed that Jackson was already in place under the arch. Off to his side, three of his best friends stood, looking handsome in their groomsmen attire.
Danielle, holding onto Rufus, gave Bianca a happy wave. “Ready?” she called out.
Bianca gave a thumbs-up.
Once Danielle gave a signal to the band leader—they’d hired a local country music band—guitar music started up.
Bianca gazed at Jackson again. It was impossible to look anywhere else.
He looked gorgeous in his white shirt and khakis. They’d both decided that for their backyard wedding, they’d dress casually. Bianca loved the feel of her white cotton sundress and the sandals on her feet. She felt so free, so joyful, and so excited about the future.
She held two bouquets in her hands. With a smile, she knelt down and looked at her faithful dog, who stood at her side.
Peaches had been groomed especially for the occasion, but her perfectly brushed fur was now slightly ruffled and wet, thanks to her unexpected adventure to the stream. Bianca laughed and held one of her bouquets out to her furry best friend. “Here you go, Miss Flower Girl. Just like we practiced, okay? Go get a treat!”
Peaches gripped the bouquet between her teeth and trotted off.
Danielle adjusted the pillow that was strapped to Rufus’s wide back. Bianca knew that the wedding bands that she and Jackson would soon put on were tucked into a pocket on the face of the pillow.
“Go on, go see Jackson!” Danielle told the dog as she released him.
Rufus trotted down the aisle after Peaches. He broke into a run at the last minute, and when he reached Jackson, he jumped up. Jackson laughed, accepted the doggy-hug, and then guided Rufus’s massive paws to the ground—all to the delight of the wedding guests, who laughed at the show. Jackson fed Rufus a treat and encouraged him to take a seat near Peaches.
One by one, Bianca’s bridesmaids walked down the aisle.
Bianca took a deep breath when Danielle reached the halfway mark. This is it, she thought.
The guitar player twanged out the opening notes to “Here Comes the Bride,” and Bianca took her first step.
I’m marrying the man of my dreams, Bianca thought, as she walked. She started to cry as she approached Jackson—she just couldn’t help it.
He’s perfect, she thought. And he’s going to be an amazing father.
Her mind turned to the happy news that they’d received just the week before: Bianca was pregnant. Both she and Jackson were excited to share their joy with close family members later that evening. It would make the day even more special.
The house was perfectly suited for a family. Bianca had already planned out which rooms would be used for the nursery, the playroom, and the children’s bedrooms. She and Jackson had discussed the possibility of having two or three children, and Bianca felt overwhelmed with joy at the thought that they were about to become parents together.
Guests on either side of the aisle snapped photos as she passed. Bianca paused when she reached the front row
, where her mom sat.
Helen was doing much better now that she was living in Bianca’s cottage, which Bianca had completely paid off and renovated to accommodate her mother’s needs. The full-time nursing care helped Helen immensely, and Bianca had wanted her mom to walk her down the aisle, but she still wasn’t quite up to walking the distance of the aisle.
Bianca knelt and gave her mom a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m so proud of you, honey,” Helen whispered into Bianca’s ear. “You deserve all of this and so much more.”
Bianca was teary as she kissed her mom again and then stood.
She approached Jackson, who held his hands out. When she laid her palms on his and felt the warmth of his fingers as they curled around hers, she felt connected to him on a deeper level than ever before. She knew that with each new day that passed, she’d continue to know him better and better.
As they’d practiced, she spoke her vows first, and then slid a wedding band onto Jackson’s finger.
Tears slid down Bianca’s cheeks as Jackson began his vows.
“I love you, Bianca,” he said. “I’ve loved you since the minute I first met you. Thank you for always making me laugh; thank you for your big heart and for always being by my side. And especially, thank you for giving me a reason to let go of the past, embrace the future, and declare the love I feel for you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life as your husband.”
Bianca smiled through her tears. Rufus, who had just offered up the wedding bands, wagged his tail. Peaches gave a happy bark.
Jackson, whose cheeks were also wet with tears, laughed at the bark. Bianca smiled, too. As always, their dogs were providing ample comic relief.
The ring felt cool against her finger as Jackson slid it on.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant announced.
Jackson didn’t hesitate for a minute. He swept Bianca off of her feet. She felt herself tilt back, weightless in his arms. It was the best kiss of her life.
When he righted her, she turned just in time to see Rufus stand up on his hind legs and place both paws on her hips. He wore a big, goofy grin, as he lapped his tongue in the air, trying to offer up kisses of his own. Bianca laughed as Peaches joined in, jumping up against Rufus and knocking him over so that he was on all four paws. Bianca knelt down and scooped both dogs up into a hug.
Jackson joined them, keeling down so that Peaches could give him a few sloppy doggy kisses on the cheek.
The guests erupted into laughter as they threw blue, yellow, and white confetti into the air. It rained down over everyone, shimmering in the sunlight, as the band started up with a raucous rendition of one of Bianca and Jackson’s favorite country songs.
Bianca was happy to catch sight of a photographer clicking away, capturing the pure joy of the scene. She had a loving relationship with her handsome husband, a beautiful home with two crazy dogs, and a baby on the way. It was truly the best moment of her life.
The End
I hope you’ve enjoyed Bianca and Jackson’s story! Keep reading for the first chapter of the previous book in this festive series, A Billionaire Boyfriend For Christmas
Happy reading!
Love, Holly x
A Billionaire Boyfriend For Christmas
Chapter 1
Adison
The offices of the Montoya Foundation sang with the sounds of people talking, laughing, and typing. Trying to ignore her racing heart, Adison Hale clutched her purse and smiled at everyone she passed by.
“And right here is your desk.” Ramona, the office manager, stopped in front of a cubicle.
It was plain, undecorated, with a chair, desktop computer, and phone—worlds away from the home offices Adison had decorated in her favorite pastel colors and filled with plants. No matter. Soon enough, she’d have her personal touch all over the place.
“Any questions?” Ramona asked.
Adison set down her purse and hung her coat on a hook. “I’m sure I’ll have them later.”
Ramona, a middle-aged woman with a bright demeanor, patted Adison on the shoulder. “I’ll be here to answer them. Welcome to the team.”
“Thanks. I’m excited to be here.”
“Get settled in. I’ll check on you later,” Ramona said, then navigated her way through the maze of cubicles, back to the front of the office.
The Montoya Foundation was a charity with about one hundred and fifty employees, some of them working remotely and others in satellite offices across the country. The main office space was open plan, with about a dozen spacious cubicles, some desks along the walls, and a few offices with glass partitions.
Even though her desk was in a cubicle, Adison had a great view out the windows. The sky over Buffalo, New York was thick with falling snowflakes, the street three stories below decorated with holiday wreaths and lights.
Taking a seat in her new chair, she powered up her computer and went through the company welcome packet that Ramona had emailed her. It was her first day as a charity administrator, and she was so nervous she’d barely slept the night before.
Up until this point, she’d been an event planner. A great job, but as a freelancer she’d always been hustling, looking for the next gig and self-promoting like her life depended on it. When a full-time position at the Montoya Foundation had come along, she’d jumped at the opportunity to not only receive a regular paycheck but enjoy some benefits as well.
“Hey, new girl,” a voice said.
Adison looked up from her computer screen and found a young woman with a bobbed haircut and big hoop earrings standing on the other side of the cubicle’s partition.
“Hi.” She stood and offered her hand. “Adison Hale.”
“Jazzie Monroe. Nice to meet you.” She shook Adison’s hand. “How’s it going so far?”
“Great! I’m so happy to be here.” Adison went to stick her hands in her pockets, a habit she took to when she was uncomfortable, but her palms slid along smooth cotton, and she remembered she’d dressed in a skirt suit. She wasn’t at home answering emails in her pajamas.
Jazzie must have noticed Adison fussing with her outfit. “I love that combo.” She nodded at the pink blazer paired with a baby blue skirt. “You’re pretty creative, huh?”
“Thank you! I’ve been told I am. I can’t wait to decorate my desk.”
It hit her then. It was a few days before Thanksgiving, and she hadn’t spotted any holiday decorations around the Montoya Foundation.
Well, that would have to change.
Adison loved the holidays. It had always been a special time for her and her parents. Since they were no longer with her, going all out during Christmas was one of the ways she liked to keep their memory alive.
Someone called Jazzie’s name, and she smiled at Adison before heading to visit another desk. Adison got back to work, flying through everything she had to do for the morning and feeling pretty good about herself.
With lunchtime creeping in, she’d run out of things to do. It was then that she remembered the Christmas decorations in her car. Truthfully, she hadn’t needed to pick up any more decorations, as she had more than enough stored in the closet at home. It was just that the dollar store had been having a sale yesterday and, never one to let a good sale go to waste, she’d scooped up a few things.
Being distracted and nervous about her new job, she’d left the plastic bags in her car’s trunk and forgotten about them.
With a glance around the office, she gauged the vibe. People had been coming in and out all morning. Surely, no one would mind if she ran out to her car for a minute.
Grabbing her keys and phone, she scurried for the elevators. While she was outside, she could call Danny and check in.
As soon as she exited the building’s foyer, she realized that she had forgotten her coat. It was late November in New York, and that meant a cold wind that you felt in your bones.
Oh, well. The cold would just make her that much faster.
As she walked across the parking lot, she called her boyfriend.
“Sup?” he answered.
“Hey. I’m running out to my car for a sec. Thought I’d call and see how you’re doing.”
Danny had a cold that morning and had decided to stay home and work his regional manager job remotely.
“I’m okay,” he said. “How is it there?”
“So far, so good.” She’d reached the car and opened the trunk to grab the two plastic bags there. “Oh, hey. Before I forget. Corinne wants to know if we can come over at ten on Thanksgiving. She needs some help with the turkey.”
“Oh. Right.” He sucked in air.
“What?” She closed the car trunk and beelined for the building.
“Sorry, babe. I have to work that day. Just found out.”
Adison’s heart sank. “On Thanksgiving?”
“I know. It’s a bummer. Some of our restaurants are open that day, though.”
“I know, I just…” She shook her head and entered the glorious warmth of the lobby.
“But we’ll be together that night. After you get back from Corinne’s.”
“Yeah,” she grudgingly agreed. She didn’t want to complain. The two of them lived together, after all.
The thing was, this would be their first Thanksgiving together. Ever since her parents died four years before, Adison had spent the holidays with her best friend. It would have been nice to make her boyfriend of almost eleven months a part of the tradition.
She punched the button for the elevator and swallowed her disappointment. “You’re right. At least we’ll have that night together.”
“Sure will. Hey, I gotta go. I’m getting a work call.”
“Okay, see you when I get home. I love—”
He’d already hung up, though.
Taking the phone away from her ear, Adison exited the elevator on the third floor. The work space was over half empty, and other people were putting on their coats. The office took an hour lunch, but she’d brought a sandwich and some fruit and didn’t need to run anywhere.
