A Bride for Sam (A Red Maple Falls Christmas Wedding Novella)

by Theresa Paolo

“With this ring, I thee wed.”

  Sam slid the ring onto her finger, sparks igniting in her entire body and when she looked up, his eyes focused on her completely, heat rose in her neck and spread across her cheeks.

  She was next, sliding the ring onto Sam’s finger and securing their forever.

  “Sam, do you take Hadley to be your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part.”

  “Even then, I do.”

  “Hadley, do you take Sam to be your husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part.”

  “I do.”

  “Oh, I’m so excited!” Terry exclaimed. “Now for the best part. Sam, you may kiss your bride.”

  Sam took her in his arms and captured her lips in one sweet, beautiful moment as he dipped her back sealing their forever.

  Epilogue

  The reception started three hours later than originally planned, but every single person stayed to continue the celebration. Cassie and Mason had transformed the brewery with pine cones, poinsettias, garland, and white lights. The long tables were draped with pine branches and white tea lights. Plates sat on pieces of tree trunks and the napkins were tied with a piece of twine and a sprig of pine.

  They went above and beyond, and Hadley didn’t know how to repay them. Then her conversation with Mason clicked in her head. Maybe she could repay them after all.

  She gave Sam a kiss on the cheek and made her way over to Kit Jones, the DJ. She filled him in on her plans and he gave her a thumbs up. As she walked away from the table, Sam grabbed her around the waist.

  “What are you up to?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “A few hours into our marriage, and you’re already withholding things from me.”

  “It’s a secret, and not my secret to tell.” Her gaze moved across the brewery until it landed on Mason. His hand kept dipping in and out of his pocket. He looked uneasy, and Hadley just wanted to put the poor guy out of his misery.

  The song came to an end, and Kit tapped the microphone. “I have a request from the bride,” he said. “She wants to get the bouquet toss over with. So all of you single ladies, please make your way to the dance floor.

  Cassie went to turn away, but Kate pushed her toward the dance floor. Hadley thanked her lucky stars that her sister was there before her plan got ruined.

  Once the girls were lined up on the floor Hadley turned around and motioned like she was going to toss the bouquet then stopped, spun back toward the group and walked to Cassie.

  Cassie’s eyebrows knitted together as Hadley stopped in front of her and held out the bouquet. “What are you doing?” Cassie asked.

  Hadley caught Mason’s attention, and he made his way toward them. “Someone has something to say to you.” Hadley stepped back as Mason took her place and gathered Cassie’s hand in his.

  “Mason, what’s going on?”

  “Cassie, I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. I can’t imagine a single day without you in it. I have waited and waited, but I don’t think I can wait anymore.” Mason dropped to his knee, and Cassie gasped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he had been fiddling with all night. “Cassie Elizabeth Alan, will you marry me? Please?”

  Cassie’s golden-brown eyes widened. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes!” Cooper called out.”

  “I mean, of course I’ll marry you.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes! I will.”

  Mason jumped up, took Cassie in his arms, and planted a very sweet kiss on her lips.

  “She said yes!” He cheered, and the entire room erupted into applause.

  Sam draped his arm over Hadley and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

  “I know.” She laughed, and Sam playfully pinched her side. She turned into his arms and hooked her arms around his neck. “You’re pretty amazing yourself.”

  “I love you, Mrs. Bennett.”

  “I love you. Mr. Bennett.”

  “A Christmas miracle,” Betty said as she walked by. She stopped and gave Hadley a nudge then looked at Daisy across the room and said, “Five down, one to go.”

  The End

  Thank you for reading!

  Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I was so happy to be able to bring the holiday season to Red Maple Falls. I hope you enjoyed the continuation of Hadley and Sam’s story during, in my opinion at least, the most magical time of the year.

  If you loved this story and any of the Red Maple Falls books please consider leaving a review.

  For updates on upcoming releases and sales, sign up to receive Theresa's newsletter here.

  Start at the beginning with Mad About Matt FREE at all major retailers

  Follow me on Bookbub

  ~Keep Reading for an excerpt from Dreaming of Daisy~

  Dreaming of Daisy

  Chapter 1

  Nick Davis had lost his damn mind. It was the only explanation for why he willingly volunteered to put himself face to face with the girl who hadn’t only broken his heart but ripped it out and tap-danced across it on her way out of town and out of his life.

  It had been six long years, and he still hadn’t fully recovered. He wasn’t sure if he ever would. How did he recover when the girl he always assumed was his soulmate up and left in the middle of the night without as much as a goodbye thrown his way?

  For a long time, he’d been angry at Daisy for being so selfish and not stopping to think about how her actions would hurt him. That was Daisy, though—self-absorbed and selfish at her core. It was a wonder he could have ever loved someone like that.

  But she’d also been fun, carefree, lighthearted and genuinely kind. It was a ridiculous combination that had him worshipping the ground she walked on.

  Daisy Hayes was an enigma and god had he loved her.

  He’d caught a glimpse of her blonde curls once about three years ago as she ducked into the Happy Apple on Main Street. It took everything he had not to follow her inside and demand an explanation. That’s all he truly wanted from her. He just needed to know why—why she didn’t care to leave a note or send a text. Hell, he would have settled for a message relayed from one of her five siblings, but they had been as clueless as he’d been.

  There one minute and gone the next, Daisy had left behind a trail of heartbreak and questions, both of which would always be a proverbial thorn in his side.

  He pulled into the bus station and parked his truck in the first opened space. The clock on the old dashboard told him he had at least ten minutes before her bus was scheduled to arrive. He hit play on his Mumford and Sons album and closed his eyes for a second.

  He’d just gotten back that morning from a weekend business trip in Merrimack, where he’d secured placement at three restaurants to carry Five Leaf Brewery on tap.

  Mason Hayes, his boss and Daisy’s brother, had been scheduled to pick her up, but Mason was working night and day to keep up with the demand brought on by all the new business Nick was bringing his way and needed help, whether he wanted to admit it or not. While Nick currently questioned his current state of sanity, earlier he had willingly volunteered to pick up Daisy.

  Mason had helped Nick when he needed it most though, so how could he not reciprocate?

  Nick had graduated college with a 4.0., was the youngest person to achieve a senior sales position at Hershel’s doubling his sales within the first quarter of his promotion, but when his dad got sick, he couldn’t keep up with the busy schedule. He left Hershel’s behind and went home where he spent most of his days driving his dad to and from doctor appointments. But he had missed the rush of securing a sale, so he had taken a chance, determined to become the new face of sales for Red Maple Falls up-and-coming brewery, and went to Mason. Best damn decision he ever
made.

  His cell rang, and he turned down the music, glancing at the screen. Tyler’s name flashed, and he didn’t hesitate to answer his best friend.

  “Hey, what’s going on?”

  “You at the brewery?” Tyler asked. “I want to run something by you and thought I’d stop by.”

  “I’m actually not there right now.”

  “You out on the road still?”

  “I’m at the bus station.”

  “You going somewhere?”

  “Picking someone up.”

  “You want to be a little less vague?”

  “I’m picking up Daisy.”

  Tyler went silent on the other end. It was a long uncomfortable stretch and Nick didn’t need words to know exactly what Tyler was thinking. Tyler had been there for him after Daisy skipped town and was all too aware of the dark days that followed.

  “Daisy,” he finally said disbelief evident in his tone. “As in, the girl who ruined you?”

  “She didn’t ruin me.”

  “No? So tell me again why you’re twenty-four and single?”

  “You’re twenty-four and single.”

  “Because I’m not into that happily ever after bullshit like you are. You always wanted to get married and have a family. That’s not me.”

  “When you meet the right person that changes.” At least Nick had always thought so up until the girl he thought was the right one left him.

  “If you say so. Look, I know you probably still have a hard-on for her, but for your own sanity, I’m warning you to stay clear. The only thing Daisy Hayes cares about is Daisy Hayes, and you deserve better than that, man. Always have.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but I’m just picking her up and bringing her to the hospital.”

  “What happened?”

  “Her grandmother slipped and fell on some black ice. Broke her hip. She needs replacement surgery.”

  “Shit. That sucks. I always liked Betty.”

  “Most people do, which is why I’m putting the past behind me and doing the family a favor. I owe Mason that much.”

  Mason hadn’t opened his doors to the public yet and had no money to offer, but Nick didn’t care. All he cared about was being back in the game, and he knew—if given the opportunity—he would be successful. So, he had offered Mason a deal that he couldn’t refuse—Nick would do all the work to prove himself at no cost.

  Nick always wondered why Mason hadn’t told him to turn around and walk away. Instead Mason had given him the opportunity to prove himself. It was the distraction Nick had needed to get his mind off of his dad’s illness. In the first month, Nick had secured placement for Mason’s beer in twenty-five restaurants in the state of New Hampshire, more than Mason had on hand, and from that moment on Nick was on the payroll.

  Having something to work for, watching his efforts grow and expand and become tangible in front of his eyes, had given him the strength to keep on moving, to not let the hardships of life keep him down. Mason gave that to him, so offering to pick up Daisy when Mason had a million things on his plate was the least Nick could do.

  “As long as that favor doesn’t wind up in your bed.”

  “Unlike you, I can control my dick.”

  “Maybe that’s your problem. If you’d let him out every now and again…”

  “I have to go the bus is here.” Nick watched as the bus pulled into the lot. Six years he’d waited for this moment and now that it was here he wished he had pushed it off longer.

  “Fine, call me later. We’ll go to Calhoun’s and get a beer.”

  “You got it.”

  “And whatever you do, don’t make eye contact with her.”

  “Goodbye, Tyler.” He hung up the phone and shoved it into his pocket, thinking about Tyler’s final warning. Nick used to joke that Daisy’s big blue eyes were hypnotic. One look into their blue depths and he would do just about anything for her. That was a long time ago; things were different now.

  He got out of the truck and leaned against the hood, watching the people file off the bus one by one until he saw her.

  She was like a radiant light floating down the steps. She had an undeniable presence that demanded attention. Her curly blonde hair was wild and uncontained, like she’d spent the entire ride tossing in her sleep. Her blue eyes were just as big and full of life, but there was a dullness there that told him life had been hard for her lately.

  Wrapped in a designer scarf, she pulled it tighter around her neck as she scanned the parking lot. She fumbled with her bags, and he fought his natural instinct to go help her. He wanted to take her in for another moment before the awkwardness of six lost years drove a wedge between them.

  She looked around the parking lot again then went to turn away when her gaze drifted in his direction. Before he could prepare himself, their eyes locked, bright blue to his golden brown, a million memories flooding back to him.

  It was that moment he knew life was about to get complicated.

  Grab your copy today!

  Other Books by Theresa

  Mad About Matt

  Crushing on Kate

  Moments with Mason

  Catching Cooper

  Hung Up on Hadley

  A Bride for Sam

  Dreaming of Daisy

  Charmed by Chase (Book 1 in the Marshall Family Saga)

  Blindsided by Brooke (Coming November 2018)

  Willow Cove

  Her Forbidden Love Match

  His Not-So Small Town Girl (Coming September 2018)

  The Again Series

  (Never) Again

  (Once) Again

  Written with Cassie Mae under the pen name Tessa Marie

  Broken Records (Amazon Exclusive)

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost, I want to thank my parents for embracing the holiday spirit and giving my brother and me the best Christmases any kid could ask for. Those memories will stay with me forever, and every time I think of Christmas, I’ll think of the thousands of lights on the house, the lighted soldiers, angels, elves, and reindeer that took up the entire yard. I’ll think of cutting down our tree, and Dad mumbling under his breath that he should have brought his chainsaw. I’ll remember pictures with Santa and waking up way too early after a late night of celebrating Christmas Eve with our relatives so we could open presents. I was a lucky kid to have such loving parents who constantly went out of their way to make not only the holidays, but my life, great. Thanks not only for so many wonderful memories, but for also supporting me in everything I do. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.

  And Mom, thanks for being the best beta reader a girl could ask for and for not being afraid to hurt my feelings.

  Cassie Mae, *fill in the blanks* ;) My editor, formatter, therapist, cheerleader, butt kicker and I could go on and on. None of this would have been possible without you.

  Eric, thank you for being my Sam, for always assuring me that everything will be okay even when the world seems to be falling down around us. I couldn’t imagine a single day without you. So, sorry, you’re stuck with me for life.

  Grandma, Christmas Eve at your house was everything to me. The traditions you instilled in me at such a young age will always stay with me. When I think of Christmas Eve, I think of you and Grandpa and even when I’m old and gray I know that’ll stay true. I love you.

  My Beta Girls, love you guys! Having friends like you help make this crazy journey worth every second.

  Amanda Walker, thank you for another amazing cover. You captured everything I wanted and more.

  And last but certainly not least, my readers. Thank you for giving me a chance, for falling in love with the crazy small town of Red Maple Falls. I hope your holiday season is filled with love and happiness. I can’t wait to see all of you again in the New Year.

  About the Author

  Theresa Paolo lives on Long Island, NY with her fiancé and their fish. She is the author of NA and Adult contemporary romances. Her debut nove
l (NEVER) AGAIN, released in Fall 2013 with Berkley (Penguin) and the companion novel (ONCE) AGAIN released Summer 2014. Mad About Matt, the first book in her new Red Maple Falls series, released March 2017.

  She loves to write heartfelt romances with a dash of fun and a side of spice. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, brewery hopping, daydreaming, wasting time on Pinterest, or can be found chatting away on Twitter and Facebook. She also writes YA romance under Tessa Marie.

  For updates on upcoming releases and sales, sign up to receive Theresa's newsletter here.

  Follow her:

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Pinterest

  Goodreads

  Instagram

  Website/Blog

  Bookbub