“I need answers. I don't want to go through the rest of my life wondering what happened to my family. I need proof. Did they perish in the fire? How did I get put in the adoption system?” She shook her head as a look of anguish crept across her face. “I don’t want to wonder for the rest of my life.”
He winked at her. “You won’t, my love. I’ll get answers for you. I know just the right people who can help.”
“Oh, Matt. Thank you for always protecting me.”
He looked deeply into her eyes. “And I always will.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?” Marissa asked, gazing up at him with a look of pure adoration.
Matt grinned down at her. “I know you have, babe. But the truth is, I could hear it every minute of every day for the rest of our lives and not get sick of hearing it. Just keep saying it. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”
He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss on her temple. This, he realized, was all he’d ever need or want to be happy. And he would always watch over this woman. For the rest of their days.
Epilogue
“Matt! What are you doing here? I shouldn’t have even opened up my door to you. We’re getting married in a few hours. You shouldn’t be here!” Marissa said as Matt breezed through her front door. A few minutes earlier she’d awoken to hear someone loudly knocking at her front door. She’d been under the belief it was her mother, Sierra or the rest of her bridesmaids.
A huge grin appeared on his face. “I had to talk to you. I need to tell you something.”
Marissa rolled her eyes. “Seriously? It couldn’t wait?”
“Loving you has changed me,” Matt said, reaching out and smoothing his hand across her cheek.
“I know,” she said with a smirk. “You used to hate me.”
He reached out and placed his finger across her lips, effectively silencing her.
“Oh baby, I never hated you. I don't think I even really disliked you. Deep down inside I think I was always into you, from the moment I first saw you on that billboard advertising your agency. God kept giving me nudges by planting you in my path. Stupid me. It took me so long to figure it out.” He ran his fingers through his long mane to get it out of his face. “Remember that night in Tumbleweeds? I lit into you because I didn’t like the way you made me feel. There was so much romantic tension between us I couldn’t stop thinking about you for days afterward.”
“Romantic tension, huh?” she said with a grin.
He reached his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him so that she was being held tightly in his arms. “Yes, although at the time I couldn’t face it for what it was.”
“Someday we’ll have to tell our kids all about how it took a while for us to face our feelings for one another,” Marissa said.
“Kids. Wow. Imagine us having a bunch of rugrats.” Matt’s expression seemed a bit dazed at the mere idea of it.
Marissa smiled at him. “It would be a blessing.”
“I love you, baby girl.”
“I love you too, Matt.” He reached down and stroked her cheek, nuzzling her with the pad of his thumb.
“I don't know if I can be the type of man who'll say it every day -.”
She reached up and placed her fingers across his lips. “You don't have to. As long as you make me feel that you love me every single day, we'll be all right.”
“I'm going to show you,” he said as he nuzzled her neck, “in a million different ways.”
“I never imagined I'd want to settle down. That started to change when I saw Caleb and Sierra come together. Against all odds they found their way back to each other.” He let out a ragged sigh. “My parents' relationship made me feel that love was something that brought you down. I know now that real love...it raises you up. It makes you feel like anything is possible.”
“Considering the way we started, I'd say anything is possible,” Marissa said with a laugh. “Sierra is still giving me grief about all the trash talking I did about you.”
Matt stared at her in disbelief, his smile turning into a frown. “You trash talked me? Seriously? What could you possibly have had to say about me?”
Marissa worked hard to hide her grin. “I might've said you were rude, obnoxious, hateful, judgmental.”
He crossed his hands over his heart and said, “Have mercy, woman. You're hurting my feelings.”
Marissa slapped him playfully on the chest. “It's time for you to go get ready with your groomsman. I need to get my gown on. My bridesmaids and Mama are going to be here at any moment.”
Matt groaned. “Seriously? I can’t just get a little peek of you in your wedding gown?”
Marissa swatted him playfully with her hand. “Absolutely not!”
She placed her hands on her hips and let out a huffy sigh. “Matt Cruz. You may think it's ridiculous, but it means something to me. It's tradition. I need to get into my bridal gown so we can get hitched. And you aren’t allowed to see me until you greet me at the altar.”
“Don’t hold it against me if I meet you halfway there. I can’t wait to see you.”
Tears gathered in her eyes and she reached for him, wrapping her arms around his solid waist as she placed kisses all over his chest. “You're my other half, Matt. I can’t wait to become Mrs. Cruz.”
“Don't ever forget that,” he said, his eyes glimmering with love.
“I won’t,” she whispered as tears began falling down her cheeks.
Matt swiped away her tears. “I have something for you. In my culture the feather represents honesty and truth. I'll always give you that. That's a promise.” He handed her the white envelope adorned with a lush brown and white feather. Honesty and truth. That's what Matt stood for, not only as Sheriff of Briarwood, but in all aspects of his life. It was one of the many reasons she loved this man so deeply.
“Should I open it now?” she asked nervously, sensing the grave importance of the envelope's contents. Matt nodded, his face shuttered and unreadable.
“I want you to have all the answers,” Matt said, his eyes trained on her every movement as she fingered the envelope. “It's what you deserve.”
She slit the envelope open with her fingernail, pulling out several pieces of paper containing names, dates, signatures, stamps and official looking seals. As her eyes skimmed the first page her heart began doing a wild tango within her chest. Her hands were shaking as she turned page after page, studying each line carefully so she might be able to memorize each and every detail.
“Matt! They’re alive. My sisters.” she cried out as she read through the documents and the exact nature of his wedding gift became crystal clear. Two names jumped out at her. Francine “Fancy” Williams and Chantelle “Chandra” Sawyer. Her sisters. Miraculously, Matt had found them. With a handful of documents, and no doubt endless hours of investigation, he'd given her back the family she'd lost.
“It's all there, Marissa. Your grandfather saved them from the fire but he lost his life in the process. The information in that envelope lets you know where they live. What they do for a living. When the time is right, you can go to them, seek them out. Hopefully, the three of you can reconnect and put all the pieces together from your past.”
Tears fell from her eyes, threatening to drip onto the papers and ruin the precious documents Matt had procured. She was overcome with emotion, overwhelmed by the depth of her love for this man and the way he knew her down to her very soul. He'd given her the one thing she was missing in her life, and in doing so, he'd filled a gaping hole in her heart.
“I’ll see you at the altar,” Matt said as he winked at her and strode toward the door.
This sacred day was already shaping up to be the most wonderful day of her life. Not only was she marrying the love of her life, but she'd been given the tools to reconnect with her sisters. All because of Matt. He'd given her so much already it was overwhelming. Because of him she'd finally been honest with her parents about her fears and insecurities as an adopted child. She'd finally man
aged to hash it out with Tony and they'd reached a new understanding about pushing the limits of the brother-sister bond. Above all, he'd given her a love she'd always dreamed of, but never really thought she deserved.
A few hours later their small, intimate wedding had mushroomed into a bona-fide Briarwood event. In addition to Sierra, Caleb, Ruby, Evie and Beau, the entire Santana clan showed up, as well as Matt's friends and family from the Rez. The Matthews and Jackson families were all in attendance. Beau was beside himself when he caught sight of Evie’s date—a famous football player in the NFL. He was green with envy. Aurelia claimed status as mother of the groom while Ed and Carmen were beaming from head to toe at the honor of their daughter marrying the Sheriff. Even Tony had put his best foot forward. He'd shown up on time, dressed in his finest suit and tie. Lily was the smallest and cutest flower girl decked out in a pink and white lace dress. The entire Briarwood Sheriff's office had shown up, as well as all the staff member of Santana Realty.
When Marissa walked down the aisle on her father's arm, Matt found it hard to breathe. His bride looked stunning beyond words. She was the living, breathing embodiment of a goddess. Her skin glowed, magnificent in its natural state, devoid of any makeup other than a touch of lip gloss and a hint of mascara. The strapless ivory gown showed her figure to stunning advantage without being over the top. With her hair swept up in a classic chignon she resembled a timeless beauty from yesteryear.
Marissa hadn't been able to resist the added touch of a diamond tiara. For today only she was a fairytale princess marrying her Prince. Right down to her red leather cowgirl boots that peeked out from under her flowing gown. A simple gardenia was pinned behind one ear, lending her the look of an angel. Matt was handsome as sin in his onyx colored tux, his jet black hair tied neatly back in a low ponytail. A dark cowboy hat rested on his head, giving him a tough, rugged look. As she reached Matt's side he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Welcome home, darlin’.”
She smiled up at him, a dazzling smile full of adoration, devotion and hope for a beautiful future. In the last place she'd ever expected, she'd found her happily ever after.
THE END
***
COMING SOON:
BREATHLESS…Book One in Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Pelican Bay Series
Guarding Her Heart (Guardians Inc. Book 1) Page 17
