“I’m Seth Ryan, and you’re watching the Rock N’ Roll New Year’s Eve Countdown. We’re about ready to drop that ball, and Gavin McNeer with his girlfriend, Alyson, are going to help me bring in the New Year!” Seth turns to look at me and winks. “Gavin, any famous last words you have for 2019?”
I grab the microphone from him with one hand and take the ring that has been hidden in my pocket with my other. “Why yes, Seth, I do have some famous last words.” I get down on one knee in front of Aly, who looks like a beautiful shocked deer caught in headlights, and hold out the ring to her.
“Alyson Dawson, would you do me the honor of starting out 2020 as my fiancée?” Tears spring to her eyes, love radiating from them as she looks from the ring back up to me. “You’re my entire world, Aly, and it doesn’t exist without you. What do you say, darlin’? Will you be mine forever?” We are down to the last ten seconds of 2019 and the crowd starts going wild with chanting.
“Oh my gosh, are you kidding me?” she screams as she looks from me to the crowd and back to me. “A thousand times yes!”
I stand up and take off her glove to put the three-carat emerald-cut diamond on her finger. She barely even glances at the ring before throwing herself into my arms and crushing her lips to mine. I feel congratulatory pats on my back from Seth and some of the other guests, but I tune them out, my focus only on my future bride and starting this year off with a boom.
Extended Epilogue
ALY
8 months later
I STAND IN my normal position on the side of the stage, watching my man strut his sexy self back and forth to the delight of the crowd. It’s been three months since we got married, and it feels like we went from the wedding straight to touring the country festivals with his friend, Patty Douglas. It was a last-minute invite, one Gavin really couldn’t afford to pass up, but nevertheless, we are grateful for this opportunity.
Gavin’s new album just came out last month from his new record label, and it’s smoking up the charts. Not only that, but he has a couple songs he co-wrote with other artists being played all over the radio. This tour is our honeymoon, and being newlyweds on the road isn’t as glamorous as it seems, but I’ve never been happier. I’m fulfilling my dreams of finding a man who loves me, working in the music industry with him, and traveling. I didn’t think life could get any better.
But life is full of surprises, and lucky for us, those surprises all seem to be good ones.
The song ends to the roar of the crowd and Gavin’s guitar player, Neil, looks over at me. I nod at him, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. Gavin is always doing crazy, outrageous, surprise gestures of love for me, and now I have one to give him in return.
“What’s up, Chicago?” Neil screams into the microphone, and Gavin gives him a funny look, noting that Neil is going rogue. “Are you having a good time?”
The crowd goes wild as the house lights go on for us to see all of them.
“We want to thank everyone for coming out and seeing us tonight. Now, normally, I let Gavin do all the talking during his show, but I had a feeling he was going to keep something very important to himself tonight.”
Gavin starts to laugh at Neil, knowing full well what Neil’s referring to.
“It’s this sexy beast’s birthday today!”
The crowd starts to cheer, and Sosie and I grab the shot trays I ordered. We walk on stage for the guys to drink a celebratory shot. We hand them out until they’re gone and stay on stage to celebrate with the band.
“You sneaky little minx,” Gavin whispers in my ear before kissing me hard on the lips. I hand him his shot, and the band with thousands of people in the crowd start to sing “Happy Birthday.” We toast to Gavin after the song is done, but I stay on stage, with one more surprise up my sleeve.
“Gavin’s wife, Aly, has a present for him that she wanted him to open on stage. She thinks it might help him perform a little better for you guys,” Neil jokes, causing the crowd to cheer louder.
I take the thin, long box out of my pocket and hand it to Gavin, who looks at it confused. “Darlin’, I don’t need any presents from you, and this really looks too small to be a new microphone.”
My heart starts pounding in my chest as he takes off the bow and rips off the paper. I suddenly feel queasy, wondering if this is even a good idea, because he might not like the gift.
He opens up the lid of the box, his smile fading as he stares at the positive pregnancy test. He looks up from it, his gaze starting at my belly before meeting my eyes. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see tears of joy spring to his eyes.
“You’re not messing with me, right?” He gently embraces me and whispers in my ear, “I’m really going to be a daddy?”
I laugh and grasp the sides of his face. “You’re going to be the best daddy in the whole universe.”
“I fucking love you, Alyson McNeer.” He kisses me hard, his tongue demanding entrance into my parted lips, not caring we are in front of thousands of people. I kiss him back with heat and desperation, a silent promise of more to come later.
He breaks our kiss but still holds me in his arms as he brings the microphone to his lips. “This woman is the best gift I could’ve asked for, and tonight, she just gave me the second-best gift of my life. We’re going to have a baby!” He grabs my hand and swings my arm up in the air, the crowd going wild.
Sosie and the band come over to embrace us, and Gavin gives me one more kiss before I walk off the stage for him to continue his show. As I watch the love of my life sing songs he wrote for me, I realize my life is now complete, and I can’t wait for our next new adventure together.
Until Valerie
Are you curious if Aly’s sister, Valerie, ever understands what Aly meant when you meet someone and feel that shazam? She sure does in Until Valerie, part of Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Happily Ever Alpha World! Sixteen authors were hand selected by Aurora to write their own stories connecting to her famous Until series. Check out Until Valerie and the rest of these stories at the Boom Factory Publishing Website.
https://boomfactorypublishing.com/
Opposites don’t just attract... sometimes they BOOM!
Valerie Dawson
All I’ve ever wanted is to make my father proud. All he ever wanted was sons. I’ve never felt like I was enough… then everything changes when I’m assigned to audit the Broken Eagle’s Motorcycle Shop and meet Rowan Pryor for the first time. The minute his eyes lock on mine, I know this gorgeous man is trouble. He’s looking at me as if I’m his everything, his eyes telling me he’s thinking of a thousand ways to get me dirty. And I like it.
But I have plans for myself and none of them include some hot, motorcycle guy in a small town.
Rowan Pryor
I traded a broken past for a brotherhood I could count on. War changes people, bonds them together, so when our time in the Navy is served, I join my fellow SEALS in Nashville to help start up a motorcycle repair shop. A big city guy like me is enjoying a distraction free small town life. But then Valerie Dawson walks into the shop, wearing those nerdy glasses like it’s her mission to steal my breath away and I know I’m in dangerous territory. She makes me feel things I never thought I could feel and I am determined to make her mine.
I didn’t believe in love at first sight... Until Valerie.
Other Books by Aurora Rose Reynolds
The Until Series
Until November
Until Trevor
Until Lilly
Until Nico
Second Chance Holiday
Underground Kings Series
Assumption
Obligation
Distraction
Infatuation
Until Her Series
Until July
Until June
Until Ashlyn
Until Harmony
Until December
Until Him Series
Until Jax
Until Sage
Until Cobi
> Until Talon (Coming Soon)
Shooting Stars Series
Fighting to Breathe
Wide-Open Spaces
One Last Wish
Fluke My Life Series
Running into Love
Stumbling into Love
Tossed into Love
Drawn Into Love
How to Catch an Alpha Series
Catching Him
Baiting Him
Hooking Him (Coming soon)
Standalone Novels
Falling Fast
The Wrong/Right Man (Coming Soon)
Alpha Law (written under CA ROSE)
Justified (written under CA ROSE)
Liability (written under CA ROSE)
Finders Keepers (written under CA ROSE)
To Have To Hold To Keep
Trapping Her
Taking Her (Coming Soon)
Stalking Her (Coming Soon)
Other Books by Jessica Marin
Let Me In Series
Heartbreak Warfare
Perfectly Lonely
Edge of Desire
Bear Creek Rodeo Series
The Irish Cowboy
The Celtic Cowboy
For You Series (Hockey Romance)
Yearn For You (Coming Soon)
Stand Alone Novels
Until Valerie
(Part of Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Happily Ever Alpha World)
Acknowledgements for Aurora Rose Reynolds
First, I have to give thanks to God, because without him, none of this would be possible. Second, I want to thank my husband. I love you now and always—thank you for believing in me, even when I don’t always believe in myself. To my beautiful son, you bring such joy into my life, and I’m so honored to be your mom.
To every blog and reader, thank you for taking the time to read and share my books. There will never be enough ink in the world to acknowledge you all, but I will forever be grateful to each and every one of you.
I started this writing journey after I fell in love with reading, like thousands of authors before me. I wanted to give people a place to escape where the stories were funny, sweet, hot, and left you feeling good. I have loved sharing my stories with you all, and love that I’ve helped people escape the real world, even for a moment.
I started writing for me and will continue writing for you.
XOXO, Aurora
Acknowledgements for Jessica Marin
When I wrote Until Valerie for Aurora Rose Reynolds’s Happily Ever Alpha World, I had no intentions of writing another novel about her sister, Aly. Then one day, someone in the Happily Ever Alpha World Facebook group asked about it, and more people chimed in and said they wanted it too. I was so happy people not only loved Until Valerie, but also wanted more by reading about Aly and Gavin’s love story. Aurora took note of it and asked if I wanted to write it together. Um, hell yeah, I did, and we did it!! I truly hope you fell in love with Aly and Gavin as we did. If it weren’t for those readers saying they wanted their story, this book probably wouldn’t have happened. So, thank you!
Thank you to all of the readers and bloggers who take the time out of your day to read my work and support me. Your positive feedback and love mean the world to me.
Thank you to my friends and family, especially my husband and children. Without their support, I wouldn’t be able to continue living my dream.
Thank you to my Misfits for your continued love, support, and promotion of all things Jessica Marin.
Please make sure you follow me on my social media pages and sign up for my newsletter at authorjessicamarin.com to be up to date with upcoming releases and book signings.
I look forward to our next adventure together!
About Aurora Rose Reynolds
Aurora Rose Reynolds is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose wildly popular series include Until, Until Him, Until Her, Fluke My Life, Underground Kings, How to Catch an Alpha, and Shooting Stars.
Her writing career started in an attempt to get the outrageously alpha men who resided in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.
To keep up to date on what’s happening, join the Alpha Mailing List by subscribing at her website at www.aurorarosereynolds.com.
Signed paperbacks can be ordered off of Aurora’s website at www.aurorarosereynolds.com.
About Jessica Marin
Jessica Marin began her love affair with books at a young age from the encouragement of her Grandma Shirley. She has always dreamed of being an author and finally made her dreams of writing happily-ever-after stories a reality. She currently resides in Tennessee with her husband, children, and fur babies. When she’s not hanging out with her family, she loves watching a good movie, going dancing with the ladies, sniffing essential oils, and daydreaming of warm beaches, and world peace.
Jessica would love for you to join her on all of her available social media outlets.
About Boom Factory Publishing
Aurora Rose Reynolds and her husband, Sedaka Reynolds, created Boom Factory Publishing to use their experiences to expand and promote upcoming and existing indie authors.
With over six years in the industry, and millions of books sold worldwide, we know what it takes to become a successful author and we will use this knowledge to take our authors to the next level.
“As a successful hybrid author in this ever evolving industry, I know that you’re only as successful as the team that is promoting you!” – Aurora Rose Reynolds
Please check out Boom Factory Publishing’s website to see all of our talented authors and the books they have published.
https://boomfactorypublishing.com/
Don’t miss out on any exciting news from Boom Factory Publishing! Subscribe to our newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dFpCIf
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