I inhale deeply, my heart feeling as full as my lungs, and I nod. “That’s my idea of perfect.”
Epilogue
6 months later
Brad
Reaching out, I take a hold of her left hand. “Dakota. The moment we met, you became my light–the woman who held my heart and my happiness and guided my way. We were too young at the time, but over the years, that light never faded, and it burned steadily within my heart until the day we could finally be together and cement our future as a single unit moving forward. I promise to love you endlessly, to cook for you on my days off, and love Riley as my own. I promise to share my life, my happiness and even my sorrow. To me, you are everything.”
Riley smiles up at me as best man, and he hands me the ring to give to his mother. “Great speech,” he whispers loudly with a wink. The congregation overhears him and a chuckle rolls over those in attendance.
I wink in return and slide the ring down Dakota’s finger. She smiles at me looking like everything that’s good in this world in her cream silk wedding gown that flows softly around her body like a dream. She has her hair curled and piled on top of her head, fixed with a jewelled hairpin that also attaches her veil. In a word, she’s stunning.
“Now the bride would like to say her vows,” the reverend announces, and Dakota’s cheeks flush pink, as she takes a hold of my left hand and looks up into my eyes.
“Bradley Rae. I too, fell in love with you the first moment I saw you. You had this look about you that promised me the ride of my life, while at the same time assuring me I’d be safe with you. Over the years, you’ve been my friend, my protector, and eventually my partner. You are also my light and during my darkest years, you were shining brightly at the end of that tunnel, waiting for me until I was ready. I feel so blessed that your heart never strayed, as mine has always been yours and always will be. I promise to share my life with you, Brad. I promise to love you from the moment you open your eyes in the morning until the moment you close them to sleep. Then I promise to love you in my dreams and until the end of time.”
Lifting her hands, I press a kiss to her knuckles, feeling my throat tighten with emotion as Stacey hands her the gold band, and she slides it over my finger.
I look down at the ring on my finger, as the reverend begins the official exchange of vows. I feel a surge of joy flood my heart as her lips move and she says, “I do.”
Today, I’m getting everything I ever wanted. I’m getting a family. And they’re mine. They’re mine forever. I’m never letting go.
* * *
Dakota
“This is my room?” Riley asks in shock, as he turns in the middle of the large room in our new home in Lane Cove. We’ve just moved into the house Brad inherited from his Aunt Sara. It’s the house where we first made love, so to me, this move feels very special. It’s the only thing I think about when I walk through the front door.
“Yep. This is yours. Do you like it?” Brad asks, standing right next to him.
“I love it! It is all my favourite colours and there’s an Xbox. Just wait until Paul sees this!” He runs around the room, commenting on different features, which have all been specially designed for him. Brad had someone come in and custom build everything so we could move in after the wedding. This was Brad’s gift to us for the start of our family.
“You’re spoiling him,” I say, as Brad walks toward where I’m standing at the door.
He shrugs. “He’s my only son.”
The comment is so simple and innocent in his delivery. It’s a statement of fact. And I realise that’s exactly how Brad sees him–as our son. I suppose being raised by his aunt gave him the ability to understand that sometimes your family doesn’t come directly from your own blood.
He turns to me. “And what do you think of our room?” he asks.
Slipping my hand in his, I lead him inside and look around at the well-lit room with its large windows, walk in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom. The last two were additions during the recent renovations, which took place while we all lived together in Brad’s city apartment. I planned the wedding, and he planned this. It’s all coming together perfectly.
I move toward the king sized bed that sits in the centre of the room with dusty blue bedding and matching throw pillows. It’s sitting in an antique heavy wood frame and has matching bedsides and chest of drawers.
“I love the entire house. You could have gone into interior design if being a chef didn’t work out for you, you know,” I say, wrapping my arms around his waist as I rest my head against his chest.
He chuckles lightly as he hugs me back. “You know, I just worked from all of those pictures you clipped out of Home and Garden, right? This is basically everything you hinted at.”
“Oh, was I that obvious?” I ask with a big grin on my face.
“Just a little,” he says, as he presses his lips to mine.
I kiss him deeply, inhaling his scent as I mentally count the hours down until tonight, when we’ll get the chance to use this bedroom for its intended purpose. Making babies. It’s on the top of our to-do list now that we’re married, and I want nothing more than to have Brad’s child, and to give Riley a sibling to run around this big backyard with.
“I think we’re going to be really happy here,” Brad says, and I have to agree. Ever since my attackers were arrested, I’ve felt as though everything is going right for us. After having their DNA matched to the evidence, they all admitted to what they’d done and when that DNA matched them to a few other attacks, they were each sentenced to extended prison time. I can’t imagine them getting out in my lifetime, and I’m grateful to finally close that chapter of my life, so I can look forward to everything that’s wonderful about loving Brad.
“I think this is the perfect place for us. We started here. I’d like us to grow old together here too.”
“I like the sound of that, sweetheart,” he murmurs, bringing his mouth to mine.
And when he takes my lips in his, I close my eyes and hold him tight, knowing that we are both finally home in this house, and in each other’s arms. It’s exactly where we belong.
The end…or is it?
Also by Lilliana Anderson
Coming soon
Danger (Beautiful series 7)
Destination (Beautiful Series 8)
Cartwright Brothers
Fool Me Twice
Fools Rush In
Foolish Games
Fool’s Errand
Fool’s Paradise
47 Things
47 Things
One More Thing
Standalones
In the Wind
Till There Was You
Never Again
Darcy Comes First (Love is a Beach)
Drawn Series
Drawn
Drawn 2 – Obsession
Drawn 2 – Redemption
Drawn to Fight
Zac & Evie
Hugo & Meg
Beautiful Series
Struggle
Forever
Melody
Rock
Star
Taste
Danger
Destination
Entwined Series
Our Hearts Entwined
Our Lives Entwined
Fire and Lies Series
Partners
Played
Deep Cover (discontinued)
The Confidante Trilogy
Confidante: The Brothel
Confidante: The Escort
Confidante: The Madame
For more information on upcoming releases visit
www.lillianaanderson.com/preorders
About the Author
Bestselling Author of the Beautiful Series, Drawn and 47 Things, Lilliana has always loved to read and write, considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer.
Australian born and bred, she writes New Adult Romance revolving around her authentically Aussie characters with all the quir
ks you’d expect from those born Down Under.
Lilliana feels that the world should see Australia for more than just it's outback and tries to show characters in a city and suburban setting.
When she isn't writing, she wears the hat of 'wife and mother' to her husband and five children.
Before Lilliana turned to writing, she worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities and communications before transferring to commerce/law at university.
Originally from Sydney's Western suburbs, she currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.
For more information on Lilliana and her work:
www.lillianaanderson.com
[email protected]
To join her Facebook reader group and talk books
https://www.facebook.com/groups/438800699591852
Taste: Beautiful Series, Book 6 Page 17
