Her mother sat at a big table with the Baylors. At another table, next to Nate's empty seat, sat Tessa, Miranda, and Cutter Anderson. The rest of the group were people she'd met taking photographs, or doing her shopping, or who had just swung by the ranch—all of them happy to see her, all of them willing to lend a hand to make this wedding happen. Family had always been a tough concept for her, but all of these people around her now were her family, and she couldn't have been happier.
"So you two," Nate finished, "you deserve all the happiness in the world. I couldn't think of two people who have passed over a rockier road and still come out on the other side as amazing as the two of you. Cheers."
The rest of the night passed in a blur, more incredible than she could imagine—from the quiet, intimate first dance as husband and wife, down to the warm hugs and best wishes from the residents of Three Rivers that had known Sunny and now welcomed Lily as a bright spot in Finn's life. Even her mother was enjoying herself—Julie had spent the last two weeks as a guest at the ranch, more relaxed and at peace than Lily had seen her in a long time, and it stood to reason. Lily, herself, was more relaxed and at peace than she'd been since well before the accident, and it seemed to soothe her mother.
Sometime after Lily's fourth or fifth partner on the dance floor, Finn elbowed his way back in for a slow song, beating out Cutter, who had been making a beeline straight for her.
"Hey," he said, with a smile, drawing her into his arms and brushing a stray hair off her forehead. "Wife."
"Hey, husband," she returned. Her cheeks hurt from all the smiling she'd done, and now that she was resting against his chest, the craziness of the day started to catch up with her.
"You look like you're ready to call it a night."
"This is more exhausting than an all-day photoshoot," she admitted, pressing her cheek to his chest. Even above the bass of the music, she could hear the steady thrum of his heart, and his warm fingers touched the nape of her neck lightly, both of them more comforting than words could say. "I can't believe you're my husband."
"I can't believe I'm that lucky," he murmured, lowering his mouth to her ear. "You know nobody would blame us for sneaking away early. It's been a long day."
She lifted her head to glance across the small dance floor. Some had left but those who remained were in full-blown party mode. He was right—nobody could blame them, and it was unlikely anyone would notice. Glancing up at him, she caught his smile.
"Besides, we've still gotta consummate this thing."
"Finn!" she squeaked, falling flat at her attempt to be shocked and offended. In reality, there wasn't much in this world she could have wanted more.
"They'll be asking about grandchildren before we know it. Might as well get a head start."
Her heart clenched. They'd had a couple of conversations about it, and she knew the regret he felt for the missed opportunity with Sunny. They'd left it undecided at that point, because this was something she couldn't push him into—a part of his former life that she wouldn't interfere with. Having him was reward enough; a family was more than she could ask for. Still, when he tabled the thought, she held her breath, anxious, glancing back up at him. Stone serious, he nodded back, and she released her breath.
"So what do you say?"
She nodded, and he released her, taking up her fingers. As they slipped away from the group, Finn nodded to Noah's questioning look. They could count on him to close down the party when the time was right.
He led her across the yard, away from the noise and lights, to the quiet darkness of the front porch of the cabin. He paused then, to cradle her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing over her jaw, and then press the sweetest of kisses to her lips before he released her. Suddenly, her feet were swept out from under her, and he'd gathered her up in his arms like it was nothing at all.
Squealing a little, she kicked her feet and swatted at his shoulder. "What are you doing?!"
"Carrying you over the threshold, lovely," he said, ignoring her protests as pushed the door open with his toe and backed them through it. He didn't stop in the kitchen like she expected, but carried her the rest of the way through the house to the newly renovated bedroom before he set her down. Turning her with gentle hands on her shoulders, he let out a quick, loud breath when he saw the row of delicate buttons that had taken both Emma and her mother a significant portion of time to fasten just this morning.
"Seriously?"
She pulled her hair over her shoulder, craning her neck to nod at him with a smile.
"Yep, you're gonna have to work for it, cowboy."
His warm breath tickled her neck as his mouth landed on the curve of her shoulder and his fingers started at the buttons.
"With pleasure."
—END—
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It's not over yet…
This isn't the end for the good people of Three Rivers—this is just one family! Next, you'll get to know the Montgomery family, starting with Nate, in SECRET HEART, available now.
It only took eight seconds for Nate Montgomery's bull riding career to go from brilliant to burned out. Back in Three Rivers with no money and no prospects, he needs to regroup and build an identity for himself that doesn't involve being thrown around by 1500lbs of fury. He finds reprieve in a familiar package of curves on the other side of the bar at the local watering hole. She's tall, full-bodied, and sweet, and Nate will gladly come back for a second taste.
Single mother and perpetual girl-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks Layla Sullivan is barely holding together the life she's building for herself and her son. She's got shift work, squeaky cupboards, a big fat secret, and no time for Nate Montgomery to come waltzing into her life, making her wish for things she can't have. But this cowboy is as bull-headed as he is sexy, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that having an extra warm, handy body in her house isn't a bad thing—especially when it belongs to her baby's father.
When Layla's family drama comes back to bite her, exposing her secret and threatening the happy little bubble they've created, Nate feels bound to repeat the sins of his father. But he's never been one to give up, and this little family might be just the new life he's looking for.
—ABOUT AMITY—
I live in New Brunswick, Canada, on a multi-generational hobby farm with my parents, my husband, and my young son, as well as a flock of sheep, a herd of goats, too many herding dogs, several barn cats, and my three horses.
I've loved telling stories my whole life and could even be found telling them into a tape recorder in my grandmother's basement before I could write them. They always included kissing!
I strive to write real, sincere characters that exemplify the small-town sense of community and family I grew up in.
I am deeply inspired by the magic of Peter S. Beagle's writings (The Last Unicorn changed my life) and had the privilege of meeting him in May 2014. He was impossibly charming and delightful and left a lasting impression on me.
I love critters, cowboys, and coffee (the order of which depends on the day you ask me), and I still believe in unicorns. I hope you enjoy my books!
You can visit my site @ amitylassiter.com.
xoxo,
Amity
—ACKNOWLEDGMENTS—
This book challenged me in ways that seemed absolutely impossible, and just when I thought I had a handle on it, life threw wrench after wrench into my carefully laid plans. There is no way I could have finished this book without the encouragement of Mr. Lassiter. He helped me keep my head above water while finishing this book and simultaneously trying to plan our wedding. His encouragement and steadfast faith in my abiliti
es (that sometimes exceeds my own) is absolutely necessary for my career as an author to succeed.
To my Chatzy crew—in particular Zoe York, Diana St. Gabriel, Kate Willoughby, Melanie Ting, and Sidney Bristol—who drag me, kicking and screaming (if they have to), to the end of every book, or alternately, coax me with chocolate and pictures of naked cowboys (if they have to)…THANK YOU. I would have given up on myself a long time ago if it weren't for you. Diana, thank you for reading my baby and commenting gently when I could not give it up to the light of day after eight months.
Thank you to Keriann McKenna, my editor, who is possibly my biggest cheerleader. You consistently go above and beyond in your work for me and I can say with absolute certainty I could not have done this—all of this—without you.
Thank you to my beta readers, who don't believe any deadline is 'too tight', and stay up all night to read for me. Nicole, Mallory, Shannon, Tiffany, Shay—I appreciate what you do for me (and my ego) more than you can imagine!
And of course, thanks to my parents. Without their encouragement through my childhood to believe in any dream that could cross my brain, I would never have been able to step off this ledge into this crazy world of publishing.
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Did you love Secondhand Heart? Then you should read Secret Heart by Amity Lassiter!
It only took eight seconds for Nate Montgomery's bull riding career to go from brilliant to burned out. Back in Three Rivers with no money and no prospects, he needs to regroup and build an identity for himself that doesn't involve being thrown around by 1500lbs of fury. He finds reprieve in a familiar package of curves on the other side of the bar at the local watering hole. She's tall, full-bodied, and sweet, and Nate will gladly come back for a second taste.
Single mother and perpetual girl-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks Layla Sullivan is barely holding together the life she's building for herself and her son. She's got shift work, squeaky cupboards, a big fat secret, and no time for Nate Montgomery to come waltzing into her life, making her wish for things she can't have. But this cowboy is as bull-headed as he is sexy, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that having an extra warm, handy body in her house isn't a bad thing—especially when it belongs to her baby's father.
When Layla's family drama comes back to bite her, exposing her secret and threatening the happy little bubble they've created, Nate feels bound to repeat the sins of his father. But he's never been one to give up, and this little family might be just the new life he's looking for.
This book is a part of the Hearts of Three Rivers: The Montgomerys series. Each book stands alone as a complete read, but features appearances from other family members who may have their own story to tell in a different book. Amity's stories can best be described as 'sweet western heat', and contain open door bedroom scenes, but no frank language.
Hearts of Three Rivers
The Baylors
Runaway Heart (Dane & Ren Maddock)Homecoming Heart (Noah & Emma Pierce)Secondhand Heart (Finn & Lily Jacobs)
The Montgomerys
Secret Heart (Nate & Layla Sullivan)Lawful Heart (Banks & Norah Clarke) COMING SOON
Hearts of Heroes(Military and serviceman related novellas that occur in the Three Rivers world)
A Cowboy SEAL's Bride (Lane Sutton & Miranda Davenport)
Secondhand Heart Page 25
