She smiled and felt her heart repair itself in one little whirl. “The word.”
ePILOGUE
“You are nowhere near as nervous as last time,” Amy pointed out as she styled Lula’s hair for her performance at Mo’s exactly one year after the first one.
“I’m an old pro now, dahling,” she affected. “Plus, my whole family is here, that’s really all I need.”
Amy gave her a look in the mirror.
“What?” she shot back. “You’re part of my family too, you know that.”
“Damn Straight.” She jabbed another bobby pin into Lula’s hair and said, “Voila! I believe we are finished. Up, up, up!”
Lula did as ordered and slipped into her new dress; this one was a divine gold silk that made her eyes seem electric.
“Wow,” Amy said, shaking her head. “I think you look even better than last time.
She spied herself in the mirror and had to agree. “I do, but I can only afford to look this good once a year, so don’t get used to it.”
Amy laughed and helped her into her shoes and jewelry.
“Your mother would be so proud of you. Nana too.”
Lula felt a tug of sadness but smiled at the thought of the two incredible women that had raised her. “That’s all I want,” she said.
She was eager to go on stage tonight with Seb’s band. It was an honor greater than she deserved to sing with the Jazzmen, but Seb assured her that the bandleader, Jerry, was gaga over her voice. Those were his exact words. It made her giggle with pride every time she thought about it.
Tonight, she was singing the great Etta James’ “At Last.” It felt so fitting for where her life was right now. Dom’s love had repaired every part of her broken heart and he never looked back. Even though the proof he gave her father to protect her crippled his manuscript, he never regretted it.
Having her, he always said, was the most important thing. “History could wait,” he would tell her when she would start to feel bad about it.
He had sold his manuscript easily, even without the third member of Menotti’s Stella d’Italia unmasked—the publishers had decided that a cliffhanger would drive more interest in future sales once the situation changed. Namely, her father’s death—who was in jail on murder charges thanks to Tom’s anonymous letter.
It seemed to work, Dom had received shining accolades for his work and she couldn’t be prouder of him. It still amazed her every day that he belonged to her. Silly, boring Lula.
When it was time to take the stage, she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped into the spotlight. Her heart expanded warmly when she saw Dom, Mason, Katherine, Steve, and Amy all cheering their hearts out for her.
Dom and Steve still struggled to make their relationship work, but it was getting better slowly. There would be no guys’ nights out for a while.
Dom was smiling right at her and she matched his grin, never taking her eyes from him. Seb started the opening glissando and she opened her mouth to sing to Dom exactly how she felt about him.
His eyes never left her and she could’ve sworn a tear slipped from the corner of his eye as she neared the final verse. Christ alive, she loved this man with all of her being.
As she hit the last note another spotlight popped out of nowhere and blinded her, but she held on despite the distraction.
When her note ended the spotlight fell away and she saw Dom in front of her on one knee, giving her that damn grin of his.
She gasped and her chest exploded with joy as he held up a small black box. “Lula, my love.”
Tears started to fall. “Dom, what are you doing?”
He gave her a look. “Exactly what it looks like, if you’ll let me.”
She covered her mouth with her fingers and tried to stop her heart from bursting out of her chest.
He grinned. “Lula, I love you. There is no one else in the world like you and no one else in the world for me. I would very much like the chance to be your husband.” He took a deep breath. “Tallulah Stanley, will you marry me?”
Shaking, she nodded yes and fell into his arms. “Yes! Yes, of course, I’ll marry you.”
The crowd roared and the band struck up the “Wedding March” while he slipped a giant, sparkling diamond on her finger. He twirled her around the stage to cheers from all her friends and family. She had never felt so loved or so at home.
“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.
“I love you too, beautiful.”
Acknowledgements
It took the patience and support of a whole team of people for this book to become a reality. I don’t think I can ever thank you enough, but bear with me while I try.
To my very own HEA, my husband Scott, who has been an unflinching supporter since the moment we met. Through weird hours, emotional outbursts, and concerning eating habits—he’s always been there for me and my writing. I love you, baby.
To my loving and supportive parents whose unending encouragement allowed me to believe I could do whatever I put my mind to. You’ll never know how much I love you both.
To my sister Jennifer and amazing nephews Chase and Joey, who cheer me on in every endeavor and to my grandmother Elma, whom I never met, but I suspect has a hand in all my blessings.
To my beautiful friends, Axelle, Sarah and Amy, who were the first brave souls to ask if they could read my work and managed to encourage me to continue even after a very rough draft. None of this would have happened without you. None. Of. It
To Melissa Keir at Inkspell Publishing who took a chance on me and my manuscript and has been the kindest, most supportive guide in this new world. I am forever in your debt.
To Najla Qamber, cover artist extraordinaire who made me squeal with childlike glee when I saw my beautiful cover. And Yezanira Venecia, the editor of my dreams, who’s eye for detail and plot structure made ‘At Last’ really sing—pun intended.
To my coworkers at my day job—Mitch, Tyler, Erin, and Sandey—for listening to me ramble, stress, and doubt myself. You have seen the worst of me loved me anyway.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful and supportive friends I have made in the writing and Bookstagram world. Though they were not directly involved with ‘At Last’, their beta reading and editing work on my later manuscripts have helped me clean and polish this one. Thank you, A. Lee Hughes, Sadie Mayfield, Laura Chapman, and Bernadette Jones—you are real life rock stars.
Sneak Peek: At Once
(Releasing Dec 22nd)
CHAPTER ONE
Gabi
“Are you sure about this?” Gabi asked as she stepped out of the car and into the hot summer air. “This looks a little sketchy.”
Kylie rolled her eyes and shut her door, “Mason makes amazing furniture, you’ll see. Have I ever steered you wrong?”
Gabi could think of at least seven times in college that could qualify.
“Cabo doesn’t count,” she said quickly, knowing full-well where Gabi’s mind had gone. “Trust me, you’ll love this stuff,” she lowered her voice as they made their way to the door of the industrial warehouse with the name AdamsMade in large red letters on the side. “Besides, you’ll thank me just for the visual. Mason is gorgeous.”
Gabi rolled her eyes. She didn’t need a gorgeous man. She just needed to make this interior design business take off. And if Kylie said he made beautiful furniture, then she would take a look. Her best friend might not have the best taste in alcohol or one-night-stands but she did have flawless design sense.
“You’re not trying to set me up again are you?”
“With Mason?” She made a face, “Even I know that’s impossible, that man is a hard-core bachelor.”
“You couldn’t get him?” It was hard to believe. Men threw themselves at her blonde friend’s tiny feet wherever they went.
“Well I tried. Hard.” she answered easily, pulling the door to the shop open, “You’ll understand when you see him.”
Gabi s
ighed in pleasure when the cool air-conditioning hit her and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust from the hot white sunlight. The small gallery was artistically lit, with directional lighting falling on each piece of furniture in a way that highlighted each attribute.
The pieces were stunning. Wood grains that made her eyes pop, shapes that surprised her, and details that were so unexpected she felt giddy walking around the store.
“Oh Kylie,” she breathed, looking at a particularly gorgeous zebrawood coffee table that was so finely polished it looked like a tiger’s eye stone.
Her friend smiled triumphantly, “What did I tell you?”
“It’s just perfect,” she said, running her fingers along the simple curves, it made her feel something deeply. “Can I have it?”
“Of course,” a deep, chocolaty voice startled her from across the room, “Shall I ring it up for you?”
Fingers still on the table, she looked up to find the most gorgeous man she had ever lain eyes on leaning against the doorframe that separated the gallery from the workshop.
Holy. Shit.
He grinned at her, his green eyes were a piercing contrast to his dark hair. His massive arms strained the sleeves of his threadbare Cubs shirt, and his well-worn jeans fitted perfectly around his toned waist. Kylie had not exaggerated. This man was...
About the Author
Mindy McKinley is a Contemporary Romance author, avid reader, and cellist.
She lives in the Midwest with her drummer husband and two adorable cats. In her life outside of writing, she is a music teacher, a small business owner, and a professional musician.
No matter where she is in her busy life, her mind is always on her writing. She finds inspiration in everyday moments and joy in putting words in just the right order.
If you’re interested in learning more about Mindy’s writing, visit her website at www.mindymckinley.com for information on current books, upcoming projects, and a blog.
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