by Green, Vicki
A throat clears and we turn to look at Tanner and Jolie. The minister doesn’t say much at the beginning since it’s only us here. Tanner and Jolie both turn and face each other and hold hands.
“Jolie Ross. I was but a shell before I met you. I dreamed of the day you would be mine. Five years of my life were spent to ensure that. The moment I first saw you, it was only in a picture. I’ve kept that picture with me ever since. I knew when I first saw it that you were the one.” I look at Jolie and see tears running down her face. Tanner squeezes her hands and smiles. “There’s only one other person that would have make my life complete, but we know he couldn’t be here.” She lets out a small sob and nods. “I did everything in my power to protect you, show you how much I love you, even though my regrets almost tore us apart. I swear on my life, I’ll never keep secrets from you again. I’ll cherish every single second I have on this earth with you, take care of you, and I’ll always protect you, until my last breath. Can I keep you?”
I hear quiet sounds of sniffling and look over at Alena and then at Hailey. Hailey’s dabbing her eyes with a tissue and sensing my stare looks at me and mouths, “What?” She shrugs her shoulders and looks back at the bride and groom, but I see a small smile playing on her mouth. I laugh to myself as I look back at the ceremony.
“Tanner Clark. From the first moment I met you, you annoyed the shit outta me.” Everyone laughs, and Tanner shrugs while he nods. “But you kinda rubbed off on me pretty quickly.” Jolie smiles. He looks down at their hands and smiles. “I’ve never been happy until you came into my life.” He looks up at her. “Not truly happy. I thought I didn’t deserve happiness but never had a reason to, until you. You’ve shown me that I do deserve to be happy. You’ve given that to me. You risked your life for me.” Her chin quivers and he raises one of their hands and kisses the top of hers. “There’s only been one other person in my life that cared about me and come to find out, he cared about you too. He is with us here today, smiling down from heaven that we’re together.” I look at Tanner and see a tear fall from his eye. “You’re my life, Tanner Clark. You are my happiness. I love you so much.”
The minister hands them the rings and they place them on each other’s fingers then hold hands as the minister finishes speaking. “You may now….”
Tanner turns and grabs Jolie and kisses her. We all laugh, stand, and start clapping. Slyly, I keep looking over at Hailey, watching her looking at the bride and groom with tears filling her eyes, tilting her head and feeling her emotions from across the room. I look back at Tanner, suddenly envying him and what he has. They fought hard for each other, overcoming so many obstacles but in the end their love won. Jolie will finally have the happiness she’s always deserved and Tanner can stop beating himself up from all his regrets.
Tanner and Jolie turn around to face us and we all laugh as Tanner lifts their hands high up in the air. “Drinks are on us! Let’s celebrate!”
I watch him lead Jolie across the area to the table with all the liquor. Jase stands and takes Alena’s hand, helping her to stand. He leans in, kissing her forehead, and then smiles as they walk over to join the festivities. Hailey stands alone, looking over at her friends. I walk until I’m standing behind her, leaning until my mouth is close to her ear.
“Aren’t you going to join in the celebration?”
She shivers then stiffens, turning around slowly. “I might have a drink.” She starts to turn back around but hesitates and looks over her shoulder at me. “Don’t get any ideas.” Her long hair hangs to her waist and flows as she walks off, her tight bottom swaying in a lacy dress. It fits her body like a glove, showing how well she keeps in shape. I might need a few drinks just to relax after that sight, trying to keep myself in check. My brother was right. I’d never particularly cared to date in high school. The girls always acting their age and it only turned me off. As I got older, finding my path in life, I was always too busy working out and going on uncover trips, weeks at a time. I’m not saying I have never gone out with a woman or partook in a night of gratification but it never meant anything further than trying to satisfy an itch – a need. Never have I found a woman who sparked an interest nor did I really look. Fate has a way in lending a hand in that. Not always but if you’re lucky, life goes the way it should and puts those people in your path that you’re meant to be with. However, there are some that have ill-fated lives, some that cause such great heartache or misfortune that they can never heal from it, never having a chance to find true love or happiness.
I look at Hailey, watching as she holds a drink, tilting her head back in laughter at something Jase said. Jase, Alena, and her go way back, grew up together. They have a bond that no one can break. And why would anyone want to? Yet, they all had secrets they were afraid to share with each other. I look at Jase and Alena, thinking how their secrets came out and nearly caused their deaths. An unborn life was taken due to them. It took what happened to make them realize they always loved each other and that they should have never been apart. Sad in reality. Looking back at Hailey, seeing how her eyes keep snatching glimpses my way but acting like she’s enthralled in the conversation around her, I wonder more what secrets she’s keeping, the ones that cause her to run from me every time I get near.
I walk over near the end of the table, pouring some Jack and Coke into a cup, swirling it around to mix it then adding a few cubes of ice. I listen to Tanner talking about his and Jolie’s dreams of Tommy and Sara coming to live with them, their hopes of adopting them. From the corner of my eye, I watch Hailey take a few steps away from everyone, taking her phone from her purse, and how her skin changes from the lovely lightly tanned coloring to white as a sheet as she reads what I presume to be a text. Her head snaps up, looking around the tent, her hand holding the phone begins to shake.
“Hailey! Come here,” Jolie yells.
Hailey puts on a fake smile, jamming her phone back into her purse as she walks over. I take a few steps forward, closer to everyone. Jolie puts her arm around Hailey and smiles. “We were just saying that if we get the kids next week, maybe we can have a party to celebrate. A proper welcome home party. Won’t that be fun? Well, almost everyone. Barrett has to go out of town but the rest of us, including Jase’s and Alena’s parents will be here.” I watch Hailey’s eyes snap to mine, and I tilt my head, my invitation out there waiting for her. She licks her lips as if contemplating. No one else notices her looking down at her opened purse or what secrets lie in that beautiful head of hers. She looks up, turning her head to Jolie, and puts her smile back in place then walks over to me, her chin raises as if she defying her fears, and slides her arm through mine.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could but….” She looks at me briefly and then back at Jolie. “But, I’m going out of town with Barrett.”
All heads look our way, the wide eyes, and open mouths tell me everyone’s in shock with her announcement. Including me. Inside my heart is beating a mile a minute, the excitement of spending two weeks with her, makes me want to leave now. The dread of not only my siblings ribbing me but my parents shock at me bringing a woman with me, makes me want to reconsider. Briefly. Ever so briefly. I look at Hailey and smile, my mind fluttering with a plan on getting her secrets out in the open, and a plan on how I can show her just how a man should treat a woman, starts to formulate. Then something changes. The phone call. I squint my eyes at her and hers avoid mine. Why the sudden change of mind?
This is either going to lead to the best two weeks of my life or the heartbreak I’ve always tried to avoid.
The End
The Heartbreak
The Heartache Series Book Three
by Vicki Green
Heartbreak leads to heartache,
Some become stronger,
While others can never be healed
Hailey Brinks isn’t your average run of the mill woman from a small town. Her sexy b
ut strong nature causes men to flock to her, only it’s not a relationship they’re wanting. After a bad breakup, she’s sworn off all men. She always seems to attract the “bad boys”. Her new philosophy is to look but don’t touch. Hailey has enough friends in the small town to keep her company except her nights are filled with loneliness.
Barrett Kingsley walks into her small town with only one thing in mind: business. His newly acquired friendship with a man allows him the cover he needs to conduct what needs to be done. What he doesn’t expect is a long dark haired sexy woman to get under his skin.
He must have her. At any cost. But will the cost be too great?
Acknowledgments
My family, I love you with all my heart. Thank you for all your support, the nights of no dinner or a quick dinner. Thank you for the endless hours that I write that I don’t pay attention to you but you understand. I love you, forever.
Kathy, my amazing Editor and friend. We’ve been together since my very first book and I’m so glad I found you. Thank you for not only your editing skills, making my stories looks so pretty, but, for your encouragement and friendship.
Faith, you’re not just my model but my bestie and for that I’m so grateful.
Melissa, my wonderful PA and friend, who keeps me in line and organized. And Chrissy, our friendship blossomed and now I’m so thankful to have it. You both are always there for me, whether it be to talk through something personal or a story idea, or a picture needed, or anything that comes up. For that, I’m truly thankful to you both for everything you do.
Maari, you’re so special to me. You’re always positive, encouraging, and one of my best resources for getting me pumped up about my stories, even when I don’t need it. Love you!
Rosie, you know I love you, your enthusiasm and I’m so glad I finally got to meet you in person.
Vicki’s Vixens, you are priceless to me. You read my drafts as I write my stories and some give me such invaluable feedback to make my stories the best they can be. Thank you for being there for me and getting excited with me over my stories and my covers.
My muses for this story are Lance Jones and Sky Kinsman. Sky, I don’t know you but you seem like such a sweet woman. I wish nothing but the best for you. You truly gave Jolie’s character the feel she needed. Lance, what can I say? I’m so glad that we’ve become friends, which I hold dearly. You are perfect for the character, Tanner, and I’m sure there will be other characters in the future you will be perfect for as well. Thank you for your friendship.
Mari, thank you so much for not only your friendship but for being the most fantastic formatter I could ever have. I’m so glad you were recommended to me and thank you for using my stories as your guinea pigs to try out new things. I’m honored and I always love everything you do.
Readers, I can’t thank you enough for reading this story as well as any of my other books. I’ll always write, as it is my passion, but you make it all worthwile.
About the Author
Best Selling Author of Romance and Romance Suspense, Vicki Green lives in Kansas with her husband and their two sons, as well as their three dogs that rule their house. She loves spending time with her family and furbabies.
Look for more Romance books from Vicki as well as future projects such as Romantic Comedies.
Website:
www.vickigreenauthor.com
Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/VickiGreenAuthor
Twitter: @rileyks3
Goodreads Author:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/7112966.Vicki_Green
