We just got back together after a bunch of crazy shit. We’ve been through a whirlwind.
“Before you start making a thousand excuses. Answer this . . . do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to be with anyone else?”
“No.”
“Will you marry me?” My breath hitches as he removes a ring from his pocket. “I promised Mama when I found the girl I couldn’t imagine not waking up to each day that I’d marry her. I planned this big thing for how to ask you, but then we lost our baby. I’ve known that I wanted you to be my wife since the first time I woke with you wrapped around me. I thought we were crazy, and maybe we are, but I don’t want to ever sleep without you by my side. Marry me Angie. Marry me and we’ll start our life together. I’ll be by your side through it all.”
A tear falls down my face. “Through thick and thin.”
He smiles. “Through thick and thin.”
I grab his face and kiss him. I love him. It’s insane and crazy, but fuck it. We only live once. If nothing else, we’ve learned that.
“Vegas?”
“Tonight,” he demands.
“You got married?” Presley screams as I show her the ring on my finger. Wyatt explained that after the festival he went and had it made for me. He really had been just waiting for the right time to propose. It’s a beautiful teardrop-shaped diamond flanked by three diamonds on each side. It now sits in front of a platinum band from our wedding. “I can’t believe you! I can’t believe you got married without telling me! I’m so happy for you but so freaking mad!”
We’ve been back in Bell Buckle for a whole two hours, and she’s been nonstop. Felicia finally dropped the lawsuit yesterday and I figured she’d be happy and it was a good time to tell her. Apparently there wasn’t going to be a good time.
“It was spur of the moment!” I explain for the hundredth time.
“Spur of the freaking moment my ass! He planned this!” she yells toward the hallway. “He knew what he was doing.”
I laugh as I hear my husband’s chuckle from the other room. “Seriously, Pres. I’m not the white dress and flowers girl anyway. It would’ve been at a courthouse. This was exactly what we wanted.”
She gives me a look that says she doesn’t care about my excuse. “I’ve known you almost twenty years and have waited for this. You deprived me.” She throws her hand onto her forehead as if she’s about to faint.
“And you’re dramatic.”
“It was my Scarlett O’Hara impression.”
“You failed.”
She comes back around the island and takes my hand. “It’s beautiful. I’m seriously happy for you. Tell me about it!”
I sit on the chair and replay it. We got on a plane, got to Vegas, found a chapel, and that was it. We came back home after days of non-stop sex, packed our stuff, and moved here.
“This is the most unromantic wedding ever,” she admonishes.
“It was perfect.”
She smiles. “I can see this is exactly what you’d want. No fanfare, just him.”
“Exactly!”
“I can’t believe you’re a Mrs. Hennington before I am.”
Zach strides into the kitchen right as the last word leaves her mouth, and he stops, holding both his hands out in front of him. “I’ll come back.”
“Oh, no Zachary. Don’t leave.” Her voice is sugary sweet. “It wasn’t like your evil ex-girlfriend delayed our day. I’ve only waited since I was like . . . ohhh . . . thirteen to be your wife.”
I silently laugh. “Stop being hard on him,” I defend him. It wasn’t his fault and he honestly didn’t want to push the date back. Zach would’ve married Presley the day she returned if he had his way.
“You’re his sister-in-law for ten minutes and you’re already taking his side?” she says with her hands on her hips.
Zach laughs. “I always wanted a sister.”
He’s crazy. I’m the last sister he’d have wanted. I was the one trying to get my brother’s friends to date me just to piss them off.
Presley tucks herself against his chest. “I thought you always wanted me to be your wife.”
“Darlin’,” Zach squeezes her close. “You’re my whole world. Makin’ you my wife is the icing on the cake.”
“Uh huh.” She leans in for a short kiss. “Real smooth.”
“You’re right,” he concurs. “I am.”
Wyatt walks in and leans against the door. “Ready to head home, baby?”
“Yup!” I stand. “We have a lot of unpacking to do, and we need to stop by your parents’ place.”
Presley bursts out laughing. “Ohhh.” She laughs harder. “Your mama is going to kill you! You’re her first son to get married, and you go off to Vegas without tellin’ her? Y’all are going to get it!”
For the first time, I start to notice that Presley doesn’t sound like my city girl anymore. She hadn’t said “y’all” or dropped the “g” at the end of a word once since her first year of college. Now, though, she’s all country again. Looks like I’m not the only one who found my true place.
Wyatt’s face falls, and he glances at me with sheer panic. “Fuck!”
Zach walks over and slaps him on the back. “You’re dead, brother.”
“Damn it. Maybe we can pretend we didn’t get married,” he suggests.
“What?”
“We won’t tell anyone else.” He starts to ramble. “We’ll say we’re engaged, you can tell her that it just happened and that you want a big ole wedding. It’ll be fine. She’ll never have to know.”
I stand there in disbelief. “You want to lie . . . to your mother . . . about us being married?”
“You’ve met her. Don’t act so surprised.”
I’m not even sure which way to go with this. I could agree and lie to his mom, which I’m pretty sure she’s going to figure it out at some point and that’ll be worse, or I can sit back and watch. Honestly, I’ve forgiven him, but it doesn’t mean that a little suffering here and there is a bad thing.
“Time to man up, Little Buckaroo.”
Wyatt grabs my hips and tugs me toward him. “I swear, Angelina.”
“Oh!” My eyes widen. “Going for the full name, are we?”
He mumbles something under his breath.
“Have fun y’all! Call me, and, Ang, if you record it, I’ll pay you!” Presley says loudly as Wyatt pulls me out the door.
I wave to her as we keep moving.
Wyatt is quiet in the truck on the way over, but I can’t stop smiling. It’s ridiculously cute and funny how worried he is. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Macie is the most understanding person I’ve ever met. Then again, this is her youngest.
We get to the front step, and the door is open before we can knock.
“Angie!” She pulls me against her, and I hug her back. “I’m so happy you’re home, sugar!”
“Mama,” Wyatt says as he’s still. “Angie and I got married in Vegas.”
Not exactly the way I would’ve done it. I slap his arm. “Real smooth, Wyatt.”
She looks at him then back to me. “Married?”
I can’t tell if she’s angry or just processing.
“I promise. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.” I try to explain.
She puts her hand up.
Oh boy.
“Wyatt Earnest Hennington! You’re married!” she screeches with a smile. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m happy with the fact that I didn’t get to see my baby get married, but I have a daughter now!”
We both let out a huge sigh.
“Rhett!” she yells over her shoulder. “Get out here! Your son got himself hitched!”
“You’re not mad?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No! I wish I could’ve seen it, of course. But I’m just so happy you’re here, honey. It’s been a good month for us. That Felicia woman is gone, bless her heart, and now you’re married to my boy, who finally got his head out of his behin
d.” Macie gives him a bewildered glance. “I have too much to be happy about right now.”
Wyatt kisses his mother’s cheek. “I’m sure you’ll find many chances to let us know how you feel throughout the rest of my life.”
She pats his face. “Be sure of that, honey.”
We head inside where, of course, there’s pie.
I may be losing my bakery with all the cupcakes, but here, there’s pie, and I can live with that.
“CAN YOU BELIEVE WE’RE SISTERS-IN-LAW again?” Presley asks as we sit at the table and watch her wedding guests dance.
“I think it’s fate.” I smile.
“I love that man.” I sure hope she does. She freaking married him.
Wyatt, Trent, and Zach all stand over at the bar. They’re resting their elbows against the wood, just staring out at the scene. I swear, the three of them are unfairly hot. I know two of them are my brothers-in-law, but for real, no family should be that endowed with sexiness.
Then I hone in on Wyatt. He’s the most delicious of them all—at least I think so. Trent is the tallest, and the only one with sandy brown hair. But Wyatt’s body is definitely the biggest of them, as is his heart.
I sometimes still can’t believe I’m married and living in Tennessee. “We really hit the jackpot.”
“Yes, we sure did.”
“Does it feel good being married to him?” I ask.
She grins. “It does. It feels like that part of my life is over now. It’s a new start.”
“Well.” I grab her hand. “I’m glad we still share the same last name.”
Presley places her other hand on top of mine. “That’s right! We’re both Henningtons! That deserves a toast!” She calls over the waiter and grabs two flutes of champagne. I don’t have time to say a word before she starts. “To a lifelong friendship that has endured some of the hardest times but always comes out on top. To my sister, my best friend, and the only girl who I would share a room with in a nursing home.”
I raise my glass, and we clink them together. “I can’t sip this,” I tell her.
“Why?”
I look at her, hoping she’ll be able to deduce it.
Three.
Two.
“Oh!” Presley hops up. “Oh my God! You’re . . .”
“Shh!” I pull her back to the seat. “I haven’t even told him yet.”
“You’re pregnant?” She whispers but not very quietly.
I found out yesterday, but didn’t want to tell anyone yet. I was feeling a little sluggish, and it’s not as if Wyatt and I had been very careful since we were married and all.
“Yeah.” I smile. “I don’t want to tell him or anyone today. And I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t trying to force me to drink.”
“I’m so happy for you, Ang.”
“I’m happy for you, my friend. You have everything you ever wanted.”
She pulls me close. “We both do.” Presley leans back and slaps my leg. “Now, go tell that husband of yours. I want to see his face! You can make it one of my wedding gifts.”
We both stand and walk over to where the boys are.
Wyatt watches me the entire time with a predatory look in his eyes. It’s the one that makes me all gooey and lets me know that I’m all he sees.
“Hey.” He grins and pulls me close to him.
“Hey yourself.”
Zach’s arms wrap around his new wife, and Trent looks off at Grace, who is dancing with Cooper. Oh, Trent. How badly you screwed yourself.
“Can I buy you a drink?” Wyatt says playfully, already turning to the bartender.
Well, no moment like the present. “I’ll take a Sprite.”
“One—” He looks back at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “Sprite?”
I shrug. “I don’t think I should be drinking.”
He studies me closer. “And why not?”
I can’t stop the smile. “Because it’s not good for the baby.”
Presley starts to squeal, but Wyatt doesn’t move a muscle.
“Baby?”
“Baby.”
Then his arms are around me, and he’s hoisting me in the air. “We’re going to have a baby?” His lips press against mine as he protects me in his embrace. I can’t help thinking how different this announcement is. There’s joy and celebration. No accusations or wondering what we’re going to do. He pulls back from the kiss and slowly lowers me to my feet.
“We are. And there’s nothing more I want than what I have right now. You give me that.”
Wyatt kisses me again. “No, baby. You’re who’s given it to me.”
I won’t argue with him. Either way, we’ve both come out on top. I never knew that I could love so hard and so deeply, but here I am. Happy as could be.
I have everything I ever wanted.
THE END
Dear Reader,
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THE SALVATION SERIES
The Belonging Duet
Beloved (Book One)
Beholden (Book Two)
The Consolation Duet
Consolation (Book One)
Conviction (Book Two)
Defenseless
STANDALONES
Say You’ll Stay
Say You Want Me
Say I’m Yours (Trent & Grace) Coming Soon
Hyped—Coming Soon
I SWEAR I KNOW I’LL forget someone, so if you’re that person . . . I’m sorry.
To my husband and children. You sacrifice so much for me to continue to live out my dream.
My beta readers, Michelle, Jenn, Holly, Katie, and Melissa, I love you guys. This book was a labor of love and you stuck it out with me. Thank you!
My publicist, Danielle, I love you. Thank you for dealing with my insanity and still loving me. I’m grateful for you more than you will ever know.
My readers. There’s no way I can thank you enough. It still blows me away that you read my words. You guys are everything to me.
My Corinne Michaels Books group on Facebook, I wake up every single day and go there first. You’re the bright spot in life. Thank you for everything.
Bloggers: You’re the heart and soul of this industry. Thank you for choosing to read my books and fit me in your insane schedules. I appreciate it more than you know.
Thank you to Ashley, my editor, for dealing with my crazy voice messages and making this book everything. It is truly a blessing to work with you. Sarah Hansen, from Okay Creations, for making my covers perfect. Janice and Kara for proofreading and making sure each detail is perfect! Christine, from Perfectly Publishable, we’re on book SEVEN now and I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. (Probably they’d beat me by now, but you just send me kisses). Your support is invaluable. I truly love your beautiful heart.
My agent, Amy Tannenbaum . . . thank you for believing in my work and all of your support.
Squad, BBFT, & Holiday Reads Authors—Thank you for your friendship, love, and the way you push me to step outside of the box. I love you guys!
Christy Peckham, I’m running out of things to say, but the one thing that stays is: THANK YOU! I love you. You’re the best author keeper around. HA!
Melissa Erickson, you’re amazing. I love your face.
Kristi, your friendship means everything to me. I value our friendship more than anything. Books may have brought us together, but so much more keeps us together.
Vi, Claire, Mandi, Amy, Syreeta, Kristy, Kyla, Mia, Tijan, Alessandra, Meghan, Jessica, Christine, Michelle, Laurelin, Kennedy, and Lauren—Thank you for keeping me striving to be better and listening to my crazy.
CORINNE MICHAELS IS THE NEW York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author. She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of tw
o beautiful children. Corinne is happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.
Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha men are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.
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